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.
ADVERTISEMENT
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.
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.
ADVERTISEMENT
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.
“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
Beloved Manc butty shop Bada Bing set for a sensational return to the city centre
Danny Jones
Sandwich lovers rejoice because one of the finest butty shops to ever grace Manchester is returning: that’s right, Bada Bing is bada-back!
The Sopranos-inspired deli and sandwich shop that took its name from one of the central locations featured in the iconic US drama (yes, the strip club), was a huge success when it first opened in Manchester a few short years ago, so it was a huge blow when it closed in February 2022.
Starting out by serving sandwiches out of a window at The B Lounge pub on Paton Street near Piccadilly, before moving to a small kitchen on Radium Street and eventually setting up their stall inside Ancoats General Store, they would regularly have lines around the block every lunchtime.
These Italian-American sarnies were so popular you’d often struggle to get your claws on one – and believe us, they really are a two-handed task – as they’d sell out on what felt like most days. But now, whether you were a regular or someone who missed out, there is hope once again:
Announcing their sensational return to a new site over in the Northern Quarter, which will now mark the fourth premises they’ve popped up at, Bada Bing is back with a bang and, as you can, they dropped the news with one of the best reveal videos we’ve ever seen.
If you know, you know…
Set to take over 125 Oldham Street, owners Sam Gormally and Meg Lingenfelter haven’t yet graced us with an opening date but the new unit should hopefully be open sooner rather than later.
The duo, who previously worked at fellow NQ favourite Another Heart to Feed, came up with the concept during lockdown and it didn’t take long for the idea to take off, nor for them to earn their spot amongst the very best sandwich places in Manchester.
Seriously, these things were so big and unwieldy (in the best way possible) that they even used to come with eating instructions: both hands and the trademark Tony Soprano hunch recommended, though the slightly stained wife-beater, boxer shorts and open dressing gown look is optional.
From slices of provolone cheese, all the thinly sliced Italian meats you could think of and the closest thing to actual ‘gabagool‘ as you’ll find in Greater Manchester, the menu was fitting of being served up to the iconic characters that once sat outside Satriale’s and a big approving grin from the man himself.
Simply put, we cannot wait and we will certainly keep you posted when we find out exactly when Bada Bing confirms their official reopening date.
Burger King is giving away free burgers to new drivers today
Emily Sergeant
Burger King will be giving away burgers to drivers who have recently passed their tests for free of charge today.
In case it wasn’t on your radar, tomorrow (Thursday 24 July) is actually National Drive-Thru Day, and in a bid to properly celebrate this unofficial holiday, Burger King has decided to hand out a bunch of freebies to newbies today.
The fast food chain is asking all new drivers to “buckle up”, head on down to their nearest Burger King drive-thru, and help themselves to a free burger.
All newly-qualified drivers will be able to take their pick from either the Whopper or Chicken Royale without parting ways with a penny, and all they’ll need to do the claim their freebie is simply show off their learner’s ‘L Plates’ to the staff at their local Burger King restaurant.
Hundreds of Burger King drive-thrus across the UK are taking part in the one-day promotion – including several across in Greater Manchester.
Although it might seem a little too good to be true, there’s a reason Burger King has chosen to dish out the freebies, and that’s because the company says it knows that one of the first activities newly-qualified drivers like do once they’ve passed their test is make a pit stop at a drive-thru with their mates to show off their new wheels and skills.
Sometimes though, navigating a drive-thru for the first time can be tricky, and this leaves new drivers feeling a bit like a rabbit in the headlights.
Luckily with this one-day Burger King offer, new drivers’ first drive-thru trip couldn’t be any easier.
The offer is available nationwide today (Wednesday 24 July) at Burger King drive-thru lanes only, while stock lasts, and newly qualified drivers must verbally mention “BK Plates” at the drive-thru lane to unlock their free burger.