A restaurant in Manchester has released a new tasting menu inspired by the weird and wonderful world of fairytales.
Crowd-pleasing favourite Six By Nico is known for its six-course tasting menus that change every six weeks.
Its newest menu A Feast of Stories draws inspiration from children’s storybooks and fairytales with nods to the likes of well-known tales Beauty and The Beast, Oliver Twist and Matilda.
The most eye-catching dish, based on pictures alone, looks to be the final course – a rose-shaped dessert served in a glass cloche.
Image: Six By Nico
Reminiscent of the dying, enchanted rose that marks the Beast’s final chance for redemption, Six By Nico’s version is completely edible – a combination of mascarpone creme, rose, hibiscus and rhubarb.
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Elsewhere you’ll find the unironically named ‘Please Sir, Can I Have Some More’, a combination of confit potato, hay baked potato mousseline, preserved wild Garlic and pickled onion.
Promising to ‘leave you hungry for more’ diners are advised on this first course to ‘lift the lid to reveal a satisfying second helping’ as chef Nico Simone plays with one of his strengths, the contrast of appearance and reality.
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Further dishes include the intriguing-sounding ‘Paddington Bear Marmalade’ with mushroom XO marmalade, sourdough bruschetta, truffle and ox cheek ragou and a Matilda-inspired tandoori carrot dish with carrot remoulade, carrot top pesto, saffron pickled carrot, citrus goats curd.
Further down the menu, there’s a Danny, Champion of the World-inspired plate of cured and torched Loch Etive trout, smoked bone veloute, artichoke, sea herbs, bergamot gel and salted cucumber and duck dish that nods to the infamous tale of the ugly duckling.
TItled ‘The Ugly Duckling, the Most Beautiful’, here chefs combine duck, leg boulangere, pickled walnut, salsify, toasted cereal, pear and fig.
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‘The Ugly Duckling, the Most Beautiful’ / Image: Six by Nico
As well as vegetarian alternatives, the ‘Once Upon a Time’ theme also offers a Mary Poppins – Spoonful of Sugar Aperitif and Fantastic Mr Fox– Farmer Bunce’s liver and doughnuts as a side snack.
The menu promises to ‘take guests on a journey through the huggable bear from Peru’s adventures in London, across the dark and mysterious forest that surrounds the Beast’s Castle and into the river with the Ugly Duckling as he matures into a majestic Swan – the most beautiful bird of all. ‘
Chef Nico Simeone said: “Our ‘Once Upon A Time’ theme is a gastronomic journey through the enchanting realm of fairytales and folklore.
“It’s also a new chapter for Six by Nico restaurants as we introduce a new wave of engaging themes that provide our customers with unique food and drink experiences”.
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The menu is priced at £32 per person with the option to enjoy matching wine pairing for an additional £27. Additional aperitifs and snack sides are not included in the set price.
Inside Prologue, Stockport’s brand new independent bookshop, cafe, and wine bar
Lydia Mastrolonardo
Stockport is celebrating the arrival of a stunning new bookshop, which doubles up as a cosy café by day and a swanky wine bar by night. What more could we possibly ask for?
Created by the team behind Bramhall’s award-winning independent bookshop, Simply Books, you know we’re in good hands – with a selection of literary events, book clubs, and comedy nights, as well as live music, language classes, and writing workshops all under one roof.
Prologue can be found nestled inside Weir Mill, the new Capital&Centric development by the River Mersey, which houses 253 homes inside Grade II-listed cotton mills and industrial-style new builds.
It’s described as a meeting point for readers, writers, and creatives to connect with like-minded people, learn new skills, and explore new authors or music – with at least two live ticketed events a week.
This new bookstore concept is a welcome addition to the growing selection of independent local businesses popping up across Stockport in recent months, providing further space for the community to thrive.
Upon entering, you are met with every literature-lover’s dream bookcase – a 10m wall of books equipped with two rolling ladders, stocking every kind of genre imagineable, alongside a stylish bar area.
A miso martini and mango picante at ProloguePrologue will host events all week roundBasket of books
The ‘best book sellers in town’ are also doing things a little differently with a concierge desk for buying books, joining clubs or asking for recommendations, instead of a regular checkout.
However, the centre piece of the space is definitely the purpose built stage to accommodate a range of speaking events and live music, contrasted by the cosiest reading nooks lining the perimeter.
Not to mention a lovely outdoor area which will be absolutely perfect in the warmer months.
Prologue has a wide selection of specialty coffees on offer, seamlessly flowing into a sleek wine and cocktail bar in the evening, with drinks like a miso martini and a mango picante.
This one isn’t just for adults, there are also plenty of children’s books stocked making it the perfect location for a waterside café family day trip, down under the viaduct.
Cosy reading nooks at PrologueA huge range of curated books
Ben Johns, co-founder of Simply Books and Prologue, said: “We’ve always believed that bookshops are a place of connection. With Prologue, we wanted to create something special for Stockport – somewhere everyone can feel right at home. We can’t wait to get to know a whole new community of readers.”
If you like it as much as we did, there is also the opportunity to join the Prologue Society. As a member you gain presale access to all events, treats throughout your membership like a free birthday book or coffees and tickets for quarterly special events such as supper clubs and bookshop lock-ins.
Not to mention exclusive access to new releases and early entry to events.
Opening Saturday 3 October at Prologue, Weir Mill, Stockport, SK3 0GS.
Bar Fringe – The decades-old eccentric Manchester pub with one of the city’s best beer selections
Harry Quick
If you’re looking for some of the best European beers in Manchester, there’s one quirky boozer you need to know about.
This is Bar Fringe on Swan Street, and it’s been serving Belgian and continental beers since 1996 – meaning a very happy 30th birthday to this absolute cult classic.
The whole place was built around a love of North European beer culture, bringing a bit of that classic Belgian café feel to Manchester.
And while the beer list is always changing, at the minute they’re celebrating Oktoberfest, so the German stuff is very much the flavour of the month.
And the beer really is the star of the show. You’ll find a huge selection of Belgian and continental bottles, Trappist ales, lagers and changing cask beers, with plenty of interesting and unusual options you’re unlikely to find in your average pub.
It’s also earned a proper reputation with CAMRA and real-ale drinkers over the years, so if you’re serious about your beer, this is definitely one to have on your radar.
But there’s much more to Fringe than what’s behind the bar.
Look around and you’ll find cartoons, pink elephants, a motorbike and an old jukebox firing out everything from vintage metal to indie classics.
Bar Fringe is an eccentric pub specialising in European beers in Manchester. Credit: The Manc Group
And then there’s the beer garden.
Tucked away at the back, it’s a surprisingly chilled little spot, packed with plenty of nooks and crannies to settle into with a pint.
And with such a huge selection behind the bar, there’s a pretty good chance you’ll be drinking something you’ve almost definitely never tried before.
So, if you’re into European beer, slightly eccentric pubs and places with a bit of proper Manchester character, put Bar Fringe on your list.
Georgina Pellant -
18th January 2022 
