I find it can be difficult to balance good food with healthy eating sometimes. I do like stodgy food but am increasingly finding that it leaves me feeling rather lethargic afterwards. The Counter House aims to serve healthy comfort food for breakfast, lunch and dinner, so I was excited when I was invited to their launch as I got to try 5 dishes! Knowing that they had vegan options, I took my friend Lacey with me.
(AD: This meal was provided for free)
I’ve come a long way in my pizza journey to slowly appreciating the Neapolitan style, having consumed mostly American style pizzas, I’m used to my base being firm. I tried Proove’s pizza in the past at the Manchester Food and Drink Festival, and wasn’t impressed by it at the time. When they invited me to try their pizzas again, I welcomed the opportunity to give them another shot.
(AD: A discount was provided for this meal)
I became aware of the Mexican holiday, Día de Muertos, also known as the Day of the Dead after watching Disney’s film, Coco. It occurs on the 2nd November and is typically a day for family to get together and honour those who have passed on. As well as visiting graves and cleaning them, colourful decorations are added to the grave and throughout the holiday to represent the vitality of those lives. Specific food is eaten at this time of the year, as well as delicious food. I was looking forward to seeing how Wahaca chose to represent this holiday at their Day of the Dead supper club with Thomasina Miers.*
I know what you are probably thinking. Christmas already, Elsa? I’m not one to celebrate the holidays early (or any holiday for that matter…), but I can also understand from the restaurant’s point of view, now is the time to start planning their Christmas offerings. With a lot of offices throwing parties and friends getting together, that’s a lot of parties to plan. If you want to guarantee a place you know you like, then I’m afraid that yes, now is the time to start thinking about that. Here, I will cover what the Corn Exchange in Manchester has to offer! *
Gusto is a chain of restaurants with branches all over the North of England and a couple in Scotland. They serve a variety of food, mostly British and European. Manchester is fortunate to have three branches within Greater Manchester: City Centre, Didsbury and Cheadle Hulme; the latter two offering a brunch option between 9am – 1pm. Today’s review will focus on the brunch menu at the Didsbury branch!*
Honey Restaurant resides inside Hotel Gotham, towering over King Street. The building was designed by Edwin Lutyens in 1928 in the Art Deco style which was common at the time. Lutyens designed many homes, public buildings and memorials worldwide, notably in New Delhi. Constructed from stone and steel into a castle-like design, it used to house the Midland Bank. Whilst Jamie Oliver has taken the ground hall, the upper floors house the hotel with Honey Restaurant on the 6th floor and Club Brass, a VIP only lounge and bar, on the 7th floor.
It is one of those places where you have to dress up for the occasion in order to be let in, so I’ve never had a reason to venture inside. I was excited when I was invited to a VIP taster menu celebrating 3 years of the hotel and restaurant.*
