If you’re looking to get stuck into something a little different to kick off October Half Term, then this cookery school in Didsbury has got you covered.
Food Sorcery is hosting its “foodiest weekend ever” this Saturday and Sunday.
If you’re unfamiliar with what Food Sorcery is all about, then down at the school, they host a range of classes – run by a team of professional chefs, all with their own specialist areas of expertise – to give you the opportunity to learn how to create your own restaurant-quality food from scratch at home.
Under the guidance of Food Sorcery’s professionals, you can try your hand at a whole host of cuisines, with everything from Japanese and Sri Lankan, to Thai, Italian and French on the menu.
All classes there are designed to be just as fun as they are informative.
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But what exactly makes this Saturday 23 and Sunday 24 October the cookery school’s “foodiest weekend ever” then? Well, that’s because its playing host to Food Sorcery’s most diverse set of classes yet, with the broadest range of ingredients than ever before.
If you were to travel to all the destinations from around the world that are on this weekend’s cooking agenda, then it would tally up to being over 25,000 miles – not bad for two days in the kitchen, right?
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The jam-packed culinary weekend starts on Saturday in Korea, then visiting Peru with Japanese influences, before going onto a proper Gastropub Sunday lunch in the UK and finally finishing off in the Gujarati region of India to close the weekend.
All you’ll need to do is pick your favourite and join in.
Fancy it then? Here’s just taster of the classes you can stick your name down for.
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Korean Cookery Class
Saturday 23 October
1pm – 4pm | £85
Korean food is some of the healthiest on earth, with an emphasis on vegetables, meats cooked simply and without much oil. It looks beautiful and and is perfect for tasty suppers, so this class offers a mixture of demonstration and hands-on cookery to help you prepare a selection of authentic dishes.
Did you know that Peru has the largest Japanese population outside of Japan itself? This has lead to a fusion of Japanese traditions and Peruvian ingredients, known as Nikkei cuisine – a delicious combination which has influenced chefs everywhere.
This cookery class led by chef Jan Cron brings many of the special cooking techniques to your plate, an explosion of delicate flavours to create something wonderful.
If you love Japanese food and would like to try something new, then this is the class for you.
A gastropub is a hybrid pub, bar, and restaurant, and during this cookery class, you’ll not only take advantage of the chef’s skills showing you how to make pub classics, but also Food Sorcery’s extensive bar and fantastic wine list.
‘Cooking Together’ evenings are the perfect blend of meal out and cookery class – “sociable foodie fun”.
Gujarati vegetarian cuisine originates from Western India and is typically served as a thali – which literally means ‘full plate of food’ – so the dishes cooked during this class are all vegetarian, and simultaneously and distinctively sweet, salty, and spicy.
Chef Nina will introduce curries that many will not have tried before, as well as variations of the firm favourites like dhals and chapatis – be prepared to try something different.
GastroPub Cooking Together & Indian Gujariti / Credit: Food Sorcery
If you’re keen to keep on going, then the fun doesn’t just stop at the weekend as there’s a handful of other classes carrying on throughout half term week too.
Here’s just a few more to get stuck into.
Tastes of Thailand Cookery Class
Thursday 28 October
7pm – 10pm | £85
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Thai cuisine is one of the tastiest foods on the planet, if you ask us – It’s fresh, healthy and potentially mind-blowingly spicy.
At this cookery class – which is a combination of hands-on cooking and demonstration – authentic ingredients are readily available, and the professional chef will explain where and how to source them as you explore the amazing flavours that can be achieved using traditional techniques.
Middle Eastern cuisine is quite-rightly now getting the adoration it deserves, so at this class, you can be inspired with the history and flavours of wonderful dishes, from fabulous falafel that can be used as part of a mezze platter, a light lunch, or a starter to perfect pillowy pilaf that can be the centre piece of a feast and varied with different flavours throughout the year.
‘Cooking Together’ evenings are the perfect blend of meal out and cookery class – “sociable foodie fun”.
ENB’s Romeo & Juliet at Palace Theatre Manchester – the world’s most famous story expertly reimagined | Review
Emily Sergeant
Every now and then you experience a bit of a full circle moment… and for me, this was one of them.
Back in 2011, when I was a dance-obsessed 14-year-old, taking and assisting classes countless times a week, I became enamoured by a BBC documentary series called Agony & Ecstasy: A Year with English National Ballet. As one of the country’s premier ballet companies – celebrating its 60th anniversary at the time of the documentary – ENB allowed cameras behind the scenes, from the rehearsal room to backstage, giving audiences a previously unseen inside look on what it takes to stage some of the most spectacular productions your eyes will ever meet.
One of the ballets being staged in the year the BBC followed the company was Romeo & Juliet.
Based on a story known around the world and with an unmistakable score by Prokofiev, it’s a ballet I was already fond of prior to the documentary, but seeing the work that went into making the show a reality, up close like never before, it turned into one of my favourites.
Over the years, I have been fortunate enough to see several different dance stagings of Romeo & Juliet – but last night, at the Palace Theatre in Manchester, was the first time I got to sit in the audience and see English National Ballet’s production live with my own eyes.
And it was just as magical as I was hoping it would be.
ENB’s Romeo & Juliet is now on stage at Manchester Palace Theatre / Credit: Laurent Liotardo
Right off the bat, I’m just going to presume you already have somewhat of a grasp on the story of Romeo & Juliet, right? Given the fact it’s arguably Shakespeare’s most famous work and one of the most iconic plays of all time.
And you’ll be pleased to know, even if you’re not seasoned in watching ballet, that the story we all know and love remains largely intact for this production, therefore making it easy for audiences of all ages and interests to follow along and admire.
The two title characters, the star-crossed lovers themselves, were embodied expertly by Rentaro Nakaaki and Julia Conway as Romeo and Juliet, who had the audience captivated from the second they entered the stage – with undeniable chemistry and enviable technique.
Fabian Reimair took on the role of Tybalt with ease, Noam Durand was Mercutio, and Rodrigo Pinto was Benvolio, all while Elvis Nudo and Minju Kang stepped into the shoes of Paris and Rosaline.
But the lead roles are nothing without the wider cast of supporting dancers and character actors, who really help transport you to 14th century Verona and help bring the authenticity a production as epic as this requires.
The world’s most famous story has been expertly reimagined / Credit: Bill Cooper | Laurent Liotardo
Aside from the dancing, it would be remiss not to praise the expert sets and costuming here from Ezio Frigero and Franca Squarciapino.
And I suppose I should also give a shoutout to little-known name, Rudolf Nureyev, who choreographed this version of Romeo & Juliet all the way back in 1977. Something tells me he would’ve had a great career… I could be wrong, though.
Romeo & Juliet really is one of the most tragic love stories of all time, and the power of that is not lost through dance. It’s still as raw and heartbreaking in this production as it always is.
And that is truly a credit to every single person forming part of it – both on the stage and off.
ENB’s Romeo & Juliet is now on stage at Manchester Palace Theatre until Sunday 25 October, and you can book your last-minute tickets here.
Featured Image – The Manc Group
What's On
Manchester’s smash-hit Pitbull 5km run is back in town this week
Daisy Jackson
A 5km running event where participants dress up as Pitbull is returning to Manchester this week.
Runners will be donning bald caps, drawing on goatees, and shrugging on their suit jackets as they hit the streets for a very silly run.
The Pitbull Party Run has been organised again this year by Slow Run Club, and Run the Street MCR, who’ll be spurring runners on with plenty of daftness inspired by the man himself.
It’s part of a series of shakeout events taking place all week before the 24-Hour Run Against Homelessness.
The 5km shake-out run will be soundtracked by non-stop Pitbull party anthems from warm-up all the way through the run to the cool-down.
Last year’s event proved to be a massive hit and had dozens of Pitbull look-a-likes running through the streets – so now they’re hoping to make it even bigger for this year.
Runners will meet outside The Tap House in Circle Square from 6.30pm for a warm-up, ready to run from 7pm.
And all participants will get a free Lucky Saint beer to celebrate finishing the race.
24-Hour Run founder Thomas Lewis said: “We’ve got a great programme of events lined up across Greater Manchester.
“These shakeout events are all about bringing local running communities together while spreading the word about the 24-Hour Run Against Homelessness in November.
“The Pitbull party run got a great reception last year, and we’re delighted to be teaming up with Run The Streets MCR and Slow Run Club to put on this event again.”
The Manchester 24-Hour Run Against Homelessness is a charity relay challenge that invites runners of all abilities to take part in a continuous 24-hour relay made up of a 5km loop repeated throughout the 24 hours.
Runners can join for as little or as much as they like, whether it’s one lap or 20. The event takes place from midday on Wednesday 11 November to midday Thursday 12 November.
The 24-Hour Run supports the Greater Manchester Mayor’s Charity’s A Bed Every Night scheme, and last year saw cumulative distance of over 16,000 km covered and raised over £70,000 for the charity.
Tickets for the Pitbull Party Run are £3, which all goes to the Greater Manchester Mayor’s Charity to support The Manchester 24 Hour Run’s goal of £100,000.
Emily Sergeant -
21st October 2021 
