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.
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.
/ Credit: Burger King UK (via Instagram) | Supplied
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.