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The Manc - 9th January 2020

Eats

Legendary Manchester bakery Gooey opens second cafe on Oxford Road

Daisy Jackson

Manchester’s beloved bakery and brunch spot Gooey has opened its second location in Manchester city centre.

The bakery is famed for its chunky freshly-baked cookies, its pillow-soft doughnuts, and its sticky, icing-topped cinnamon rolls, as well as viral brunch dishes.

And now it’s expanded with a second cafe of its own, down at Circle Square on Oxford Road.

For the first time ever, you’ll be able to get your hands on a Gooey meal deal – a homemade sandwich to go, one of their famous cookies, and a drink, for £10.50.

Take out sandwich fillings include chicken Caesar, deli classics, and egg salad.

And exclusive to this new location are speciality drinks, like French toast iced lattes and strawberry matcha.

That’s alongside all the brunch favourites such as gigantic cubes of French toast stuffed with dulce de leche, gooey egg sandos on toasted Shokupan bread, avo on toast, and perfect hash browns.

Gooey has taken over the old Doug’s site, a burger joint which has quietly departed the city in the last year.

It joins a thriving local food and drink scene at Circle Square that includes Onda, Federal, Hello Oriental, Half Dozen Other, and Monkey Trio.

This is Gooey’s biggest site yet at 70 covers, joining its existing cafe in the Northern Quarter as well as its kiosks across the North West (Manchester Airport, Ducie Street Warehouse, Selfridges Trafford Centre, and in Liverpool).

To celebrate their opening, Gooey will be giving away 100 free sandwiches,100 free iced matcha and 200 cookies from midday on Thursday 14 May.

Charlotte Wild, associate retail director at Bruntwood SciTech, said: “The Gooey kiosk was a huge success in Circle Square and we are pleased that the team is now moving to a bigger unit to bring even more sweet baked treats to Circle Square.

“The new cafe looks great and the increased capacity will ensure even more customers can enjoy the delicious menu. We are delighted to support the success of a local home grown brand as it continues its expansion.”

Gooey is open daily seven days a week, from 8am to 5pm, at No.1 Circle Square on Oxford Road.

Featured image: The Manc Group

Eats

Tiny shipping container Italian opens its own Northern Quarter deli

Daisy Jackson

A tiny Italian cafe that started life in a shipping container has opened its very own cafe and deli in the Northern Quarter.

Marleo, one of the most authentic Italian spots in Manchester, has transformed a unit on Oldham Street into a sunny yellow Sicilian cafe.

Here, you’ll find a counter stuffed with classic Sicilian street food, like perfect cone-shaped arancini, fresh focaccia sandwiches, and pizzette.

Maria and Leo are the couple behind this Northern Quarter newcomer (though you might already know them from Pollard Yard), and they want to create a space that echoes the magic of the Italian island.

You can order a coffee to drink at the counter, the true Italian way, with a cannoli or a cornetto pastry on the side.

There are vibrant salads to take away, along with all those doughy Italian delights to go.

But Marleo Little Sicily also has a small seating area tucked in the back, where a lemon tree climbs up the walls and traditional Testa di Moro peer out from the shelves.

A full spread of Sicilian treats from Marleo in Manchester

Fresh focaccia sandwiches at Marleo — A full spread of Sicilian treats from Marleo in Manchester

Highlights on the counter include Ravazzate, a soft Sicilian bread pun stuffed with homemade, slow-cooked meat and other fillings, like a classic Genovese.

There are also Cipolline, a homemade puff pastry treat packed with fillings like spinach and chilli, or pistachio and mortadella.

Leo has brought a dish from his hometown too – nfigghiulate is a traditional, rustic Italian pastry that’s wrapped around sausage and onion and fennel.

They’ve got a full range of arancini too, stuffed with ham and bechamel sauce, or creamy mushrooms and mozzarella.

Marleo Little Sicily will open its doors at 93 Oldham Street this week.

Featured image: The Manc Group