Manchester restaurant and food hall Hello Oriental has introduced a new dessert dish to its menu this month, and it’s been steadily dividing opinions since.
Comprised of a large bowl of salt and pepper chips, topped with piped-on vanilla ice cream, crispy onions and multicoloured party sprinkles, it takes inspiration from a cult McDonald’s trend that sees customers dip fries into their McFlurries or milkshakes.
Yes, that is (apparently) a real thing that people enjoy, so much so that McDonald’s even spoofed its customers with an April Fool’s advert in 2019 promising the introduction of a new series of banana, chocolate and strawberry ‘milkshake dips’.
Now, the bizarre fast food craze has taken an even stranger turn as Hello Oriental co-owners Ricky Yip and Azim Kourah introduce their own Eastern-inspired twist at their Oxford Road side.
Priced at £6.95 a tub, owners said that staff were initially divided over the concept but came soon round when they had tried it for themselves.
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Now, it appears that the salty-sweet fast food treat is taking Manchester by storm with people flocking down to Hello Oriental to get their hands on a tub.
It’s not the first time that the food hall has divided opinions with its desserts. Earlier this summer, operators started mixing up ice cream made from durian, widely known as the world’s stinkiest fruit.
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Famous for having a truly terrible smell that’s been unfavourably compared to cat p*ss, it’s so pungent that it’s actually been made illegal to eat it on the subway in Singapore.
Served in cute little bear and taiyaki fish-shaped cones, alongside typical soft serve flavours like ube (purple yam), pandan leaf, charcoal, mango and vanilla, on weekends you will also find a limited amount of durian ice cream here.
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Managing to be sweet, creamy and savoury all at once, some say it tastes like “diced garlic and caramel poured into whipped cream”.
Others have referred to “subtle hints of chives mixed with powdered sugar”.
Multi-storey ‘super-venue’ Hello Oriental was built beneath Symphony Park at the new Circle Square development just off Oxford Road in February this year.
Inspired by dining destinations like Bang Bang Oriental in London and 1800 in Miami, at its heart sits a vast market hall with a fast-paced open kitchen, UK-first supermarket and Hello Bakery.
Feature image – The Manc Eats
Manchester
Three arrested after Bonfire Night chaos sees fireworks thrown at Manchester police and fire fighters
Emily Sergeant
Three males have been arrested after fireworks were thrown at police officers and fire fighters in Manchester last night.
Greater Manchester Police (GMP) said officers were called out and quickly responded to reports of a large group of young people causing disorder and damage by lighting a fire on waste ground and throwing fireworks and missiles on Vine Street in Gorton just after 4:15pm on Bonfire Night yesterday (5 November).
Upon attending, fireworks were aimed at police officers and also colleagues from Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS), but thankfully, no injuries were sustained.
An investigation was immediately launched following shocking incident, GMP confirmed – with three males, aged between 16 and 18, all arrested on suspicion of causing violent disorder.
#ARREST | Last night we arrested three teenagers to stop further disorder in #Gorton and our enquiries are ongoing.
When attending, fireworks were aimed at our officers and also colleagues from the fire service. Thankfully no injuries were sustained.
They remain in custody for questioning at this time, with further arrests expected to follow.
The police are now appealing to the public for information, with Superintendent Richard McNamara, of GMP’s City of Manchester North District, saying: “It is shocking that we are seeing fireworks being used as a weapon towards emergency services as they try and keep our communities safe.”
He continued: “We know incidents like this will rightly cause concern to members of the local community and those people who enjoyed Bonfire Night safely.
“But I want to reassure the public that this is an isolated incident, which was dealt with very quickly by local neighbourhood officers with assistance from officers from our Specialist Operations branch, who brought the incident to a safe conclusion.
“We have also worked alongside our partners in the area throughout the evening by deploying joint patrols with youth services and colleagues in the fire service.”
Superintendent McNamara added that investigating officers are “pursuing several lines of enquiry that will ensure that all those responsible are brought to justice”.
Anyone with any information is asked to come forward and speak to GMP by contacting 101, quoting incident number 2294 of 5/11/24, or details can instead be passed anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Featured Image – GMP
Manchester
The restaurants and bars on the shortlist for Manchester Food and Drink Festival Awards 2024
Daisy Jackson
The full shortlist for the Manchester Food and Drink Festival Awards has been revealed, honouring the city-region’s best restaurants, bars, pubs, cafes and more.
The long-standing awards celebrate the vibrant hospitality industry across the North West, from producer to takeaway to prestigious restaurant.
Across 17 categories, 136 food and drink businesses of varying sizes will be celebrated, with nominees in categories across venue, chef, talent, event, newcomer and more.
The shortlist for the 2024 Manchester Food and Drink Festival Awards has been compiled by an expert judging panel, and the awards themselves are now open for public vote.
There will also be a series of mystery shopping visits by judges, who will anonymously score venues nominated in the awards, to be combined with the public vote.
The MFDF Awards will be held in January next year, with the winners revealed in a ceremony at the beautiful New Century.
Voting is open until midnight on 10 January, with the winners revealed at the Manchester Food and Drink Festival Awards 2024 dinner on Monday 27 January.
So without futher ado, here are all the amazing venues in Manchester vying for your vote.
Manchester Food and Drink Festival Awards 2024 shortlist
Affordable Eats Venue of the Year
Café San Juan, Stockport
Nell’s Pizza, Kampus
Wow Banh Mi, Ancoats
Hong Thai, Ancoats
Salt & Pepper, city centre
Nila’s Burmese Kitchen, Stretford
Mia’s Arepas, Freight Island
Sips & Dips, Levenshulme
Last year’s winner – Ornella’s Kitchen, Denton
Takeaway of the Year
Fat Pat’s. Food at Chips & No 8. Credit: The Manc GroupThe shortlist for Takeaway of the year at the Manchester Food and Drink Festival Awards
Chips @ No. 8, Prestwich
Ad Maoira, Ancoats and Salford
Maida Grill House, Salford
Lucky Mama’s, Chorlton
Codi’s Kitchen, Prestwich
Fat Pat’s, city centre
Mrs A’s Kitchen, Eccles
One Sushi, Oxford Road
Last year’s winner – Burgerism
Coffee Shop of the Year
Grind & Tamp, Ramsbottom
Fort Coffee, Deansgate
Allpress Espresso, NOMA
California Coffee & Wine, Altrincham
Another Heart to Feed, Northern Quarter
Bold Street Coffee, Cross Street
ManCoCo, Hewitt Street
Oscillate Coffee, Urmston
Last year’s winner – Grapefruit Coffee, Sale
Food and Drink Retailer of the Year
Oseyo ManchesterInside Ancoats Deli
Wandering Palate, Eccles
Petit Paris Deli, King Street
Out of the Blue, Chorlton
Chorlton Cheesemongers, Chorlton
Littlewoods Butchers, Heaton Chapel
Ancoats Deli, Ancoats
Lily’s Deli, Chorlton
Oseyo, Manchester Arndale
Last year’s winner – Cork of the North
Food Trader of the Year
House of Habesha, Salford
The Little Sri Lankan, pop-up
Cardinal Rule, Northern Quarter
Ad Maoira, Ancoats and Salford
Jaan By Another Hand, Peter Street
Baity, Salford
House of Bun, Radcliffe
Honest Crust, Mackie Mayor
Last year’s winner – Fat Pat’s
Foodie Neighbourhood of the Year
Monton
Prestwich
Salford
Urmston
Levenshulme
Altrincham
Denton
Sale
Last year’s winner – Stockport
Independent Drink Producer of the Year
Cloudwater Brew Co
Pomona Island Brew Co
Sureshot Brewing
The Salford Rum Company
Steep Soda Co
Pod Pea Vodka
Hip Pop
Balance Brewing & Blending
Last year’s winner – Track Brewing Co
Independent Food Producer of the Year
Companio Bakery
H.M.Pasties
La Chouquette
Great North Pie Co
The Flat Baker
Long Boi’s Bakehouse
Yellowhammer
Half Dozen Other
Last year’s winner – Pollen Bakery
Neighbourhood Venue of the Year
Cibus Pizza, Levenshulme
Ornella’s Kitchen, Denton
Fold Bistro & Bottle Shop, Marple Bridge
The Pearl, Prestwich
Restaurant Örme, Urmston
Tawny Stores, Marple
Vero Moderno, Salford
Bar San Juan, Chorlton
Last year’s winner – Stretford Canteen
Plant Based Offering of the Year
Maray, Albert Square
Lily’s Indian Vegetarian Cuisine, Ashton-under-Lyne
Wholesome Junkies, Northern Quarter
Allotment Vegan Eatery, Cathedral
Walled Gardens, Whalley Range
Little Aladdin, Northern Quarter
Herbivorous, Withington
Sanskruti, Mauldeth Road
Last year’s winner – Bundobust
Pop up or Project of the Year
Bungalow at Kampus
Tartuffe, Side Street, ABC Buildings
Midori Didsbury at Wine & Wallop
The Landing, Stockport
Love From, Kampus
Root to Flower
Sampa
Manchester Wine Tour
Last year’s winner – Platt Fields Market Garden
Pub or Beer Bar of the Year
MulligansNorth Westward Ho
Heaton Hops, Heaton Chapel
Port Street Beer House, Northern Quarter
North Westward Ho, Chapel Walks
Mulligans of Manchester, Deansgate
The City Arms, central
The Britons Protection, Great Bridgewater Street
The Old Abbey Taphouse, Hulme
Café Beermoth, Brown Street
Last year’s winner – The Marble Arch
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Great Service Award
Flawd Wine, Ancoats
The Pearl, Prestwich
Higher Ground, New York Street
Skof, NOMA
10 Tib Lane, central
Schofield’s Bar, Quay Street
Adam Reid At The French, The Midland
Ornella’s Kitchen, Denton
Last year’s winner – Hawksmoor
Bar of the Year
StrayRed Light
Red Light, Kampus
Flawd Wine, Ancoats
Speak in Code, Jackson’s Row
Project Halcyon, St John’s
Hawksmoor, Deansgate
10 Tib Lane
Stray, Mackie Mayor
Sterling Bar, Norfolk Street
Last year’s winner – Schofield’s Bar
Newcomer of the Year
The Pearl, Prestwich
Skof, NOMA
Medlock Canteen, Deansgate Square
Onda Pasta Bar, Oxford Road
Tawny Stores, Marple
Caravan, St John’s
Hakkapo, First Street
Flat Iron, Deansgate
Last year’s winner – Higher Ground
Chef of the Year
Iain Thomas (The Pearl)
Joe Otway (Higher Ground)
Tom Barnes (Skof)
Sam Grainger (Medlock Canteen)
Patrick Withington (Erst)
Danielle Heron (OSMA)
Sam Buckley (Where the Light Gets In)
Julian Pizer (Another Hand)
Last year’s winner – Shaun Moffat (Edinburgh Castle)