Pan-Asian restaurant Vermilion is not somewhere you’d stumble across by accident, but between its eye-poppingly large prawns, dramatic decor and quirky robot waiters it’s definitely worth a visit.
Sitting on the outskirts of the city centre, this opulent three-story party palace is only a short walk from Manchester City’s grounds – still, it continues to fly under the radar despite being one of the city’s most dazzling dining destinations.
Well worth seeking out, an exclusive hidden gem. If it’s glitz and glamour you’re after when you’re out to dinner then it’s safe to say that Vermilion delivers in spades.
A popular choice for extravagant weddings and big parties, Vermilion is jam-packed with grand event spaces, an exclusive cocktail bar, and – most exciting of all – an opulent Asian fusion restaurant.
Its interiors combine lavish design with sumptuous fusion dishes, whilst its connections with parent company Seamark give it access to the biggest, juiciest prawns in the UK.
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Image: The Manc Eats
Image: The Manc Eats
And as for the plates coming out of its kitchen, expect a mixture of Thai, Japanese, Indian, Korean and Chinese dishes, with big flavours from the Asian continent being the order of the day.
Think fresh, plump exquisite scallops in shells dressed in lychee and longan fruit, roasted exclusive black cod, and grilled ‘Choo Chee’ prawns in a spicy red curry and coconut milk sauce, served alongside the likes of smoked Wagyu sushi rolls, unique Thai inspired Sushi Makis and delicately marbled Wagyu rib eye steak.
Elsewhere, you’ll find everything from beef green curry with Thai roti, to slow-cooked lamb shank massaman and super-refreshing bowls of Tom Yam noodle soup rich with aromatic lemongrass, lime and coriander.
Plus a host of delicious homemade desserts from warm chocolate fondant with peanut butter cream and traditional Khanom Pandam pudding, to homemade exotic ice-cream with flavours such as Thai Milk Tea to Pandan ice cream.
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Image: The Manc Eats
Image: The Manc Eats
Fans of fine seafood are well-catered to Vermillion, which boasts exclusive access to wild giant ocean tiger prawns.
These beauties are served as part of its pad Thai dish, accompanied by tangy tamarind Sen Jan wok-fried noodles, with Thai herbs and spices, beansprouts, eggs, carrot and tofu, and are hands down the largest we’ve ever seen.
As well as a place for seafood lovers, there’s still plenty more on the menu at Vermillion to pique your interest.
Image: The Manc Eats
Image: The Manc Eats
From Korean fried chicken buttermilk bao buns topped with Kewpie mayo and a fermented chilli sauce, to colourful rainbow dim sums, chicken satay dumplings, spiced prawn koftas and Khao Sai, a northern Thai / Loas curry noodle dish that is taking the noodle soup craze by storm.
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For fans of East, South and South East Asian cuisine and culture, there’s so much to choose from at Vermillion.
To find out more and view the full menu, visit the website here.
Featured image – The Manc Eats
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A huge free careers festival geared towards young creatives is coming to Manchester this week
Daisy Jackson
The Catch22 TikTok Creative Academy and Factory International are hosting a careers festival in Manchester this week, designed to empower young creatives.
The huge free event on Thursday 3 April will take over Aviva Studios, offering everything from speed mentoring to CV clinics to expert talks.
Attendees will be able to have a free headshot taken, meet employers and like-minded creatives, and generally get a feel for how to build a career in the creative industry.
The Career Festival will boost Manchester’s creative future by supporting the next generation of creators, investing in their skills and confidence.
It’s all geared towards young people aged between 16 and 24 who face challenges in finding sustainable careers within the creative industries.
On the day, attendees will be able to receive one-on-one career advice from top industry professionals in speed mentoring sessions, learning from experts in marketing, media, production and more.
They’ll also be able to network with organisations, training providers and employers including Crew gal, Walk the Plank, and Gate Films.
Expert talks will give advice on how to break into the industry, while a CV clinic will help to hone CVs into a stand-out that’ll get a foot straight in the door, along with free headshot portraits.
The Catch22 TikTok Creative Academy and Factory International careers festival. Credit: Mark Crayden Photography
And the whole time attendees will be surrounded by other creatives, building a network that could launch them towards their next big opportunity.
The TikTok Creative Academy, delivered by Catch22 and funded by TikTok, is a free employment program designed to provide vital support to young people aged 16-24 seeking to enter the creative industries.
It’s been specifically targeted towards young people who experience barriers to employment, whether that’s because of challenges like mental health and limited educational attainment, or involvement with the criminal justice system.
The programme itself has a free employment course, offers targeted supports, and opens the door to the industry, fostering networking and career development.
The Catch22 TikTok Creative Academy and Factory International careers festival. Credit: Supplied
It also offers practical skills development and emphasises creative abilities to help young people thrive.
Quote from TikTok Creative Academy Senior Service Manager, Hilda Dotsey: “At Catch22, we are acutely aware of the challenges that young creatives face when it comes to finding sustainable employment in the creative industries and we are about to mark the 1000th person supported into work, training or further education through TikTok Creative Academy.
“With lack of industry insight and experience cited as one of the key barriers to quality creative careers, it is fantastic to be partnering with Factory International once more.
“This event, which celebrates our third year of delivering the programme, will open up pathways for Manchester youth, linking up the next generation of creative talent with industry experts and Manchester’s top creative voices.”
The Catch22 TikTok Creative Academy and Factory International: Career Festival will take place at Aviva Studios from 1pm to 4pm on Thursday 3 April.
You can find out more about Catch22 and the services available HERE.
Inside The Black Friar as Salford pub unveils incredible floral display
Daisy Jackson
Spring has really sprung in Salford – legendary pub The Black Friar has just revealed a sensational makeover, with gigantic flowers sprawled across its frontage and a new seasonal menu to go with it.
The historic pub is celebrating the changing of the seasons with both a striking floral installation and a menu that celebrates spring and Salford in equal measure.
Most Mancs will by now have spotted the 4,000 flower-strong installation that now adorns the front of The Black Friar, with bright pink, yellow and purple flowers spilling from a gigantic pink tap.
And all those florals continue inside, with the pub’s Tavern – previously a cosy winter hideaway – now filled with trailing blooms and woodland installations, just off their award-winning garden.
Cheshire-based artist Kelly Louise Chapman is the woman behind this sensational transformation of the much-loved gastropub.
As for the pub’s kitchen, they’ve crafted a new very seasonal and very British menu, with plenty of nods to Black Friar’s Salford roots.
There are dishes like a Boddingtons braised ox cheek (the pub still proudly displays its Boddingtons sign outside), aged beef tartare, butternut squash and ricotta tortellini, and pan-roasted cod fillet.
Spring small plates at The Black Friar pubDelicious spring drinksInside The Tavern at The Black Friar
A popular item from the Valentine’s Day menu – the Cornish crab vol-au-vent – will be sticking around on the spring menu, along with an enhanced grill section that includes a lamb Barnsley chop cooked over coals.
Then for desserts, you’ll be spoilt with a banoffee knickerbocker glory, and passionfruit panna cotta.
And for drinks (because this is a pub, after all), The Black Friar has put together a range of seasonal drinks like a rose sangria sharer, and non-alcoholic sodas like kaffir lime and coconut.
Ben Chaplin, head chef at The Black Friar, said: “This new menu is all about celebrating the best of spring produce.
“We’ve carefully crafted each dish to highlight fresh, seasonal ingredients and bold flavours, adding new depth to our offerings while still delivering the comfort that will always be associated with The Black Friar.
“My top recommendation and personal favourite dish is the Slow-Cooked Boddingtons Braised Ox Cheek.”
Neil Burke, owner of The Black Friar, commented: “We wanted to bring a taste of spring to The Black Friar, inside and out. This floral installation will transform the space and bring sunshine and smiles, whatever the weather!
“My top recommendation on the new menu is the Cumbrian Spiced Lamb Scotch Egg. It’s EXCEPTIONAL.”
To find out more about The Black Friar and to book a table, visit HERE.
The Manc -
22nd May 2023 
