Food & Drink

A new vegan pasta restaurant has opened inside the former Vertigo site

Think deep-fried, loaded gnocchi, black cavatelli and pea and shallot ravioli

The Manc The Manc - 22nd November 2022

A new vegan pasta restaurant has opened in The Royal Exchange, bringing entirely plant-powered plates to Cross Street as it takes over the former Vertigo site.

Called Pastan, inside diners can expect to find a variety of handmade pasta dishes and other delicacies, all made with premium ingredients and cooked in full view of the restaurant.

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Serving a fully plant-based menu, favourites include the likes of loaded, deep-fried gnocchi, Dolce Vita (vegan carbonara), Green Velvet (a pea and shallot ravioli dressed in a salsa verde) and Catalonia (black cavatelli pasta made in a rich tomato sauce, spiced with apricot harissa and rosemary).

Image: Pastan
Image: Pastan

Elsewhere, pasta fans can dig into vegan Buffalo ‘mozzarella’ as part of its Portafina starter – a vegan spin on the popular Caprese, with added tomato, basil and olive oil – or opt for a shitake caesar salad, made with pulled exotic mushrooms, cashew ‘parmesan’, deep-fried gnocchi, Heura ‘chicken’ nuggets, lardons and vegan mayonnaise.

Dishes on the menu are set to change according to the season, and Pastan has partnered up with Carbon Free Dining – an environmental initiative that enables restaurants to mitigate the environmental impact of their meals by planting life-changing fruit trees in the developing world.

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Speaking on the new opening, Pastan Co-founder Jerome Ibanzes-Fawcett said: “Our love for food, fresh pasta, our concerns about sustainability, and passion for the hospitality industry was the driving force behind the creation of Pastan.

“We think Pastan will be a great addition to the already thriving vegan community in Manchester”.

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Image: Pastan
Image: Pastan

Co-founders Dean Fawcett and Jerome Ibanzes-Fawcett have worked in the hospitality industry for over twenty years.

After the success of their pop-ups in Neal’s Yard in Covent Garden, Notting Hill and Bristol, they opened their first permanent restaurant in Barbican, London. In addition to their brand new Manchester site, the pair plan on opening more locations in Bristol and Brighton towards the end of 2022/ early 2023.

Read more: One of Manchester’s first vegan restaurants has closed its doors for good

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Their new location, nestled in the heart of Manchester in The Royal Exchange, boasts a relaxed and cheerful vibe with aalk-ins and bookings both welcome.

To find out more and book a table, visit Pastan’s website here.

Feature image – Pastan

Food & Drink

Foldies – Popular Manchester pizza joint to open ‘the world’s greatest sandwich shop’

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson The team behind Brewski are opening a sandwich shop called Foldies. Credit: Brewski

The team behind Manchester’s much-loved Brewski and American Pies have announced a brand-new concept.

They’re claiming that Foldies, which is opening in the city centre later this month, will be ‘the world’s greatest sandwich shop’.

The team are already the proud creators of Brewski, home of outrageous creations like the ‘batter platter‘ (which included chicken poutine butties, beef shin rag pudding and a katsu curry fondue) as well as their deep-dish pizzas over at American Pies.

They recently shifted American Pies from its spot on Mosley Street, right near the Manchester Art Gallery, to Cutting Room Square in Ancoats, leaving that prime site ready for a new concept.

Enter Foldies, where you’ll find stone-baked sandwiches filled with overnight slow-cooked or cured meats and sauces made in house daily.

These folded pizza-style butties will be ready in 60 seconds and they claim it’ll be ‘your first true sandwich love’.

Foldies sandwiches by Brewski
Foldies sandwiches by Brewski. Credit: Brewski
Foldies sandwiches by Brewski
Brewski claims Foldies will be ‘the world’s greatest sandwich shop’

The dough for the sandwiches will be made with double zero flour, proved for 12 hours before being folded and cooked on a stone at 400 degrees.

Foldies will also served breakfast sandwiches, with fillings including scrambled sage and cheddar egg, and bacon, nduja, egg and crumbled goat’s cheese.

At lunchtimes, there’ll be everything from mortadella and pistachio pesto to a ‘pizza dog’ with crispy onions, Korean BBQ and fries.

Foldies is set to open at 58 Mosley Street at the end of November, and will be open from 7.30am-11.30am for breakfast, and 11.30am-6pm for lunch.

They’re currently giving away a chance to win free sandwiches for a year too – you can see more on that HERE.

Read more

Featured image: Brewski

Food & Drink

First look – Manchester’s magical Christmas karaoke cabins are back in town

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson Bar Hutte is back with Christmas karaoke cabins in Manchester

Everyone’s favourite festive pop-up, Bar Hutte, is ready to open in Manchester for another year of karaoke, festive drinks and live music.

The beloved wooden huts and twinkling fairy-lit spaces have reappeared, ready for their grand opening on Thursday.

Now with two sites in the city centre, Bar Hutte promises a vibrant festive atmosphere and loads of events running all the way through to the new year.

The alpine pop-up brings a taste of the apres-ski experience to two corners of Manchester – the waterside space at Kampus and Great Northern Square.

At Bar Hutte Kampus, the beautiful gardens will be made even more magical with the arrival of snug wooden karaoke huttes and an apres-ski bungalow, filled with cosy furnishings and glittering lights.

There’ll be a full schedule of Christmas movie nights, including Love Actually and Office Christmas Party, where you can relax with a mulled wine or fizz and popcorn, plus Kids Movie Mornings with family friendly festive hits like Polar Express and The Grinch.

On 21 November, Bar Hutte Kampus will host Ginger Hunter’s Sparkling Chalet Chic Drag Night, with festive bingo, games, and karaoke.

Nell's Pizza is served
Nell’s Pizza is served
Bar Hutte's siganture ski shots
Bar Hutte’s siganture ski shots
Bombardino, hot chocolate and a Baileys martini at Bar Hutte
Bombardino, hot chocolate and a Baileys martini at Bar Hutte

You’ll also be able to join in with freestyle painting workshops and wreath making sessions in the run-up to Christmas.

At the Santa Claus Club, kids will have an hour of karaoke fun and hot chocolate, plus the chance to meet Santa Claus himself.

Expect winter warmer drinks like Bombardinos and the Bar Hutte ski shot, festive cocktails, and classics like mulled wine and fizz.

And all of that is fuelled by giant pizza slices from Nell’s, who’ll be slinging out slices and whole pies from their restaurant next door.

Bar Hutte has popped up at Kampus
Bar Hutte has popped up at Kampus
Upstairs at Bar Hutte Kampus
Upstairs at Bar Hutte Kampus
Bar Hutte has popped up at Kampus
Bar Hutte has popped up at Kampus

Across town, Bar Hutte at the Great Northern will be a go-to party spot, with 14 cosy huttes under a heated stretch tent, with live singers, DJs, pizza made fresh on site and an exciting drinks menu.

Callum Winsper, operations manager at Bar Hütte, says: “We’re so pleased to bring Bar Hütte back to Manchester for another year.

“Our festive karaoke hüttes, lively courtyard and schedule of family events have become a holiday favourite in the city, and we’re proud to continue this tradition.

“We’re excited to return to both locations, Great Northern and Kampus, and we look forward to welcoming everyone – whether with friends, family, or colleagues – for another memorable Christmas season.”

Bar Hütte at Kampus opens on 14 November, while Great Northern Square opens on 15 November. You can make a booking HERE.

Read more

Featured image: The Manc Group

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