Manchester’s Jewish Museum cafe may have only been open for a year, but the quality of its food has already been recognised with an award.
Taking home the gong for 2022’s Cafe or Restaurant of the Year category at the Museums and Heritage Awards, the local eatery pipped both the English Heritage Stonehenge cafe and the Whitchurch silk mill riverside cafe to the top spot.
Its contemporary vegetarian kosher-style menu uses local produce, and authentic Jewish and vegetarian ingredients, and is created on three core principles: bringing people together, evolving recipes, and meals to nourish and sustain you.
Those heading down will find a vegetarian and vegan menu inspired by two different Jewish diasporas: the northern European Ashkenazi style and the rich, Mediterranean Sephardi way of cooking.
Think smoked carrot lox bagels, vegetarian cholent served with challah bread, and the ‘Not Quite Traditional ‘Chicken’ Soup’ – a hearty vegetarian broth with oyster mushrooms and Matzo balls available on Fridays and Saturdays.
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Smoked carrot lox bagels from the cafe made with vegan cream cheese, carrot lox and beef tomato. / Image: Manchester Jewish Museum
Elsewhere, you’ll find lentil soup with spinach and a drizzle of zesty lemon oil served with pita and Israeli street food-inspired falafel plates or pita served with homemade hummus, tahini sauce, zhug, chopped salad, seasonal salad leaves, and pickled chilli pepper.
Drinks-wise, in the hopper you’ll find Abe & Co. Coffee, created at a Jewish-owned micro-roastery based in Whitefield, and Brew Tea, a Manchester-based Tea Company.
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As for pop, Manchester-based makers Steep Soda provide handmade fizzy drinks, whilst all bagels and challah bread come from the North Manchester Jewish-owned State Fayre Bakery.
he ‘Not Quite Traditional ‘Chicken’ Soup’ – a hearty vegetarian broth with oyster mushrooms and Matzo balls available on Fridays and Saturdays as part of the Museum’s special Sabbath experience. / Image: Manchester Jewish Museum
Speaking on the award win, Alex Cropper, the Curator from Manchester Jewish Museum, said: “It felt so exciting to be at the Museum and Heritage Awards on Wednesday night and to gather to celebrate our sector for the first time since the pandemic – there was a real buzz in the room. And to win an award was the icing on the cake!
“It was an honour to accept the Café of the Year award on stage on behalf of our incredible café team and great to see our name up there amongst such incredible museums in the Permanent Gallery of the Year category.”
Arrest made after 14-year-old boy found in critical condition on Market Street
Daisy Jackson
An arrest has been made after a teenage boy was found unresponsive on Market Street in Manchester city centre.
Detectives believe that the boy, 14, was approached by seven males who stole a designer jacket from him.
Following the altercation, he went into cardiac arrest and was rushed to hospital in a critical condition.
Thankfully, the teenager is continuing to recover well.
Detectives from Manchester City Centre Criminal Investigation Department confirmed that an 18-year-old male was arrested yesterday, Thursday 20 February.
He has been arrested on suspicion of robbery and remains in police custody.
Detective Inspector Mark Astbury of GMP’s City Centre Criminal Investigation Department, said: “We hope the victim can continue his recovery following what must have been a terrifying ordeal for him.
“Officers are fully investigating all aspects of this shocking incident that has left a man with serious injuries in hospital.
“Our work doesn’t stop here, we are continuing to investigate this incident and information from the public plays an incredibly important role in our investigations and I ask that the community keep talking to us and keep sharing their concerns with us so our teams can act.”
If you have any information, contact GMP 101 or 0161 856 4305 quoting log 2854 of 16/2/25.
Comedy is being prescribed instead of antidepressants as part of UK trials
Emily Sergeant
Trials are currently underway to see if comedy could be an alternative to antidepressants as a way to reduce NHS costs.
UK tech company Craic Health has secured important funding for its ‘comedy on prescription’ project that’s aimed at helping the Government work with the comedy industry, communities, and organisations on comedy-based social prescriptions in the hope that they can solve financial struggles within the NHS.
The groundbreaking scheme uses stand-up shows and workshops to help people who are isolated, lonely, and vulnerable.
Craic believes comedy is an ‘untapped opportunity’ to improve health and wellbeing, and has a goal to make comedy easier to access, so that it can help communities experience its mental health and social benefits.
To achieve this, the company has started trialling Comedy-on-Prescription experiences in the UK – starting in London, with the potential for expansion – which includes things like curated comedy panel game show events and workshops, and general stand-up comedy shows at some of the capital’s world-famous venues.
Comedy is being prescribed instead of antidepressants as part of UK trials / Credit: Wikimedia Commons
“Mental health issues like loneliness, isolation, and stress are more common than ever,” the company explains.
“So much so that it’s projected that by 2030, mental health problems, particularly depression, will be the leading cause of mortality and morbidity globally, [but] in this challenging world, comedy stands out as a universal language that breaks barriers.
“Research shows that comedy and laughter have powerful effects – they bring people together, create positive connections, and make life more enjoyable.”
Craic Health says that social prescribing, of which Comedy-on-Prescription is a part of, is all about inclusivity, which makes it making it suitable for people of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities.
Its focus is on personalised support, tailored to individual needs and preferences.
Georgina Pellant -
16th May 2022 
