30th September 2023 | Food Tour

Manchester leg of the food tour/eyes bigger than their bellies/slightly dampened spirits/amateurs not yet pros.

After a carefully selected list of the best places to eat in Manchester, and a vague route mapped out, we headed north for the first of many food adventures. Walking across town with the anticipation of our first stop, we were hungry for the delights of Half Dozen Other. This warehouse unit painted in pastel peach was a beacon of pastry heaven. Due to the time of our arrival a lot of options had sold out but we opted for The Cretzel and Popcorn Caramel Croissant. The Cretzel was a pretzel-baked croissant, whole grain mustard, Emmental cheese, pickle and pretzel salt which invoked the feeling of visiting a New York deli to sample this savoury creation. Whilst the Popcorn Caramel Croissant (two colour croissant, salted caramel creme patisserie, mascarpone Chantilly and caramel popcorn) counteracted the salty delight of the The Cretzel. The custard like filling was sweet and oozed out as you bit into it.

As we finished up at Half Dozen Other the rain began to fall, not forecast until later in the day it made a surprise appearance. Still we carried on to the next stop which was Salt and Pepper where they serve ‘proper scran’. If we thought the last place was popular, it was nothing compared to here. We joined the queue surrounded by a packed seating area. So much to choose from with HT and LC opting for the sticky beef stuffed wrap and salt and pepper chicken stuffed wrap with fries and hash browns. RS opted for the sticky mock chicken wrap being veggie and all to be washed down with a can of Fanta each. We grabbed our buzzers and managed to get ourselves a table though it was quite the effort as vultures circled each table as people ate. Once the food was ready there was an array of orgasmic noises coming from LC as she tucked into the savoury monstrosities we had ordered. The wraps were packed with flavour, an expected spicy kick and cooked to perfection. The portion sizes were unexpected but gratefully appreciated. A wet wipe sachet is presented with each dish and very much needed as the contents of the wraps spill everywhere in the effort to eat it whilst maintaining some dignity. Once we had finished the next set of vultures landed at our table to enjoy their food.

We had anticipated visiting Big Licks but after the belly filling food from Salt and Pepper and the now pouring rain we decided to go to the next savoury location, Thief Street and regroup. Once we arrived, we all realised how full we had become and decided we wouldn’t be able to fit another bite in so had a drink and let food set. Surrounded by the food exiting the kitchen we all agreed there would need to be another Manchester food tour just with some adjustments. We would need to arrive earlier and hope for better weather. It was agreed upon to take our soggy selves home but stop at a motorway services and grab something there. Dampened spirits led us to McDonalds where HT had an apple pie with hot chocolate, LC had a McFlurry and Fanta and RS had an apple pie. Sometimes you’ve just got to have a little naughty. We all know it’s not the culinary masterpiece of the world but you know exactly what you’re going to get and in that moment that’s what we all needed.

#Comfort food.