Tag Archives: Christmas

Last year saw the first ever Food Geek Awards. They seemed to go down pretty well and are a bit different from the usual ‘Top 10 Lists’ that are so popular at this time a year so it looks like they might become a regular thing. After eating out around 130 times in 2013 the awards are much bigger and …

As 2013 draws to a close and I begin to reflect on my culinary adventures over the past 12 months one of the undoubted highlights was the discovery of The Parkers Arms in the Ribble Valley. My first visit back in March remains one of the most memorable and enjoyable meals this year and I now consider it a firm …

A cold, dark train station car park in Levenshulme might not seem the most obvious place for a Christmas party but last week the final Levy Market of 2013 was just that. Moved from it’s regular morning slot on the last Saturday of each month to Friday night so that visitors could finish their shopping whilst getting into the Christmas …

Forget the John Lewis ad (or Coca-Cola if you’re feeling retro) it’s not Christmas for me until i’ve had the SoLita Christmas burger. OK, so it’s only the second year of this particular tradition but I hope it will continue and become as regular as the others. Last years was pretty spectacular but somehow they managed to top it with …

I always loved Christmas as a child and it’s not changed much as i’ve grown up, although the reasons have. These days I prefer giving presents to receiving them but the bit I love the most is the food. I adore everything about Christmas food; turkey, pigs in blankets, Christmas spices, eggnog, chestnuts, cranberries etc and yes, even sprouts. So …

What’s the difference between a turkey and a food blogger after a Christmas party? Nothing, they’re both STUFFED! Ho-ho-ho! T’was the (11th) night before Christmas when a gaggle of Manchester food bloggers left Indian restaurant Mughli more stuffed than the proverbial festive turkey. Already a firm favourite with most of the bloggers in attendance – including myself – Mughli really …

I really do love Christmas, the week between 24th December and New Year is by far my favourite of the year. I do however try to restrict it to the second half of December and rarely even think about Christmas at all until at least the 1st December. In fact, I generally do all I can to avoid talk of …

I loved my first Gastroclub experience at the Mark Addy in June where it returned from a year long break. I’d planned on attending more events but for various reasons hadn’t made it to any since. So when I heard about the return to the Mark Addy for the Gastroclub Christmas dinner I jumped at the chance and snapped up …

* Click here to view the 2013 Food Geek Awards (03/01/2014) * I didn’t make a ‘Best Of’ post last year as I wasn’t really taking the blog seriously enough back then. Also, I think it would have been dominated by my trips to L’Enclume & Noma anyway. This year I was certain I wanted to do something but as …

As I admitted in the review of my last visit to Jamie’s Italian i’m a huge Jamie Oliver fan. I buy all his books, watch all of his shows and have had some great times in his various restaurants including Jamie’s Italian Manchester shortly after it opened. Unfortunately, this Christmas Eve I was reminded that Jamie’s Italian isn’t really a …

Porridge is a great winter breakfast, I love to pimp it up with fruit and nuts. My favourites are blueberries & maple syrup and banana, toasted almond & poppy seeds but at Christmas I like it a little more festive so came up with this Festive Cranberry Porridge recipe. You can make your porridge however you usually do and just …

I’m a massive Mojito lover, they’re my favourite ever cocktail but they’re a bit too summery to be drinking at Christmas so last year I was determined to come up with a perfect Christmassy Mojito. I played around with all sorts of combinations to give my mojito a festive kick including adding cloves, cinnamon, clementines etc.. but most of them …

I love Christmas, especially exciting festive foods. Cranberries are one of my favourites, they just look and tastes like Christmas and go well with all sorts of sweet and savoury dishes. This cranberry syrup is gorgeous, it’s sweet but with a bit of sharpness left and amazing flavour. It’s red colour is brilliant and it’s really versatile, it can be …

The third of my 4 planned festive dining trips this year (after Solita & Miracle On High Street) was at one of my favourite local restaurants Aumbry. This was my 4th time eating at Aumbry (although admittedly the last was a charity Gruffalo lunch) and it’s fair to say that I love the place. The food is seriously high end, head …

Miracle On High Street is a popup restaurant & bar from the people behind Almost Famous Burgers. On their website they say “We’re unashamedly celebrating all things festive – join us for eats, drinks, and being merry.” and they’re not joking! The magical feeling begins before you even even arrive as you first have to find a Narnia like stair …