The extravagance of Alice in Wonderland is coming to Six By Nico on Deansgate; explore a world of curiosity and adventure through their creative six-course menu, Mad Hatter’s Tea Party.
For the next phase of popular city centre restaurant’s latest series of six-course tasting menu, which changes each and every month, the chefs over at Nico have followed up their previous ‘Street Food’ selection with something truly magical.
It’s a showcase of food fantasy, fusing first-class fine dining with storytelling that Lewis Carroll would approve of. You can take your tastebuds on this culinary exploration for a limited time only, cooking this limited menu between 15 January and 25 February.
Here’s what you can expect.
Six By Nico has fast become a Manchester favourite. (Credit: The Manc Group)
The trip down the rabbit hole begins by expertly combining mushroom tea, smoked bacon jam, truffle parmesan royale, pickled walnut and a Keen’s cheddar scone.
This is followed by the aptly named ‘The White Rabbit’ featuring a rabbit, chicken and date ballotine, beef fat roasted carrot, tarragon pesto, rabbit Bolognese and carrot ketchup. Fitting and delicious.
For course three, guests will enjoy ‘Paint the Roses Red’: a charming combination of sweet and savoury consists of a goats’ cheese mousseline, baby beetroot, garden radish, kalamata olive soil and red apple caramel.
Course four, ‘Eat Me, Drink Me’, is by name by nature. Roasted black pollock is the star of the show, accompanied by a miso glaze, bonito emulsion, white turnip puree, pickled Tokyo turnip and Dashi broth.
Six By Nico’s Mad Hatter menu did not disappoint. (Credit: The Manc Eats)
Course five is fit for a queen… ‘Off with Its Head!’ Pork belly is paired with choucroute, apple gel, pig head croquette, cauliflower and sauce charcuterie.
If you are looking to go the extra mile the roasted scallop with black pudding, pickled celeriac and lovage emulsion is an optional add-on (£9).
To finish we go to a sweet showstopper named after the lady herself. ‘The Queen of Hearts’ is naturally shaped as a glossy red heart where a white chocolate mousse is joined by red velvet cake, raspberries and pecan brittle.
As beatiful in taste as it is in appearance.
We’re not going to show you all of them — that would ruin the surprise…
Delectable and affordable, the menu is priced at £39, which will no doubt have you smiling like a Cheshire cat. You can also indulge in an expertly selected wine and specialist drinks pairing for an additional £30.
As mentioned, this ever-evolving restaurant concept changes its menu every six weeks, with dishes inspired by places, memories or imagination, so if this spread sounds up your street, get in while you can and keep your eyes peeled for whatever they come up with next.
Alice famously said, “I give myself very good advice, but I very seldom follow it” — we sincerely advise you to take this recommendation on board.
Aspiring artists can get their work displayed on one of the biggest digital screens in Manchester
Danny Jones
Are you a budding artist looking to get your work seen or know some who is? Well, you might want to pay attention because there’s an opportunity to have your creation seen by countless passers-by and on one of the biggest displays in the entire UK over at the Printworks.
If you’ve passed through the much-loved hospitality and leisure complex over the past year or so, you’ll have noticed their roof is now no longer a roof at all, really; the striking ceiling is now a constantly moving image and the largest of its kind in all of Europe.
Meaning that anyone who got their artworks on there would effectively be securing one of the biggest displays and public installations on the continent.
As Printworks themselves put it: “This isn’t just a screen; it’s an artistic stage viewed by millions of visitors every year, with the power to turn a single artwork into a 360-degree sensory experience.”
With that in mind, they’re giving one lucky individual the chance to grab the spotlight and see their creative expression plastered on the 1,000m² wraparound LED canvas.
“Supporting emerging talent and seeing fresh, creative perspectives is always inspiring, and I can’t wait to see what these young artists bring to the table! It was so surreal seeing my artwork on the digital.”
Past installations have included the ‘Spaces Up-Above’ exhibition by world-renowned light artist, Rupert Newman, as well as an International Women’s Day showcase by Heitzman herself, as a fellow Manchester-based creative.
In case you need a better idea of the sheer scale of this screen and why this is such an exciting opportunity for up-and-coming local artists, here’s how they celebrated Oasis returning to Manchester for their Heaton Park reunion gigs this week:
Synchronised with sound and added motion effects, the competition is now open to students who are currently enrolled in college, university or art school.
Better still, you don’t even have to be from or based in the area to take part – this is a nationwide competition hoping to spotlight the best talents in the UK.
All you have to do to enter this exciting competition in Manchester is simply provide Printworks your details and upload your artwork of choice HERE by Sunday, 3 August.
Nostalgic ready-to-drink Breezer makes UK return after a decade
Daisy Jackson
An iconic ready-to-drink favourite has launched back into the UK – oh yes, Breezer is back.
First launched in the 1990s, Breezers – then pitched as an ‘alcopop’ – were a staple on dancefloors and at barbecues right across the UK.
And now Bacardi has decided to bring these delicious, fruity, easy-drinking bottles back to British shores.
There are three new flavours to try as Breezers return to your fridges – Zesty Orange, Zingy Lime, and Crisp Watermelon.
And Breezer launched back into Manchester last night with a suitably memorable party, turning a spot in the Northern Quarter into a corner shop.
The ‘local Cornerbop’ was stacked with your usual essentials, plus shelf after shelf of these colourful glass ready-to-drink bottles.
Inside the Breezer ‘Cornerbop’ corner shop in ManchesterBreezer is back, in three new flavours
The Breezer relaunch party saw Tarsza and Rennie Peters spinning nostalgic anthems with a modern twist at a pop-up party in a corner shop.
Steve Young, business unit director for Bacardi in the UK & Ireland, said: “We know there is a lot of love for Breezer in the UK, and we are confident a new generation of consumers will fall in love with the new Breezer.
“RTDs are booming, however, the Flavoured Alcoholic Beverages category could do with a bit more excitement. By bringing back Breezer we’re definitely putting the fruity taste into FAB.”
The iconic ready-to-drink classic is back – and better than ever.
Harry Quick -
15th January 2024 
