Popular independent Italian restaurant Vero Moderno is hosting a free-to-attend dinner in partnership with Italian craft beer company Menabrea as it looks to share the magic of the Italian tradition of ‘midnight spaghetti’ with Mancunians.
On the continent, it’s not unusual for groups to flock home and commune over a late-night bowl of simply-cooked noodles.
Beer is poured, ingredients from the kitchen are brought out and the party comes together to enjoy a delicious meal at midnight. So far, so magical.
But whilst we expect quite a few readers are no stranger to drunkenly cooking a bowl of pasta late at night in their kitchen, we’d hazard a guess not many have done it like this. Until now, anyway.
This Thursday, locals will have the chance to experience the tradition of midnight spaghetti themselves as a late-night pasta feast comes to the Chapel Street restaurant.
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Taking place from 930pm to 1am, the one-off dinner will be held alongside Italian craft brewers Menabrea on Thursday 25 August, giving local pasta fans a chance to partake in a long-standing tradition.
Image: Supplied
Stevie Parle, the well-known chef and restaurateur of London pasta kitchen Pastaio, has developed a midnight spaghetti recipe especially for the evening, keeping things simple with a mixture of classic ingredients like garlic, chilli and olive oil.
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Throughout the night, the restaurant’s team will serve up hearty-yet-simple portions of pasta alongside free-flowing pints of Menabrea’s popular Italian craft beer.
After that, you can party the night away with a DJ and enjoy different interactive areas throughout the night. Menabrea will be served throughout the night, alongside a delicious twist at midnight.
The evening will begin with a workshop led by Stevie, where attendees can learn about how they can recreate their own midnight spaghetti evening at home with friends and loved ones.
Guests will be sampling free-flowing pints of Menabrea throughout the session, to truly uncover how Italian flavours can come together.
Speaking on the upcoming event, Angus Lawrie, spokesperson at Menabrea, said: “As an award-winning Italian birra with 170+ years of brewing expertise, we are passionate about facilitating authentic Italian experiences through the highest quality food & drink.
Image: Vero Moderno
“Italy is integral to the Menabrea brand and Italians always have a special way of doing everything, which is why we can’t wait to launch Menabrea Midnights and bring this unmissable concept to the UK.”
Chef, restaurateur at Pastaio and Menabrea Midnights partner, Stevie Parle, added: “I’ve been cooking Italian food professionally since I was 17 and have been obsessed with pasta my whole life.
“It’s great to be working with Menabrea, as they share my values and always strive to produce the very best and most delicious results, be that in beer or classic Italian cookery.”
Tickets are free to those who register via Eventbrite here but be quick as there is only a limited number available.
Feature image – Vero Moderno
Eats
Andy Burnham’s favourite Manchester pub, restaurant, neighbourhood and Sunday roast
Daisy Jackson
Andy Burnham’s favourite pub, restaurant, neighbourhood, and Sunday roast have been revealed – and the man’s got taste.
Old footage of now-PM Andy Burnham chatting to content creator Isaac Likes has been doing the rounds again, and while the interview dates back to before Andy left us and headed down to the big smoke, his Manchester recommendations still stand.
From his go-to neighbourhood and favourite pub to where he heads for a Sunday roast, and even the song he likes to play when he gets behind the decks, Burnham gave us a glimpse into his ideal Manchester day.
First up, there’s the Northern Quarter, which Burnham reckons has to be his favourite neighbourhood in the city.
He said: “Got to be the Northern Quarter. It’s the place where it’s all happening.”
When it comes to food, he singled out Firehouse, sitting on the edge of the Northern Quarter, as one of his favourite places to eat. He also gave a shoutout to its sister venue Ramona, where he’s been known to get behind the decks.
Andy said: “On the edge of the Northern Quarter, Firehouse is a place I love to go. Ramona Pizza, I’ve DJ’d there – if the mayor DJs there it’s gotta be alright.”
For a proper pint, Burnham’s choice is a little more traditional, saying his favourite pub is the ‘proper old school’ Peveril of the Peak.
The beautiful tiled pub was recently named the best in the UK, just days before its legendary landlady Nancy passed away.
When Sunday rolls around, Burnham said he has a couple of options up his sleeve. The Wharf in Castlefield gets a mention, as does Edinburgh Castle up in Ancoats.
The Peveril of the Peak pub in ManchesterThe Edinburgh CastleFirehouseSome of Andy Burnham’s favourite places in Manchester. Credit: The Manc Group
He said: “We love our gravy, we drink it by the pint in Manchester.”
Of course, no conversation with Burnham about Manchester would be complete without talking music.
Asked to name the best Manchester band of all time, he offered a few contenders – The Smiths, New Order, and, ultimately, The Stone Roses.
“The band I think are quintessentially Manchester is The Stone Roses. That was peak Manchester,” he said.
The amazing new doughnut shop that’s opened in a churchyard in Wigan
Daisy Jackson
A brand-new doughnut hatch has landed in Wigan, serving fresh bakes and speciality coffee from inside a beautiful local churchyard.
This is Holy Grounds, the latest independent spot bringing together freshly made doughnuts, excellent coffee and a spectacular setting, right beside the Wigan Parish Church.
The Lancashire-born business expanded to Wigan just three weeks ago, and it’s already proving hugely popular with the locals.
As we’re seeing all over Wigan these days, Holy Grounds have taken on a beautiful characterful space and turned it into a great new independent hangout.
The doughnut hatch is connected to the church itself, with the room believed to have once been an old school space. Today, it’s been given a very different purpose, with the smell of freshly baked doughnuts and coffee filling the building.
And you can still get a very real reminder that you’re sitting inside a church – the bells ring twice a day.
Holy Grounds was set up by Sam, who was previously a vicar, alongside his partner Hannah.
They and their team are making doughnuts fresh every day, using a 48-hour proving process, before transforming them into a monthly-rotating selection of flavours.
This month’s specials at Holy GroundsThe selection of Holy Grounds doughnuts in WiganA peach and almond doughnut, and an OGHoly Grounds stands in the churchyard of Wigan Parish ChurchFreshly-made doughnuts and coffee in Wigan
This month’s flavours include The OG, peach and almond, chocolate cornflakes, and blackberry and white chocolate.
Holy Grounds serves speciality coffee from Clifton Coffee Roasters in Bristol, making the doughnut-and-coffee combination feel less like a quick sugar hit and more like a proper little ritual.
A beautiful old building, fresh doughnuts, excellent coffee and church bells ringing overhead?
We’re not saying we’ve found heaven, but we’re definitely getting closer.
Georgina Pellant -
23rd August 2022 
