What a week it's been for hospitality, yet again. Matt Lucas's skit on GBBO summed up the general confusion as restaurateurs tried to get a handle on reduced opening hours, masks and apps.

At the risk of sounding like a stuck record, they need your support more than ever and many are constantly adapting their offerings as the goalposts take on a life of their own.

This week we bring news of the return of home delivery from Six By Nico, fine wine tasting from Sam's Chop House and a chance for students to get their mitts on a year's worth of free food.

All smiles on the terrace

This weekend’s pop up restaurant at Community Kitchen On The Square in front of the Great Northern is the superlative Siam Smiles. Having fairly recently migrated over to the Great Northern from Chinatown, Siam Smiles has long been known as one of the most authentic Thai food experiences our city has to offer (read our review). If you’ve yet to prickle your tongue on their chilli, now’s your chance to do so in the open air and (hopefully) early Autumn sunshine. Tuk-tuk in to PhpPla Phed - duck summer rolls, Yam Talay Woosen - seafood salad, or Khang Massaman Gal – chicken curry with rice or play it safe with a good old Pad Thai. As ever, Didsbury gin and Estrella Damm are providing the bevvies.

Scrambled or freight?

Escape To Freight Island is launching a brand new brunch menu for all your alfresco breakfast needs. Available every Saturday & Sunday from 10am-12pm. There will be dishes from across the various concessions including a breakfast bun with double sausage patty, egg & cheese brioche and a smashed cannellini & nduja pizetta. There’ll be brunch cocktails too like the classic Bloody Mary and a more adventurous Green Snapper with gin, coriander, mint and that green tabasco that tastes like pureed pickled jalapenos. All that should get you steaming into your day.

2020 08 26 Food And Drink News Six By Nico

Rule of six

With rules getting tighter and tighter, it’s no surprise that some restaurants that were providing cook at home boxes during lockdown only to stop when restaurants reopened have done a Boris Johnson style U-turn. But we are not complaining. Six By Nico offer one of the best value boxes with a six course meal for two including a bottle of house wine for £50. The first on offer is recent restaurant hit, The Sicilian which includes arancini, fregola and a lemon tart. The only catch is, you have to collect it yourself. Order yours here.

Wine o'chop

Manchester’s most famous sommelier George Bergier, over at Sam’s Chop House, has teamed up with The Crafty Cheeseman and raconteur Nick Fildes to offer virtual wine tastings of a particularly high standard. These events which take place over zoom include delivery of three full bottles paired with artisanal British cheese. They’re fun, informative and sell out very quickly so if you’re not already on the Chop House mailing list, sign up here to stay informed of these and other food related shenanigans.

Grub for grabs

Foodhub are offering students across Manchester the chance to bag a year of free food worth over £750. Students from The University of Manchester and Manchester Metropolitan University are invited to apply for ‘the tastiest job in Manchester’ as Chief Student Taste Tester for Foodhub. To apply for the dream job, visit this link and either show or tell Foodhub why you have the best tastebuds for the job. The winning student will be chosen by a panel of ‘food experts’ (we’re still waiting for them to call us) and will be expected to write ‘reviews’ of the local takeaways they visit. To be eligible for entry, students must use their university email address when applying. Runners up not chosen for job will receive a 25% discount code of their next takeaway from Foodhub.

Remember sourdough?

Everyone was baking a few months back but, when lockdown eased, many forgot all about their fermented friends. But if you really got the bug and want to step up your baking game, a virtual cookery course with Britain’s Best Baker might be just what you’re after. Join Aidan Monks and Dean Fletcher on Sunday, 25th October 2020 from 10am til 3:30pm for the first of a series of in-depth, interactive virtual sourdough workshops. The sessions will teach you all about mothers, starters, flour, autolyse, proving, scoring and baking in a fun, but informative way. To book your place visit one of the Lovingly Artisan Bakeries at either Altrincham or Plumgarth’s and have a chat with one of the team or email Catherine with your phone number and she’ll call you back. The workshop fee is £95 +vat and includes tuition, ingredients, recipes cards and a bespoke bakery tool kit.