A restaurant in Manchester has created what it says is the ‘world’s hottest curry’ and will be dishing it up to customers in honour of National Chilli Day this Thursday.
Zouk Indian restaurant, located just off Oxford Road next to the Manchester Metropolitan University campus, has previously made this super-hot chicken curry for special occasions – now, it’s bringing it back with even more heat added.
Made using the renowned fiery chilli pepper the Carolina Reaper, which holds the Guinness Book of World Records title of world’s hottest chilli, Zouk’s special karahi brings an eye-watering heat that’s not for the faint of heart.
Image: Zouk
A popular late-night meal originating in northwestern Pakistan, the karahi is typically prepared in a reduced tomato and green-chilli base – but at Zouk. the team are using a mixture of fresh, dried and pureed Carolina Reapers in their dish.
According to owner Tayub, this brings a ‘triple hit of heat’ so intense that the restaurant is asking guests to sign a disclaimer before they dig in.
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“Last time we did this we were really surprised by how many people wanted to take up the challenge and give the Carolina Karahi a try.” said Tayub.
“Manchester has some real chilli lovers out there!”
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Image: Zouk
“Our food is usually more about flavour than heat but it’s National Chilli Day, so you’ve got to go all out.”
According to the restaurant, its chefs even struggle with the heat a little when preparing the dish – but they’re eager to see how many chilli lovers can muster it this week.
Available for one day only, the Carolina Karahi is priced at £14.95 for dine-in only – but, if you manage to finish the dish, you won’t be charged and you’ll even be treated to a free ice cream sundae afterwards.
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On top of that, those who finish the whole thing will also be invited back to enjoy one of Zouk’s huge Sunday roast sharing platters on the house at a date of their choosing.
If this sounds like a bit of you, you’ll need to make a reservation for Thursday 24 February and include the booking reference ‘Caroline Reaper’.
Feature image – Zouk
Food & Drink
Inside Chinatown’s enormous new three-storey restaurant, with futuristic karaoke booths
Daisy Jackson
A gigantic three-storey restaurant and karaoke bar has just opened its doors in Chinatown in Manchester.
Sovereign Clouds is the newest addition to one of the city’s most beloved and ever-evolving neighbourhoods, taking over a sizeable building on Faulkner Street that’s been vacant for 10 years.
Inside the 1,000 sq metre space, you’ll find a glittering restaurant adorned with marble and gold, where you can tuck into a massive menu of dim sum and traditional dishes.
One floor up and you’ll find yourself surrounded by live lobster tanks and the massive kitchen, alongside several flexible private dining spaces.
And up on the top floor are the most futuristic karaoke rooms in town, where you can customise lights, LED ceilings, and even sing through an autotune microphone.
Three roast meats from Sovereign CloudsDelicious dim sumAuthentic Chinese cooking from Sovereign CloudsBlack Gold Lava Buns with salted custard fillingThe massive Sovereign Clouds restaurant
On the menu you’ll find tonnes of steamed dim sum, stir fries, traditional claypot stews, roast meats, and loads more.
There’s seafood like stir-fried lobster with salted egg yolk, and traditional Cantonese steamed grouper; a whole section for abalone (advance orders only) including braised goose feet and fish maw; and a good selection of spicy Sichuan dishes.
The chefs here also have an impressive array of Chinese roast meats, like Peking crispy duck, pork belly, and char siu, as well as three roast meats with rice.
Futuristic karaoke roomsThe main restaurant at Sovereign CloudsFuturistic karaoke rooms
And that’s alongside ingredients you don’t find on a lot of menus in Manchester, like jellyfish, tripe, and century eggs.
It’s all led by Terry Ni, who has been behind the popular Dynasty Chinese and Thai takeaway in Timperley for more than a decade, and has spent years transforming this empty old building into one of Chinatown’s most glittering restaurants.
Come for dinner, stay for a turn on the karaoke upstairs, and tell everyone – Sovereign Clouds is a fantastic addition to Manchester.
‘Surreal’ moment Stevie Wonder dines at Stalybridge restaurant after enormous Manchester gig
Daisy Jackson
Stevie Wonder has stunned a local restaurant in Stalybridge after he popped in for dinner after his massive Manchester show.
The soul icon had performed a huge gig at Co-op Live on Sunday night, performing hits from his illustrious, decades-long career.
And while you might expect someone of Stevie’s fame and stature to dine at one of the city centre’s many Michelin-recommended restaurants, the star instead headed straight for the suburbs.
He was spotted dining at Cafe Continental, an independent restaurant that’s become one of the Greater Manchester’s most-hyped neighbourhood haunts since it launched two years ago.
The stylish spot is famed for its European-style restaurant and cafe culture, aiming to recreate the atmosphere of the sort of place you’d stumble upon down a back street in Rome or Paris.
On the menu they’ve got a rotation of small plates, open-fire dishes, pastas and burgers, along with their divine Parisian hot chocolate, served with a bowl of whipped cream on the side.
Cafe Continental has had a good track record for pulling in local famous faces, but arguably nothing comes close to Stevie Wonder himself.
Inside Cafe Continental in Stalybridge. Credit: The Manc GroupSoup and focaccia at Cafe Continental. Credit: The Manc Group
The night before Stevie’s visit, they’d served his band and daughter – and clearly word got back to Stevie fast, because he returned the next night to test it out for himself.
Cafe Continental posted: “Surreal things happen now and again. This is one of them! Pleasure to welcome Mr Stevie Wonder to the restaurant to close off his tour!”
And according to the MEN, Stevie left a whopping £1,000 tip for the staff.
Not only did Stevie Wonder support a local hospitality business, but he also arrived dressed in Drama Call, a Manchester-based sportswear brand.
Georgina Pellant -
22nd February 2022 
