Dakota Grill – the popular restaurant housed at boutique hotel Dakota Manchester – has unveiled a limited-edition menu showcasing six “statement” courses for just £40 per person.
A Taste of Dakota is an exclusive new menu that defines the unique style of Dakota Grill.
The restaurant – which is renowned for its “feel-good food with a fabulously fine twist” serving up quality and seasonally-inspired dishes – has curated a menu like nothing else in the city by blending some of the finest ingredients to create an explosion of flavour.
So, what exactly can you expect then?
In true Dakota style, the A Taste of Dakota menu starts with an amuse bouche, followed by pork cheek with pear, hazelnut and parma ham for a sweet, nutty and salty flavour all in one. Then you can tuck into a twist on a king scallop, which is served with cauliflower cheese, pancetta and pea, before moving on to signature, prime cut, grass-fed, 35-day-aged beef steaks – which are Dakota’s speciality.
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Sourced from the very best British farms, you can enjoy a lightly-seasoned Chateaubriand beautifully cooked to your preference over hot coals, or try the 500g sharing steak, which is served with shallot puree, confit tomatoes and, fries.
For dessert, you can try a British twist on an Italian classic – Earl Grey panna cotta with lemon foam – and then finally, finish on a richer note with chocolate and pistachio with blackberry sorbet.
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There’s also the option to add on sides of short rib mac & cheese, truffle and parmesan fries, and vegetables and salads.
Dakota Manchester
If you’re a vegetarian, you can enjoy port poached pear with hazelnut and chicory, followed by crispy cauliflower with a classic combination of soy, ginger and garlic, and then hay-baked celeriac with truffle potato puree and tenderstem broccoli.
A lemon posset with blackberry will cleanse the palette, before an indulgent millionaire’s shortbread with caramel ice cream brings the meal to a finish.
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The exclusive A Taste of Dakota menu is available for a limited time only.
Dining at Dakota Grill is described as “the ultimate decadent dining experience”. Situated on the ground floor of the Dakota Manchester Hotel, the restaurant’s sleek interiors and intimate dining zones combine both luxury and comfortability.
Reservations for A Taste of Dakota must be made in advance and the menu can be enjoyed Monday to Thursday from 5 – 7:30pm, and Friday from 4 – 7:30pm up until 12th November 2020.
You can make a booking via the Dakota Manchester website here.
Eats
Brilliant Saddleworth restaurant shares statement after devastating fire that brought village to a standstill
Daisy Jackson
A brilliant restaurant in Saddleworth has been left ‘badly damaged’ after a huge blaze ripped through it yesterday afternoon.
Hot Duck in Uppermill, a modern Chinese establishment tucked above a takeaway, said that the fire on Sunday 6 September has been ‘devastating’.
Both Hot Duck and Hei Hei, which share a building on the village’s high street, will be closed for the foreseeable future.
But in a statement, Hot Duck said they will ‘do everything we can to come back stronger’.
They reassured customers that everyone is safe following the blaze.
Six fire engines from across Greater Manchester scrambled to the fire yesterday, with High Street closed while emergency services attended.
Locals were asked to avoid the area on Sunday evening.
Hot Duck said in a statement: “Thank you to everyone who has reached out over the last 24 hours. As many of you know, our restaurant has suffered a devastating fire affecting our whole building.
Inside Hot Duck in Uppermill before the fireHot Duck’s incredible dim sum
“Thankfully, everyone is safe, and for that, we’re incredibly grateful. We are still processing what comes next.
“It’s heartbreaking to see something we’ve worked so hard on over the years so badly damaged.
“The kindness, messages, calls, and offers of help mean more than we can put into words. To our customers, friends, neighbors, suppliers, and the wider community, thank you. Your support has given us hope at a time we really needed it.
“For now, the restaurant will remain closed while we begin the long process of rebuilding. It won’t be easy, but we will do everything we can to come back stronger. We’ll keep you updated. We will be back.”
The Greater Manchester book café serving literary afternoon teas and build-your-own bouquets
Daisy Jackson
If you like your afternoon tea with a side of good books, there’s a Greater Manchester café where you can quite literally have your cake and read it too.
Tucked inside this charming bookish spot, afternoon tea arrives with an unexpected twist. Rather than being presented with the usual three-tiered stand, you’re handed a stack of heavy hardback books.
But don’t start worrying that you’ve accidentally wandered into a very niche library club. The books are hiding something.
Lift the covers in Peony & Parchment – or, more accurately, open the book-shaped boxes – and you’ll discover a full afternoon tea concealed inside.
There are dainty sandwiches to get stuck into, including tiny egg mayo, herby chicken salad, ham and mustard, and cheese and tomato focaccia, alongside a little quiche.
Then comes the scone – classic, fluffy and ready for the obligatory dollop of clotted cream and jam. And, because no afternoon tea should leave you feeling like you’ve been short-changed in the cake department, there are five miniature slices to work through.
Afternoon tea concealed in a stack of booksSome of the other bakes on display
There’s a Victoria sponge with a dreamy vanilla cream, lemon drizzle, rich chocolate cake, a Bakewell slice and a pecan pie, all sourced from a local bakery just across the alleyway.
It’s all served with a pot of tea or coffee, with the option to add a glass of prosecco.
And the bookish theme doesn’t stop at the afternoon tea.
Downstairs you’ll find shelves packed with books, including the intriguing ‘blind books’. Instead of judging a book by its cover, you’ll be given clues and a short summary of what lies inside before taking a gamble on your mystery read.
Downstairs in Peony & Parchment‘Blind books’A role playing village for kids
There’s also plenty here to keep younger visitors entertained, thanks to a children’s area complete with a mini role-playing village.
And if books and cake weren’t enough, there’s another string to this café’s bow.
The Bloom Bar lets you build your own bouquet. Choose the size you want, then wander around selecting your own stems and foliage to create something that’s uniquely yours.
You can build your own bouquetThe Bloom Bar at Peony & Parchment
Of course, you don’t have to be visiting specifically for the afternoon tea. The wider menu includes tapas, full breakfasts and sandwiches, making it just as suitable for a leisurely brunch, lunch or coffee-and-cake stop.
So whether you’re there to discover your next favourite novel, assemble a bouquet, entertain the kids or simply eat your way through five different miniature cakes, this is one café where there are plenty of chapters to explore.
Emily Sergeant -
30th October 2020 
