Food & Drink

Greggs vegan festive bake launches today – but how does it compare to the original?

Pastry chain Greggs has released its vegan festive bake - and its original version - today. We went to get one of each to see how they compare.

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson - 22nd November 2021

Christmas has come early as everyone’s favourite bakery releases a plant-based version of its famous festive bake.

Greggs’ festive bakes have finally arrived in stores this morning, November 22, after a three-week delay.

The new vegan version is made with Quorn pieces, sage and onion stuffing, a vegan bacon crumb, and a sage and cranberry sauce.

The original version is much the same, but with real chicken and bacon.

People have been flocking to their local Greggs to grab the delicious bakes, truly the first sign of Christmas.

ADVERTISEMENT
https://twitter.com/620dannyboy/status/1462498100589862915

Both versions are priced at £1.60 a piece.

The Manc went to get one of each – a vegan festive bake and an OG – to see how they compare.

ADVERTISEMENT

Appearance

The vegan festive bake (left) and the original (right). Credit: The Manc Group

There’s an immediate difference in appearance between the two festive bakes.

While the original, meaty one is golden-brown and freckled with pepper, the vegan bake is pallid and washed-out.

It’s like a before-and-after of a pasty that’s spent a fortnight in Benidorm.

ADVERTISEMENT

Once you cut into the bakes, there’s not much visible difference, though the vegan filling has all bunched up on one side in a weird gooey ball.

Texture

The festive bake (left) and the vegan bake (right). Credit: The Manc Group

The pastry lets the side down again with the plant-based festive bake.

While the original has a delicious crunch and visible layers in its puff pastry, its cruelty-free friend is a limp imitation. Pastry is just a bit sad without butter.

Both of the fillings are moist. Like, really, really moist. Closer in texture to a yoghurt than a Christmas dinner.

There’s barely any difference between the meat and fake-meat pieces though.

ADVERTISEMENT

As tends to happen with vegan dairy substitutes, the new festive bake has gone a bit gluey on the inside.

Flavour

It’s good news for vegan Greggs fans – there’s barely any difference in flavour between the two festive bakes.

Both are packed with all the good bits of Christmas, from the fragrant sage stuffing to the sweet cranberry sauce.

Featured image: Greggs / The Manc Group

Food & Drink

One of Manchester’s best restaurants is opening a ‘bread kitchen’ in Exhibition food hall

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson Jaan is a new Persian bread kitchen from the team behind Another Hand restaurant in Manchester

A Michelin guide restaurant in Manchester is branching out with a new project, and this time it’s all about bread.

The team behind Another Hand will be taking over one of the kitchens in food hall Exhibition, launching Jaan, which will specialise in Persian cooking.

The new bread kitchen will focus on Wildfarmed House Flatbreads, which will come with an array of seasonal toppings.

And a lot of the produce heading to the Jaan kitchen at Exhibition will be taken from what’s not used at Another Hand around the corner.

For example, a whole sirloin that’s used for Another Hand’s ex-dairy sirloin dish will provide meat trimmings that will be turned into Jaan’s beef tartare.

The tail and trim from Another Hand’s seared trout will head to Jaan to be used in a fire-roasted sea trout fatoush salad.

And the two restaurants will share other bits of produce too, like a squash that will go into both a Winter Squash small plate at the main restaurant and a scorched summer squash dish at the food hall.

Another Hand’s famous flatbreads will be the staple on the menu at Jaan, which is moving into the beautiful kitchen on Peter Street hot on the heels of the departure of Rigatoni’s.

Jaan is a new Persian bread kitchen from the team behind Another Hand restaurant in Manchester
Jaan is a new Persian bread kitchen from the team behind Another Hand restaurant in Manchester
Jaan is a new Persian bread kitchen from the team behind Another Hand restaurant in Manchester
Jaan will specialise in flatbreads

Since it launched in 2022, the restaurant’s become known as one of Manchester’s best, even earning a place in the Michelin guide.

It’s famed for its sharing plates, as well as the team’s efforts to drive sustainable practices, sourcing produce from across the north west.

Most ingredients used in the restaurant have travelled no more than 40 miles, and the bread comes from Holy Grain while the chocolate comes from Dormouse, both right next door.

Jaan will be moving in to the Exhibition food hall in Manchester
Jaan will be moving in to the Exhibition food hall in Manchester

They hope that Jaan will help their sustainable credentials even more, allowing them to use up almost every scrap of produce.

Small plates will all be served with house flatbreads, and toppings will include smoked aubergine, whipper butterbean, black garlic cheese bread, ex-dairy beef tartare, and ras el hanout spiced lamb.

And larger plates will include slow-cooked lamb shank with ancient grains, grilled octopus and nduja, and chermoula chicken rice.

Chef patrons Max Yorke and Julian Pizer said: “We feel extremely privileged to be offered the opportunity to cook alongside Osma and Baratxuri at Exhibition Manchester.

“Over the last few years our small 24 cover restaurant has generated a large waitlist and we are excited to showcase our new concept to a wider audience.

“Most importantly, as we make more steps to improve our environmental standards, our food waste systems showed an obvious area in which we could develop.

“By opening a second kitchen in such a fast paced venue we can take unused produce from Another Hand and even further reduce, and hopefully eradicate, our wastage.”

Jaan Persian Bread Kitchen will open within Exhibition on 8 May, joining Osma and Baratxuri
on the venue’s restaurant floor.

Read more

Featured image: Supplied

Food & Drink

Gary Neville lines up Michelin star chef for his Stock Exchange Hotel restaurant

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson Gary Neville has announced the Niall Keating will open Tender in the Stock Exchange Hotel's restaurant space

Gary Neville has announced a new restaurant within his five-star Stock Exchange Hotel, which will open almost a year after the previous eatery announced its shock closure.

The magnificent dining room at the heart of the hotel was previously home to Tom Kerridge’s The Bull & Bear, which closed at the end of 2022.

It was then replaced by Stock Market Grill, a restaurant by the award-winning Schofield brothers (who operate officially the best bar in the UK) – but that was open for only a matter of months.

Thankfully, the Manchester United legend and property mogul now has grand plans for the Stock Exchange’s restaurant offering, roping in two-time Michelin star chef Niall Keating.

Niall will be launching Tender this summer, a luxury dining experience ‘named after the tender care put into crafting each dish’.

There’ll be gourmet food for everyday dining within the hotel’s historic dining room, which will undergo a renovation before Tender’s launch.

Its menu will offer weekday brasserie lunches, a la carte dinners, afternoon teas, Sunday roasts, a chef’s table and a special tasting menu.

The Stock Exchange Hotel is home to one of Manchester's most beautiful restaurant spaces. Credit: The Manc Group
The Stock Exchange Hotel is home to one of Manchester’s most beautiful restaurant spaces. Credit: The Manc Group
The Stock Exchange Hotel is home to one of Manchester's most beautiful restaurant spaces. Credit: The Manc Group
The Stock Exchange Hotel is home to one of Manchester’s most beautiful restaurant spaces. Credit: The Manc Group

Niall Keating at just 33 years old has already earned two Michelin stars, making him one of the youngest two-time Michelin star chefs in the UK.

His CV has included stints in kitchens at the best restaurants in the world, including Restaurant Sat Bains and Benu in San Francisco (a three Michelin-star spot).

He then headed to The Dining Room at Whatley Manor Hotel, where he earned his first star in 2017 and a second in 2019, as well as a prestigious Green Star in 2021 which recognises sustainability practices.

Speaking about today’s announcement, Gary Neville, owner of Stock Exchange Hotel, said: “We couldn’t be happier to be partnering with Niall Keating for Tender and bringing his culinary expertise to the hotel.

“His vision to create versatile and accessible dining options is exactly what we’ve been looking for, to allow everyone visiting Tender to find the right experience for them.”

Niall Keating added: “From when I first walked through the doors of the hotel into the dining room, I knew this was the place for me and that we could create something really special.

“I immediately felt connected to both Gary and General Manager, Tracy Harrison, and I knew what I wanted to create at the hotel and restaurant. I want a space that feels vibrant, warm and energetic, that brings to life the history of the stock exchange roots of the hotel, while providing an upscale and comfortable brasserie dining experience.

“In addition to the main dining room, we will also be opening ‘The Bank’, which is a beautiful private space for up to 12 guests, where we will be providing a truly exceptional dining experience.”

Gary added: “We will also shortly be announcing a series of events and live music experiences, including a weekly music plan, within Tender, that will really bring the venue to life, making it the heart of Stock Exchange Hotel.”

Tender restaurant at the Stock Exchange Hotel will officially open on 5 June.

Its opening hours will be Wednesday to Saturday, midday to 10pm, and Sundays midday to 7.30pm.

Read more

Featured image: Supplied

More Food & Drink

Bury

Inside Popeyes as fried chicken restaurant opens its first Manchester drive-thru

Tom Barnes with the team outside Skof, a new restaurant opening in Manchester in May. Credit: Supplied

Eats

Skof, Manchester’s most hotly-anticipated restaurant, confirms opening date and menu prices

free popeyes fried chicken sandwiches manchester drive-thru opening date

Bury

Popeyes is giving away FREE chicken sandwiches to celebrate the opening of their second Manchester site

Audio

Clint Boon takes us around Manchester's iconic Deaf Institute

Eats

We go meatballs deep with Mira's traditional Neapolitan sandwiches