The Manc Eats: This week’s food and drink hit list feat. a 7-course crisp “tasting menu” and new secret off-menu burger

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What a weekend, what a hangover. At least we can always rely on good food and drink to make us feel better.

We’ve got some absolute corkers for you this week, ranging from an epic-sounding 7-course crisp “tasting menu” at a pub in Stalybridge to high-end hot dogs and even a pop-up from Bury market’s favourite jerk chicken stand, Blackbird Pantry.

There’s plenty more to be announced in the coming weeks too, as even more operators gear up to reveal their new Manchester food and drink venues amidst an easing of coronavirus restrictions in England.

Keep reading to discover our top food and drink picks in Manchester for this week.

A super-pink new cafe on Deansgate selling boujie red velvet and saffron lattes

La Vie Cafe is new to Deansgate / Image: extraordinarychaostravels

La Vie Cafe is a new arrival on Deansgate, taking over the ground floor space previously occupied by COSMO and Red Hot World Buffet.

Pinker than pink, it’s got a huge drinks menu with a big focus on coffee – think red velvet, saffron and pistachio lattes, freddo espresso – plus some gorgeous looking gelato and freshly-made cakes on the counter.

Find La Vie Cafe at 48 Deansgate, Manchester M3 2FE.

Social enterprise Eat Well MCR can be found hosting some of Greater Manchester’s best chefs at MIF’s festival square on Cathedral Gardens all this week. An optional £2 “Meals for Manchester” donation can be made when ordering to fund a meal for vulnerable Mancunians. / Image: Eat Well MCR

Handmade sausages, jerk chicken and salads from some of the region’s most acclaimed chefs

Social food enterprise Eat Well MCR is at MIF all week long with some of Greater Manchester’s most acclaimed chefs. Hosting a different menu every day,

Tuesday sees Mancunian charcuterie duo, Northern Cure, dishing up their take on currywurst; followed by some incredible chicken and veggie salads from Elnecot chef-patron Michael Clay on Wednesday.

Bury market regular Blackbird Pantry rocks up on Thursday, serving up their ever-popular jerk BBQ, followed by handmade sausages from acclaimed Stockport restaurant Where The Light Gets In on Friday.

Find Eat Well MCR at MIF’s festival square on Cathedral Gardens all week. Make sure to order via the app.

Bundobust’s head brewer Dan Hocking has revealed a new 6.5% New England IPA and 4% Kellerbier-style lager / Image: Bundobust

More new beers from Bundobust’s ‘secret’ Oxford Road brewery

Bundobust got us all excited when it revealed it had quietly been brewing its own beer on Oxford Road for the past 9 months. Having just released its initial three creations, the Indian street food favourite is already tempting us back with two more.

Head brewer Dan Hocking has revealed a new 6.5% New England IPA (East is East) which comes “stacked” with cita,amarillo and mosaic hops; and a 4% Kellerbier-style lager (Kipsy Bhal) with German malts and hops.

Both are currently on tap in Manchester at Bundobust’s Piccadilly restaurant. Find it at 61 Piccadilly, Manchester M1 2AG.

There’s a new crisp butty menu and 7-course crisp “tasting menu” available in Stalybridge / Image: @jobiwhan74

A 7-course crisp “sharing platter” and butty menu

For one week only, Northern pub group Beerhouses Pubs has launched an extensive crisp butty menu and 7-course tasting option. All served on thick white bread with lashings of Lurpak, it’s split into four sections: “crinkle-cut classics”, “not crisp butties”, “combo butties” and a “special sharing platter.”

The epic “tasting menu” is a must – comprised of hot pork scratchings,poppadoms with dip, Monster Munch, Bacon Fries, Scampi Fries and two bags of Seabrook (£7). Get it before it’s gone.

Butty prices start from £2.25. Get your hands on one at the Stalybridge Buffet Bar inside Stalybridge rail station all week long.

The AFC x Tampopo burger is a new “off the menu” addition at Tampopo for the summer / Image: Tampopo

A new secret ‘off-menu’ item at Pan-Asian favourite Tampopo

Not everyone knows this, but a lot of restaurants have secret menu items that you can only order if you’re “in the know”. From Starbucks to Burger King, there are loads to discover – but for now, there’s a unique one new to Manchester we simply just have to talk about today.

Made up of a seven-spice fried chicken thigh, BBQ sauce, lettuce and Asian slaw in a super soft bun, the AFC Burger can be ordered at Tampopo but you won’t find it listed on the menu. Pass it on, as it’s only available for a short period this summer.

Order the secret burger at Tampopo’s restaurants on Albert Square, in The Corn Exchange or the Trafford Centre.

@afcxtampopo

Feature image – Eat Well MCR. (pictured: Joseph Otway of Higher Ground Manchester).