One of Manchester’s most unique restaurant concepts Six by Nico has this week launched its Masterclasses series to allow foodies to recreate the magic at home.
Chef Nico Simeone’s – the founder of the Six by Nico chain, which also has restaurants in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Belfast and Liverpool – latest offering finally gives his loyal customers the opportunity they have been waiting for – their turn to become the chef.
Six by Nico Masterclasses aims to transport customers to the Six by Nico kitchens, where they will be able to immerse themselves in the culinary creation of Chef Nico Simeone’s “exquisite, saporous and high-quality restaurant dishes”, with everything from prepping, to cooking and plating.
Each master class box contains all the ingredients needed to make two brand new recipes, both of which are perfectly-portioned for two and come complete with half a bottle of wine for each recipe.
The Six by Nico Masterclasses will teach you how to “prep, plate and pair recipes that wow your friends and family”.
With three restaurant-inspired courses to choose from every week, the recipes are designed for home cooking and will teach you how to build elevated dishes using a variety of ingredients.
As well as easy-to-follow instructions, Nico Simeone will also be on hand to help guide you through all the steps of his online video lessons, which are beautifully produced and will be streamed to Six by Nico Masterclasses’ private YouTube channel.
The Masterclasses series is the most immersive food experience yet from the initiative Scottish Chef, who opened his first Six by Nico restaurant in Glasgow in 2017.
Six by NicoSix by Nico
Speaking on the launch of Six by Nico Masterclasses, Nico Simeone said: “Unfortunately, because of the ever-changing constraints [making us] unable to open our restaurants, my team and I have adapted and curated a new culinary venture, Six by Nico Masterclasses.
“It’s our most immersive project to date, starting from today in five cities in the UK.
“A very exciting time for our team and a fresh fun experience for our Six by Nico community to learn and build the best possible recipe book imaginable from home”.
Masterclasses are now available to order for homes right across Manchester.
With a selection of new recipes added each week, you will be able to choose two to build your perfect box, with each recipe containing two portions.
Prices start from £60 for four portions.
Masterclasses offer a local delivery service within a strict five-mile radius of Six by Nico restaurants in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Belfast, Manchester and Liverpool, or you can opt for the takeaway/pick up service from their restaurant locations.
Northern Quarter favourite The Pen and Pencil announces massive 10th birthday party and huge offers
Daisy Jackson
The Pen and Pencil, an absolute staple for brunches and drinks in the Northern Quarter, is celebrating a major milestone this month with a huge party and some unbeatable deals.
The bar and restaurant will be marking 10 years on Tariff Street in September – and it’s only right that we all pile in to celebrate with them.
This spot is one of the city’s original bottomless brunch venues and is similarly famed for its happy hour offerings, and opened in 2015 to bring a taste of Manhattan to Manchester.
Pen and Pencil took its name from the infamous New York City bar that was seen in Mad Men.
And now as it turns 10 years old, it’ll be throwing one big party on Saturday 27 September, featuring 10 hours of DJs, free pints of Red Stripe at 10pm, and a special bottomless brunch offering.
Those DJing on the day will include Drag Race UK’s Banksie, as well as Les Croasdaile, Mark Hogg, Danny Ward and A Deeper Groove.
Pen & Pencil has amazing deals for its 10th birthdayPen & Pencil is a Northern Quarter OG
The Pen and Pencil 10th birthday party will kick off from 2pm and run until late – but if you can’t make that one, there’ll be celebrations all week (and, indeed, month) long.
On Tuesday 23 September, you’ll be able to play for double prize money in The Pen and Pencil quiz, as well as enjoying happy hour drinks all night.
Then on Friday 26 September, it’ll be an all-night happy hour, with free tequila shots at 10pm and music from DJs Nev Johnson and Gareth James from 7pm.
All September long, there’ll be 50% off food every Monday, two-for-£10 cocktails every Wednesday, £10 burgers every Thursday, happy hour all night on Fridays, 10 dishes for £10 and two bloody Marys for £10 on Sundays, plus DJs on Fridays and Saturdays.
There’s a new colourful art installation outside the venue inspired by the bar’s New York roots.
Owner Kevin Connor said: “We’re really excited to be celebrating being part of the Manchester community for ten years!
“New York’s Pen and Pencil was a classic steak and cocktail joint, and we’re proud to have created our very own iconic Northern Quarter hangout. We hope everyone will join us in celebrating ten years on Tariff Street.”
Walk-ins are welcome for The Pen and Pencil 10th birthday party on Saturday 27 September, but booking is encouraged – book your spot HERE.
Featured image: The Manc Group
Eats
Manchester restaurant to give out FREE katsu curries to people called ‘Kat’ or ‘Sue’
Emily Sergeant
In what is a small stroke of genius, a restaurant chain has decided to give out free katsu curries to anyone called ‘Kat’ or ‘Sue’.
Throughout September, award-winning restaurant chain Banana Tree – which has a Greater Manchester site down at Salford Quays – is shining the spotlight on its popular katsu creations, and as a clever way of celebrating National Katsu Day on 27 September has announced a pretty unique giveaway.
That’s right – the restaurant will be serving up katsu dishes to people called Kat, Sue, and every delicious variation of the names in between.
Anyone named Kat, Katie, Katherine, Sue, Suzy, Susan, Suzanne – or close enough to qualify, the list goes on – can head to their local Banana Tree restaurant, and all they’ll need to do is show proof of name and they can enjoy a free katsu dish of their choice, worth up to £16.75.
The chain’s kastu lineup includes three star dishes.
First there’s the much-loved Katsu Curry, as well as the all-new Katsu Burger, which is made from either a crispy chicken or veggie fillet, spicy mayo, puffed noodle crunch, and a drizzle of Katsu sauce tucked into a soft Shokupan bun with a side of salt n pepper chilli chips.
Then there’s also the intriguing newcomer, the Katsu Carbonara – which is described as being a daring East-meets-West mash-up and ‘unapologetically’ Banana Tree.
Banana Tree is giving away free katsu curries to people called ‘Kat’ or ‘Sue’ / Credit: Banana Tree
With each of these dishes usually priced around the £16 mark, the giveaway isn’t just a way of marking National Katsu Day, but it’s also a way to sample the some of the restaurant’s biggest crowd-pleasers entirely free of charge.
To avoid any confusion on who makes the cut, Banana Tree will reveal the full qualifying list of name variations on Instagram soon, so keep your eyes peeled.
“Our Katsu range is one of our proudest creations, so National Katsu Day felt like the perfect moment to have some fun with our fans,” a Banana Tree spokesperson said ahead of the giveaway.
The free katsu offer is available for four days only from Monday 22 to Thursday 25 September, and you just need to head to the Banana Tree website to sign up to the Big Flavour Club here.
Emily Sergeant -
15th January 2021 
