Five of Manchester’s finest and best-loved restaurants are battling it out in a unique cooking and cocktail and service competition on Wednesday 20 October.
As part of Edrington UK’s ‘CREATE’ project – an advocacy programme highlighting the strength in collaboration between the kitchen, the front of house, and the bartender teams – the chefs and bar staff at Australasia, Tast, Tariff & Dale, The Alchemist, and New World Trading Company – who own The Botanist – have been prepping and practicing ahead of the brand-new competition that’s challenging them to think differently about spirits.
The chefs and bar staff have been tasked with coming up with some tasty dishes and cocktails that each use a different brand of spirit, and these will then be expertly presented by the front of house to an exclusive, industry-leading judging panel on Wednesday.
Forget wine, the chefs taking part in CREATE will be cooking with Highland Park single malt whisky, Roku gin, and more.
CREATE is focusing on the importance of food pairing and service when creating the perfect consumer experience.
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It may be a competition, but this one-of-a-kind project has also given the participants one-on-one time with CREATE’s industry experts to allow for mentorship and coaching ahead of the big day.
CREATE’s founders say the project is about “crafting the spirit in food, together”.
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The restaurants and bars have been tasked with coming up with some tasty dishes and cocktails that each use a different brand of spirit / Credit: The Manc Group
The Manc’s very-own Food & Drink Editor, Georgina Pellant, will be on the judging panel at the competition – which is taking place at the neutral venue of Hilltop Country House in Macclesfield.
And our presenter and food-enthusiast, Joe McGrath, was also lucky enough to get to chat with two chefs and one bartender last week to find out how they were getting on in preparation for the big day and even get to sample some of the amazing food and drinks they’ve created and perfected using their chosen spirit.
The lucky winner of the competition will get some amazing prizes that will benefit the team at the restaurant, with features in CLASS Magazine, bespoke bar kits, and first-class butchery courses all up for grabs.
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Edrington UK will also be taking five of the winning accounts front of house staff through WSET Level 1 in Spirits.
All the restaurants taking part will get to make valuable connections and build long-lasting relationships with Edrington UK’s committed customers too.
CREATE kicks off at 9am on Wednesday 20 October at Hilltop Country House.
Featured Image – The Manc Group
Food & Drink
Beloved Manc butty shop Bada Bing set for a sensational return to the city centre
Danny Jones
Sandwich lovers rejoice because one of the finest butty shops to ever grace Manchester is returning: that’s right, Bada Bing is bada-back!
The Sopranos-inspired deli and sandwich shop that took its name from one of the central locations featured in the iconic US drama (yes, the strip club), was a huge success when it first opened in Manchester a few short years ago, so it was a huge blow when it closed in February 2022.
Starting out by serving sandwiches out of a window at The B Lounge pub on Paton Street near Piccadilly, before moving to a small kitchen on Radium Street and eventually setting up their stall inside Ancoats General Store, they would regularly have lines around the block every lunchtime.
These Italian-American sarnies were so popular you’d often struggle to get your claws on one – and believe us, they really are a two-handed task – as they’d sell out on what felt like most days. But now, whether you were a regular or someone who missed out, there is hope once again:
Announcing their sensational return to a new site over in the Northern Quarter, which will now mark the fourth premises they’ve popped up at, Bada Bing is back with a bang and, as you can, they dropped the news with one of the best reveal videos we’ve ever seen.
If you know, you know…
Set to take over 125 Oldham Street, owners Sam Gormally and Meg Lingenfelter haven’t yet graced us with an opening date but the new unit should hopefully be open sooner rather than later.
The duo, who previously worked at fellow NQ favourite Another Heart to Feed, came up with the concept during lockdown and it didn’t take long for the idea to take off, nor for them to earn their spot amongst the very best sandwich places in Manchester.
Seriously, these things were so big and unwieldy (in the best way possible) that they even used to come with eating instructions: both hands and the trademark Tony Soprano hunch recommended, though the slightly stained wife-beater, boxer shorts and open dressing gown look is optional.
From slices of provolone cheese, all the thinly sliced Italian meats you could think of and the closest thing to actual ‘gabagool‘ as you’ll find in Greater Manchester, the menu was fitting of being served up to the iconic characters that once sat outside Satriale’s and a big approving grin from the man himself.
Simply put, we cannot wait and we will certainly keep you posted when we find out exactly when Bada Bing confirms their official reopening date.
Burger King is giving away free burgers to new drivers today
Emily Sergeant
Burger King will be giving away burgers to drivers who have recently passed their tests for free of charge today.
In case it wasn’t on your radar, tomorrow (Thursday 24 July) is actually National Drive-Thru Day, and in a bid to properly celebrate this unofficial holiday, Burger King has decided to hand out a bunch of freebies to newbies today.
The fast food chain is asking all new drivers to “buckle up”, head on down to their nearest Burger King drive-thru, and help themselves to a free burger.
All newly-qualified drivers will be able to take their pick from either the Whopper or Chicken Royale without parting ways with a penny, and all they’ll need to do the claim their freebie is simply show off their learner’s ‘L Plates’ to the staff at their local Burger King restaurant.
/ Credit: Burger King UK (via Instagram) | Supplied
Hundreds of Burger King drive-thrus across the UK are taking part in the one-day promotion – including several across in Greater Manchester.
Although it might seem a little too good to be true, there’s a reason Burger King has chosen to dish out the freebies, and that’s because the company says it knows that one of the first activities newly-qualified drivers like do once they’ve passed their test is make a pit stop at a drive-thru with their mates to show off their new wheels and skills.
Sometimes though, navigating a drive-thru for the first time can be tricky, and this leaves new drivers feeling a bit like a rabbit in the headlights.
Luckily with this one-day Burger King offer, new drivers’ first drive-thru trip couldn’t be any easier.
The offer is available nationwide today (Wednesday 24 July) at Burger King drive-thru lanes only, while stock lasts, and newly qualified drivers must verbally mention “BK Plates” at the drive-thru lane to unlock their free burger.