Eats

A huge vegan market is coming to Manchester this winter

Discover over 80 stalls selling ethical street food, skincare, clothing and at-home products

Georgina Pellant Georgina Pellant - 3rd November 2022

A huge vegan market is coming to Manchester this winter, bringing over 80 stalls to Trafford’s Bowlers Exhibition Centre.

Taking place at the huge exhibition centre later this month, the market will showcase the best of the vegan lifestyle with hot and cold food stalls, cookbooks, lifestyle products and more.

Those looking for gift ideas ahead of Christmas will find a host of different products at hand, ranging from organic, natural skincare and cosmetic products to ethical and environmental clothing.

Stalls will be packed with products that you just can’t find at supermarkets, mixing delicious vegan food products to eat on the day and to take home for your cupboards.

Image; Devil Dogs Sauces
Image: Seitan’s Kebab

Elsewhere, there’ll be inspirational charities and organisations at hand to talk about the work that they’re doing including Miracle’s Mission, a non-profit animal welfare organisation that works with sick, injured and disabled animals worldwide.

Street food available on the day will include traditional Ethiopian curries served on injera bread from Manchester’s own House of Habesha, alongside vegan kebabs from British Street Food Awards 2020/2021 Finalist Seitan’s Kebab, and cooked-to-order hot dogs courtesy of VDogs.

Salford’s DevilDog sauces will on hand with their tasty range of chilli sauces, whilst Manchester-based Gillie Foods will be in attendance with their delicious range of Asian dishes. Elsewhere, you’ll find Kind Hearted Chocs selling a delicious selection of locally-made vegan chocolates.

Read more: Why MPs are wearing wheatsheaves in Parliament today

Other local stalls due to appear on the day include itreatskin, which sells 100% natural products for eczema, acne, psoriasis, and plain-and-simple dry skin; Northern Lashe, an eco-friendly company providing handmade vegan lash products; and the Sea Moss Elixir, a local drinks brand that produces herbal healing and vital nutrient-filled beverages.

Image: Itreatskin
Image: Saco Superfoods

Salford-based Saco Superfoods, which works directly with small-scale women producers in West Africa, will also be at the event selling a range of superfoods including Organic Mango, Baobab Powder, Hibiscus Flower and Ginger Flakes.

As for those looking for vegan cooking inspiration, they’ll want to keep their eyes peeled for the Bo’s Book stall – a new vegan cookbook that makes a great Christmas gift and features simple, easy-to-follow recipes (for both dogs and humans!) with all the profits going to help needy dogs at animal welfare and education charity Miracle’s Mission.

Taking place on Sunday 20 November from 1030am to 430pm at Bowlers Exhibition Centre in Trafford Park, entry is just £5 with all funds from tickets going to support animals in need.

Read more: Teenager arrested after Bolton mum robbed at knifepoint while holding newborn baby

Under sixteens can enter for free, and there is also a £15 VIP ticket option available to purchase in advance fro Eventbrite which will guarantee fast track entry on the day, as well as a goody bag full of vegan products, samples, discounts and offers.

To find out more information please visit www.veganeventsuk.co.uk or find them on Facebook.

Feature image – Seitan’s Kebab

Eats

Manchester tapas spot Maricarmen open second city centre site

Danny Jones Danny Jones Maricarmen opening second site in Manchester

Affordable Manchester tapas spot Maricarmen has just finished launching its second site in town, doubling its city centre presence with the official opening on Thursday, 4 September.

Maricarmen launched on Great Ancoats Street back in June 2023 and quickly became a firm Manc favourite, famous for their £3.50 dishes

When it comes to their small plate approach, they serve up some of the best tapas in Manchester, and even the shopfront seats at their popular roadside location are regularly full regardless of passing traffic.

However, if there’s ever been one gripe we’ve had with the place, it’s that the outdoor area isn’t the most peaceful, even if it is a stunning suntrap on a warm day – that’s where the new restaurant comes in.

tapas in ancoats
Ancoats…
tapas in nq
… vs NQ
New but familiar (Credit: Supplied/The Manc Eats)

We’ve been semi-regular visitors of Maricarmen ever since it started out life as a pop-up just around from Cutting Room Square, and they’ve gained speed and reputation ever since.

Known not only for authentic, value-for-money tapas, but welcoming plenty of punters for a simple drink as one of the best places for a sangria in central Manchester, they’ve managed to stay relatively just not just when the weather is bright but throughout most seasons.

Overhauling the old 63 Degrees bistro in the Northern Quarter, which sadly had to shut its doors back in February, we’re glad to see that the building has now been reborn.

While the Ancoats restaurant is known for the aforementioned roving ‘El Tableo’ style of service inspired by southern Spain, the newest location will be slightly different, revealing not only lighter colours and Alicante beach influences with a focus on alfresco eating, but lots of new specials.

All we’ll say for now is bring on the pintxos, pints, patatas bravas and pretty much anything we had for their first birthday celebrations.

Created by Marian Diaz and Jose Nunez, who previously owned a tapas restaurant in Madrid, La Porcineria, which was sadly curtailed by Covid.

On the bright side, Manchester has been the greatest beneficiary of their fresh start, and we can’t wait to see what venue number two delivers.

Co-founder, Diaz, said of the new opening: “Maricarmen is about compassion, hard work, strength, reinvention, opening our minds & hearts and connecting with people. It’s more than just food, for us, it is the beautiful moment when we see our customers and our coworkers smile because they are here.” 

She went on to add, “To us, Manchester signifies the ability to reinvent and grow. The people here support you without expecting anything in return. It’s really beautiful. I have never felt this before in my life. […] We’ve built up such a loyal customer base of locals – many have become dear friends. 

“And to be in a position to open a second site within two years and share our love of good food and great times with Manchester’s Northern Quarter is quite unbelievable.”

Read more:

There really is a Costa Blanca beach house vibe to this bright, new yellow-accented corner of NQ and having tried some of their dishes, we can’t wait to get stuck in.

Be sure to follow them on socials too, not only for more announcements and updates but because it’ll give you an even better flavour of the vibes over there.

For now, best get building your appetite.

21 of the best tapas places in Manchester city centre and beyond
Yes, of course, they featured on the tapas round-up, and we’re sure the second Maricarmen site will too.

For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Images — Maricarmen (supplied)/The Manc Group

Eats

Popular Manchester cafe and bakery Gooey brilliantly responds to ‘2/10’ TikTok review

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson Popular Manchester cafe and bakery Gooey brilliantly responds to '2/10' TikTok review

Gooey, easily one of Manchester’s busiest bakeries and brunch spots, has clapped back at a negative review on TikTok with a refreshingly honest statement.

The local business shot to fame initially with its chunky, gooey cookies, but has since expanded from its hatch to have its very own cafe, famed for its enormous French toasts and its sandwiches made with baked-in-house Shokupan bread.

Generally, Gooey gets an incredibly good rap, with queues that speak for themselves stretching from its doors down High Street.

But one TikToker has shared a less favourable video review of the business, slamming it as ‘one of the most disappointing food experiences I’ve ever had in my life’.

The reviewer in question specialises in finding places you could eat comfortably as a solo diner, and ranked Gooey an overall 8/10 – but slated the food at a 2/10.

And now Gooey has shared their side of things, defending themselves against the reviewer’s claims that the food is ‘expensive’ and ‘tastes like it could have been made at Greggs’.

“Not everyone is going to like what you do and that is absolutely fair enough,” they wrote in a statement.

Gooey continued: “We’re not usually in the business of responding to negative reviews.

Gooey clapped back at the review that said its sandwiches were 'too expensive'
Gooey clapped back at the review that said its sandwiches were 'too expensive'
Gooey clapped back at the review that said its sandwiches were ‘too expensive’

“What has made us respond to this review is how often I’m seeing local businesses like ours targeted on costs.”

The cafe then justified the £10.90 cost for a bacon and egg sandwich, pointing out the bacon is cured in-house and cut thick every day by hand; the bread is also baked in-house daily; even the ketchup and brown sauce are made from scratch.

“With all that said, yes, we do have to charge more than you would pay for a bacon butty at Greggs.

“Listen, I understand this criticism. I used to get a bacon and egg butty before college for £1.95 from my local butty shop.

“We cannot do that here. We are paying Manchester City Centre rent. We employ a team of chefs, bakers, front of house, and more.

“And we are trying to make the best version of a bacon sandwich that we could.”

Chunky cookies at Gooey
Chunky cookies at Gooey
Popular Manchester cafe and bakery Gooey brilliantly responds to '2/10' TikTok review
The Gooey French toast that the review claimed was ‘too sweet’

As for the complaints that the French toast is ‘too sweet’, Gooey clapped back: “Yes, our French Toast is sweet. It’s filled with dulce de leche and topped with maple syrup.

“We personally love it and it’s our most popular item but if you don’t like sweet things, you might not like it!”

Finally, in defence of rising prices across the hospitality industry, they signed off with this brilliant piece of insight.

“Every single independent cafe, restaurant and bar across this country is charging more than they would like to be doing for their dishes.

“In 99.99% of cases, this is not greed, or us being thick, or trying to rip people off. It is simply the only way to survive with the costs we are facing.

“Even then, many of us are struggling to make it work.”

Anyone fancy meeting at Gooey for a bacon sandwich later then?

Read more

Featured image: The Manc Group

More Eats

Eats

Government to ban the sale of energy drinks to children under 16

J.W. Lees Brewery now the exclusive Manchester supplier of Boddingtons

Boroughs

Local brewery J.W. Lees is helping bring back Manchester’s beloved Boddingtons beer

Mr Thomas's Chop House - Historic Manchester pub issues apology for 'embarrassing' toilets

Eats

Historic Manchester pub issues apology for ’embarrassing’ toilets and asks for support

Audio

Clint Boon takes us around Manchester's iconic Deaf Institute

Eats

We go meatballs deep with Mira's traditional Neapolitan sandwiches