An Altrincham-based chef, who is proudly “made in Manchester”, is set to represent our region in the latest series of Great British Menu.
Ashwani Rangta is currently the executive chef at GupShup in Hale.
Originally hailing from Shimla in northern India and now a respected name in the Greater Manchester food scene, Ashwani was the chef in charge at the award-winning restaurant of the luxury ITC Gardenia hotel in Bangalore, and was headhunted to run much-loved Manchester city centre-based Indian restaurant, Asha’s, before assuming his role at GupShup in the affluent Trafford suburb.
He has won multiple food awards throughout his career, including City Restaurant of the Year 2017, Best Indian Restaurant in Manchester, and in 2018, he won Best in North West Asian Curry Awards at Asha’s.
Ashwani’s style of food is said to be pan-Asian with modern British influences.
And he’s set to showcase this style of food as the smash-hit BBC show Great British Menu returns to our TV screens for its 16th series – which is tipped to be the most inventive one yet – next week.
Taking inspiration from early inventors in the world of computing – with 2021 marking the 30th anniversary of Sir Timothy Berners-Lee creating the world wide web – right through to modern-day medical pioneers and more, this series’ competing chefs will be demonstrating their culinary creativity through dishes that celebrate British innovation.
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There will be three episodes a week for the next eight weeks, covering each regional heat, and the chefs will have to prove their originality and technical flair to be in with the chance of serving their creations at thebanquet in the final.
In the North West heat, Ashwani will be up against Blackburn-born Kirk Haworth from Plates in London, Dan McGeorge from Rothay Manor in the Lake District, and Dave Critchley from Lu Ban in Liverpool.
Ashwani has described his time on the competition as an “exhilarating experience”.
Speaking on the return of Great British Menu, chef Rachel Khoo – who will join long-standing judges Matthew Fort and Oliver Peyton OBE on the judging panel this year, alongside a different guest judge each week – said: “I am delighted to be taking on the role of judge at the Great British Menu.
“We have some extraordinary chefs in the UK and the programme does a great job of showcasing that homegrown talent.
“I’m so proud to be part of the series and I can’t wait for viewers to see what’s in store”.
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Great British Menu returns to BBC Two on Wednesday 24th March at 8pm.
Food & Drink
Luxury Manchester steak restaurant launches bottomless brunch with endless rosé
Daisy Jackson
One of the newest luxury restaurants in Manchester is bringing back its suitably luxury bottomless brunch, with endless rosé and champagne.
The Cut & Craft is reintroducing its bottomless brunch, where you can sip on never-ending Whispering Angel Rosé while tucking into a flat iron steak.
And if you’re not fussed about the food and just want to indulge in 90 minutes of non-stop Moët & Chandon Champagne in a beautiful setting, there are bar-only tables available too, which come with complimentary black truffle crisps.
The whole thing will be soundtracked by a live DJ, dancers, and more.
Now, this landmark Victorian building is painted in rich blues and golds, with huge windows, private dining spaces, a sommelier lounge, and even a ‘gossip room’.
The Cut & Craft is reintroducing its bottomless brunch
Its bottomless brunch launched over the previous bank holidays and will be back again this August for one day only.
You can choose from bottomless Whispering Angel, Moët & Chandon Champagne, or both.
And dishes from the Cut & Craft bottomless brunch set menu include flat iron steak and chips; halloumi, steak or prawn fajitas; and grilled peach salad.
Each booking gets you 90 minutes of bottomless, with extra nibbles available like freshly shucked Carlingford oysters, caviar, olives, salted almonds, and more.
Whispering Angel tickets are £55 for bar, or £75 for restaurant.
Champagne AND Whispering Angel tickets are £80 at the bar or £100 in the restaurant.
Prestwich wine bar Chin Chin now serves roast dinner sandwiches
Daisy Jackson
A new (ish) wine bar in Prestwich has launched one of the city’s coolest Sunday offerings – roast dinner sandwiches, with a side of jazz.
If I’ve said it once I’ve said it 1000 times – Elnecot is up there as one of Manchester’s best Sunday roasts, with Yorkshire puddings you could fit a jug of gravy inside, blushing slices of roast beef, and generous portions that put you in the sort of food coma you should be in on a Sunday afternoon.
So when Roast Master (okay fine, his official job title is chef/owner) Michael Clay said that his sister venue Chin Chin was launching a Sunday offering, I was there with my nose pressed up at the window. I’m ready, Michael.
Sunday Sessions at Chin Chin, right in the heart of Prestwich village, brings that incredible roast beef and roast potatoes into a more casual format.
You can tuck into roast meat butties, roast potatoes loaded with cheese and gravy, and ice cream sundaes, all while perusing a well-thought-out wine list that’s written up by hand every time new bottles come in.
Oh, and did we mention there are £4 pints all day on Sunday – and that includes Guinness?
On the side of just about everything on the menu, you’re presented with a little bowl of extra gravy (how delightfully Northern) for dipping and dunking.
Sunday Sessions at Chin Chin in PrestwichRoast beef sandwiches at Chin ChinLancashire cheese toastiesThe BifanaLoaded roastiesWine and vinyl recordsInside Chin Chin wine barThe wine list at Chin Chin
Our top pick would be the roast beef sandwich, served between ciabatta rolls and laced with mustard mayo and caramelised onions.
But the cheese toastie is worth a visit too – a hefty helping of Lancashire cheese and charred spring onions, with a ‘secret sauce’ on the side.
Coming soon will be a new menu item, a Bifana sandwich. If you’ve trudged the streets of Portugal you’ll have come across these – thin slices of pork marinated in white wine and garlic, piled into bread with a punchy mustard. Chin Chin’s are excellent.
And for afters, because there is always room for dessert, it’s a lovely ice cream sundae topped with miso caramel and a showering of pistachios.
The whole time you’ll be eating with a soundtrack of jazz, played through the wine bar’s vinyl record system and Michael’s own personal collection of vinyls.
Chin Chin is open now on Bury New Road, with food on Sundays served between 12pm and 6pm.
Emily Sergeant -
15th March 2021 
