The Hong Kong greasy spoon-style cafe in Prestwich selling milk tea and toast
If you're a fan of milk tea and thick, white sandwich bread slathered in condensed milk, peanut butter and lashings of golden syrup, Hea Toast & Dessert is the place for you
A Hong Kong-style cafe has opened up in Prestwich selling tea and toast with a distinctively eastern twist.
Opened by owner Jack Lau in June, here you’ll find butter-drenched toast, Hong Kong’s famously silky milk teas (inspired by our very own British cuppa) and Yeun Yeung – an iced drink that’s typically made from two-parts milk tea and one-part black coffee.
Made famous amongst Western foodies by Anthony Bourdain in Parts Unknown following a trip to China Cafe, a former fixture in the city since 1964, this Hong Kong-style French toast has now made its way to Bury of all places.
Image: The Manc Eats
Image: The Manc Eats
All done on the cheapest white sandwich bread, over in Prestwich Hea’s signature Hong Kong Toast – also known as sai do si, or ‘western toast’ – is layered into a peanut butter sandwich, then dipped in egg and fried before being topped with a thick slab of butter and lashings of golden syrup. We’ll be honest, it’s the sexiest eggy bread we’ve ever had.
That’s not all that’s on offer here, though. There’s also a host of savoury toast options – a little kimchi and cheese number for the veggies, a tonkatsu pork and cabbage toast, and ‘The Classic’ made with scrambled egg, honey roast ham, sweetcorn, cabbage and a secret house sauce.
This cafe, the first of its kind to open in the area, is loosely modelled on the classic Hong Kong cha chaan teng – or “tea restaurant” – a phenomenon that’s been popular in the region ever since the British colonisation.
ADVERTISEMENT
Just like our greasy spoons here, these cha chaan teng are no-nonsense cafes and tend to specialise in relatively low-brow, East-West hybrid fare – combining the culinary traditions of two different worlds.
Drinks are central to the whole concept, and at Hea we find multi-colored ice cream soda floats sitting side by side with the aromatic Hong Kong-style milk tea, which is typically brewed strong and served with evaporated milk.
Image: The Manc Eats
Image: The Manc Eats
It’s a refreshing shift away from your standard greasy spoon or butty shop and is staffed by the most lovely people. The service we receive on our visit is so warm and friendly, with owner Jack and his employee Jack Chan smiling non-stop, that we instantly feel at home.
ADVERTISEMENT
They even offer us some complimentary Shuimai, a sort of traditional Chinese dumpling, to enjoy alongside the raft of food we greedily order.
In the corner, a little ukulele sits in a box next to a sign that reads ‘play me’ and a tiny dog bowl of water. This really is just the most wholesome spot – good for the soul and full of comfort.
You’ll also find matcha ice cream, bubble waffles and a host of different milkshakes on the menu here, with the option to build you own however you like it – but it’s the tea and toast we’ve really come for, and it’s what we recommend you go for too. Trust us, you won’t regret it.
Feature image – The Manc Eats
Eats
V.Goode Pies – Michelin-recommended Manchester restaurant launches new pie shop
Daisy Jackson
A new pie shop has opened in Manchester today – and it comes from the same team behind a Michelin-recommended restaurant.
Chefs Shaun Moffat (of Winsome fame) and Sam Grainger (Madre, Belzan, Doug’s and loads more) have joined forces for V.Goode Pies.
The Oxford Road pie shop promises to serve ‘the kind of pies Manchester’s been waiting for’ that won’t cost the earth.
Shaun and Sam dreamed up the idea following the success of the pie offering at Winsome, which are a highlight of its proudly British menu.
Now open on Oxford Road, you’ll find four core individual pies as well as breakfast pies.
Expect classic flavours like cheese and onion, and meat and potato, but also less common creations like a lasagne pie and a breakfast pie too.
There’ll be the option to have your pie served in a barm, Wigan kebab-style, or have it as it comes after a hefty dunk in a vat of gravy.
Pie dinner trays at V.Goode PiesInside the breakfast pie and the lasagne pie at V.Goode PiesA pie barm at V.Goode PiesShaun Moffat and Sam GraingerTraditional British piesThe full spreadInside V.Goode PiesCredit: The Manc Group
You can also have it served on a classic dinner tray, with mash and mushy peas on the side.
As well as traditional fillings, V. Goode Pies will have more out-there bakes like a lasagne pie, where layers of pasta are packed into a pie crust.
You can also expect rotating specials and collaborations.
V.Goode Pies – or, to use its government name, Valerie Goode’s Pies – is inspired by co-founder Tom Fastiggi’s dinner lady grandmother and pie connoisseur.
V.Goode Pies will take over the old Loaf store on Oxford Road and is set to open on 18 November, with a pop-up also planned at Freight Island this winter.
The pie shop will be open Monday to Saturday, from 8am until they sell out.
Tesco unveils Britain’s favourite Christmas meal deal – is yours on here?
Thomas Melia
Supermarket giant Tesco has announced brand-new data revealing Britain’s favourite Christmas meal deals.
But has yours made the cut?
Of course, Christmas is famed for its food, especially the Christmas dinner, but nowadays, the days leading up to the big day have also become filled with foodie feasts, and nothing proves this more than the popularity of the Christmas meal deal – something which Tesco, arguably, knows how to do better than anyone else.
Tesco has been actively tracking the nation’s everyday eating trends all year long, and now that the festive season’s here, shoppers favourite Christmas meal deals have been announced.
It seems meal deal lovers are eager to get into the Christmas spirit, with the best-selling main being the Tesco Turkey and Trimmings Sandwich.
Tesco has unveiled Britain’s favourite festive meal deal / Credit: Tesco plc | The Manc Group
This roast dinner-inspiredbutty has been purchased over 2.5 million times between October and December 2024, and it was so popular, in fact, that it was chosen almost three times as often as this year’s runner up – Tesco Jingle Brie Sandwich.
To pair with this much-loved sandwich is the classic Mccoy’s Flame Grilled Steak Crisps, which are championing the snack category overtaking last year’s champion, Egg Protein Pot, which finished third this year.
And if you’re wondering what beverage Brits are pairing with their lunchtime combinations, it’s none other than Coca-Cola 500ml.
This will come as no surprise to any avid meal deal fans, as this drink has worn the crown as the nation’s favourite drink, not just during Christmas but the whole of 2024 itself.
Tesco top 10 festive meal deal mains (October – December 2024)
1.
Tesco Turkey & Trimmings Sandwich
2.
Tesco Jingle Brie Sandwich
3.
Tesco Yuletide Half ‘N’ Half Sandwich
4.
Tesco Christmas Wrapped Up
5.
Tesco Festive Chicken & Trimmings Sub
6.
Tesco Ho-Ho-Hog Wrap
7.
The Gym Kitchen Chicken Bacon & Stuffing Sandwich
8.
Tesco Cracking Currywurst Sub
9.
Tesco Finest Festive Chicken & Bacon with Gravy Mayonnaise Dip
“Turkey isn’t just for the big day, our customers love bringing festive flavours to their lunchtimes even as early as October,” commented Sarah Bryer, who is the Product Development Manager for Tesco Meal Deal.
“With the crowd-pleasing Turkey and Trimmings Sandwich back again, this year’s line-up of Meal Deal mains has something to suit both traditionalists and those looking for something new with the addition of our Honey Ham, Red Leicester and Festive Chutney Sandwich, Finest Brie and Bacon Brioche Bagel, and Tesco Plant Chef Festive Feast Wrap.“
Georgina Pellant -
26th July 2022 
