Comptoir Libanais, Manchester

'Bits' are the best. The art of convincing yourself 'oh look at me, I'm eating little tiny things like a dinky bird', where in reality, it's the joy of not being tied to one main, then staring furiously at someone else's whilst cursing yourself for not ordering the same. No my friend, mezze is the future.

Lebanese food lets light into the soul; spicy, warming and lots of 'bits' which make you beam. A couple of weeks ago, my friend Ellie and I got ourselves involved in a bit of Veganuary at Comptoir Libanais. This was going to be interesting, as I am a full on carnivore and she's pescatarian, so we wanted to see just how full can two hungry girls get with no meat or dairy? Challenge set.

Comptoir Libanais has to be one of the prettiest restaurants in the city. Lebanese restaurants are usually full of colour, with vibrant tiles, extravagant teapots and the most wonderful ingredients to buy to take home. The restaurant is spacious and light, and there's even a bar tucked away at the back for those in need of pre-dinner drinks, or a cheeky glass of something with nibbles.

So then, this mezze I was on about. I was determined not to make a pig of myself after the great 'Pre-Sum 41 Disaster of 2017', where I was so full after eating Lebanese food, that I went to the bar during the gig and had to ask for a glass of squash. Party hard. Would history repeat itself?

The promotional picture below really does not do the volume of food justice. Looks okay hey? Colours as dazzling as their home, it really is as much a feast for the eyes as it is for your belly.

Here's how we got on.

Drinks: Great range of wines, cocktails, beers, and homemade soft drinks, with extra brownie points going to our hostess who found the ingredients list of a discontinued cocktail Ellie had fawned over online. It's also essential that I mention (and stand by) my original description of the rose tea we were served too; 'magical'.

Mezze to share:
Hommos - smooth rich chickpea purée with tahini and lemon juice, served with pita bread: The original hommos listed on the menu was beetroot, which is fine if you like soil. I do not, therefore this was easily swapped for the regular version. I really must impress upon you that this stuff makes the pots from M&S taste like beige nothing. This is so rich and full of flavour, there's a definite difference with the authentic stuff.

Baba Ghanuj - smoked aubergine, tahina and lemon juice with pomegranate seeds, served with pita bread: Drenched in the most beautifully scented olive oil with pomegranate seeds, this dip is like a little glimpse of lunch in Heaven.

Freekeh - smoked green wheat, wild rocket, vine tomato, spring onion, apple vinegar and mint dressing: Not keen on rocket, so why was this so wonderful? I often find it drowns the taste of anything you serve it with, so I can only presume that the combination and balance of flavours here were just bob-on.

Falafel - chickpea and broad bean pate, coriander, parsley, garlic and peppers, served with tahina sauce: They always look so dry and uninviting, but once cracked open, these little balls of delight are a taste sensation, especially when drowned in tahina and eaten with those bright pink pickles. 
Quinoa and Pumpkin Salad - quinoa, chickpeas, vine tomato, fresh mint, topped roasted pumpkin, apple vinaigrette and pomegranate dressing: The first time I ate quinoa was in porridge with protein powder. This is not like that porridge. Soft and spicy with texture for days. This went down very well indeed.

Aubergine Tagine - baked baby aubergine in a rich tomato and chickpea sauce: By far my stand out dish of the day. There's something about a warming tagine served with fluffy rice that wraps me in a big blanket and makes me feel safe from the cold outside.

Rose Water Mouhalabia - coconut milk and rose water Lebanese milk pudding: A little like a very light blancmange with a subtle rose flavour. Ellie was a big fan of this one.

What an amazing afternoon! It was howling a gale outside, and there we were, feasting, drinking cocktails and declaring tea 'magical'. In all honesty, you would barely notice that everything was plant based, because it was just so unbelievably delicious, and we left feeling incredibly full indeed. Many of the foods served like chickpeas, aubergine and quinoa take on the flavours of the spices when cooked well, so feel hearty and soothing. 

Don't get me wrong, I'm never going to change my meat eating ways, but will happily reorder ay of these items in the future. They are on the normal menu all year round, so you can still sample them all.

Go here for a slow afternoon of chit chat, cocktails, and the most beautiful food.

Disclaimer: I was invited to the restaurant to complete an honest review. I was under no obligation to say nice things!

Bakchich, Liverpool

Imagine biblical scenes of driving rain... we're wet through, starving, and some terrible website has cocked up our tickets to the wrestling. It's not we had planned, not one bit. The one saving grace to the whole sodden affair, was that we had a table booked at Bakchich. I'd been to the one in Manchester a couple of months before, so was as confident as I could be, that this was the point where our day would improve.

And relax... Yes, our hoodies had made a horrible little puddle on the bench beside us, bit it was ok, as we had just clapped eyes on the menu, and realised we were but moments away from some tasty treats. Although Bakchich don't serve alcohol, they more than make up for it with their frozen yoghurt smoothies and freshly squeezed juices. We opted for apple, lime and ginger to warm us through and perk us right back up. 

Meat Mezze - Jawaneh meshawi, falafel, hommos, mixed shawarma, kibbeh shamiya and baba ghannoush, served with pickles & homemade bread: What do you do when you just can't choose? That's right, it's platter time. This is one of the joys of mezze; bits. This is by far my favourite kind of food. They even kindly substituted the standard falafel for the sweet potato type we had in Manchester.

Halloumi Meshwi - Grilled Halloumi cheese, tomatoes, olives, fresh mint with olive oil: There's one thing I definitely knew that I wanted though and this was halloumi. I love a bit of grilled squeaky cheese! The salad that came with this blew our minds; fresh mint with tangy pomegranate seeds. 

Mixed Grill Meshawi - shisk taouk, lahma meshawi, kefta meshawi and chicken kefte served with salad, Arabic rice and chips: All the meat. It doesn't look like a huge amount of food, but we didn't finish this between two of us! I'd definitely recommend getting the mixed grill so you can try a bit of everything. Their chicken is unreal. 

We've all been here, just when you've declared yourself fit to burst, you find yourself saying you'll just 'have a look' at the dessert menu, which leads to ordering sugar fuelled goodies. 

Frozen yoghurt with halve and pistachios: I'd never tried halve before. I love sampling new things, so this was all a bit exciting! Mixed with the sharp yogurt and sweet pistachios, this was strangely comforting, despite my initial mistrust of its texture. 

Baklava: These little parcels look so unassuming, don't they? They're like little power packs of sweet, nutty, loveliness! I literally managed one. Poor show. 

Once again, another lovely time was had at Bakchich. Their staff were charming, the food was fantastic, and they did indeed fix what had so far been a bit of a disastrous day. I can safely say that it significantly improved our moods enough to ensure we had a cracking little day from this point forth, despite getting caught in yet another terrible storm! Our hoodies were soaked anyway, what's a little more rain hey?

Bakchich, Manchester

Bakchich has been on my list since it opened. I'd seen their sister restaurant in Liverpool a few months earlier, so was suitably chuffed when I heard they were coming to Manchester. I've been eating out left, right and centre recently, but this week finally made time to visit.

It's set just off Oxford Road, near the Humanities block at Manchester University. Incidentally, this is where I did my degree. Imagine if this had been there when I was? I'd have been (more of) a disgrace. In my day we had a Gregg's, which already led to an unhealthy obsession with Belgian buns. Thinking about it, I lived off those and Cadbury's Tasters, with the occasional packet of strawberry Chewits thrown in.

We walked in from the cold to be greeted by lovely Sam; a genuine delight, who was keen to get us away from that nip and to a warmer spot at the back of the restaurant. We were pretty sure we loved him already. The restaurant itself is a pretty mix of bright furniture, beautiful tiles and numerous packets and tins of exotic looking food. The kitchen is open, which allows you to see the culinary wizardry being conjured in the back.

Bakchich don't serve alcohol, but we really didn't miss it, despite both having spent a busy morning in work and being partial to a lunchtime cocktail. 

Roza lemonade - lemon, line and rose water: These were our favourites! Slightly fizzy with a subtly hint of rose. We stayed on these. 

Apple, lime and ginger juice: Very refreshing with a little warmth from the fresh ginger. 

Bread and dips: We were starved by this point, so soft warm flatbreads were most welcome. That garlic mayo is just gorgeous. Fairly sure I still stink of it now, but I care very little, as it was totally worth it.

Hommous Beiruty: Thick and creamy with sweet pomegranate seeds. Great for slathering over falafel, just saying.

Sweet potato falafel: How lucky that was! Another dish where pictures don't do it justice. A nice change from the standard type, and something the staff are obviously very proud of. You must try these with a big old pile of assorted dips.

Bakchich Arayes: One of the standout dishes for me. They are described on the menu as pastries, however they are more like a thin, filled flatbread than a pasty style item (I had imagined something Cornish looking). Get this dipped in you hommous. The pickles deserve a separate mention; pickle fans, get involved in these!

Bourkouri halloumi: One of my other favourites. I can't get enough of halloumi. Served on delicate tomato bulgur wheat, this soft cheese had managed to avoid the 'squeak overload' you sometimes get when it's slightly overdone. I'm having this again.

Chicken shawarma platter: Basically this is strips of chicken, roasted on a spit like doner meat. It means it's incredibly juicy. The chips are pretty good too.

Mixed grill meshawi: Amazing if you're incredibly indecisive. There are four kebabs, including shish, taouk, lahma meshawi, kefta meshawi and chicken kofta. As much as I thought all of them were fantastic, the taouk (chicken skewers) were my favourites, owing to the charred edges.

The picture below looks like a rather civilised and sensible plate of food. This was round one! By the end of the meal, we had rice all over the show, and had consumed way too much. We were so happy!

Then our lovely waiter asked us whether we had room for dessert. We did not, but went with it anyway. He explained that all the desserts are home made in the Liverpool restaurant, then sent over to Manchester, thus the cheesecake being in a little plastic pot.

Lebanese coconut cheesecake: So light and creamy, with the subtlest hint of coconut.

Almond and pineapple cake: This one wins! I'm a sucker for anything with almond in it. Holy moly this is good. I don't care if you think you're full. Get a grip and revive your lethargy with this sugar fuelled beauty. Perfect in every way.

Teas - Moroccan mint and Lebanese: We were persuaded to have tea by the wise waiter who saw we may be unable to vacate the premises without assistance. He assured us that it would aid digestion and bring us back to the land of the living. Lee had mint whilst I went for the Lebanese blend, poured from a terrifying height. I can't say enough nice things about the soothing quality of Lebanese tea; a warming brew of rose water, zaatar and cardamom. Try it.

Note: no-one had tea poured onto their crotch, this is just an unfortunate angle where Lee managed to get her tea loving mug in the shot.

If you love lots of bits, genuinely adorable staff, and saying 'ooooh' a lot, go to Bakchich. You won't be disappointed.


Disclaimer: Lee and I were asked to go to Bakchich to check out their new restaurant. I was not paid to say anything nice, befriend their staff, or threaten to move in. However, I did find out that the food is wonderful, and if things get too much, there is a bed upstairs. Thanks Sam. 

Comptoir Libanais, Manchester

Urgh, that thing when you had plans that fell through... Then you have to decide where else you could go, but it's cold, and windy, and you're not sure whether you have frost bite in your left little toe. But hark! You remember about Comptoir Libanais, and rabbit so quickly to your pals that you are quite incoherent for a moment.

We arrived at Comptoir Libanais, once again, in the middle of an end of days style storm. It was wet, blowing a gale, and my hair looked like I'd had some sort of breakdown. We were welcomed by very excitable staff, who seemed genuinely keen to get us in, settled and with drink in hand.

I'd never had Lebanese food before, but I have to tell you, I was very excited. I love bits; spicy bits and dips with lots of variety. There's a special place in my heart for a belly-busting roast, but bits will win hands down every time. With this in mind, we decided to opt for the mezze, partially because it removed the trauma of having to choose from such a wonderful menu.

First up though, a delicious strawberry cocktail and a beer to warm us up a sniff.
Arak Strawberry Collins - Bloom gin & Arak served up in a classic Collins style with fresh strawberries

Almaza – Lebanese beer

Mezze

• Falafel - Chickpeas, broad beans, coriander, parsley, garlic and peppers: They look so boring, but taste so wonderful. Perfect when dipped in things.
• Hummus - Smooth rich chickpea puree with tahini and lemon juice: Sometimes a bit bland, but this had a lovely taste and texture. Lots of pitta was consumed with this. 
• Baba Ghanuj - Smoked aubergines, tahini and lemon juice with pomegranate seeds: Aubergine is normally a bit slimy and untrustworthy in texture for me, but this was gorgeous! Loved the tangy pomegranate seeds.
• Fattoush - Baby gem lettuce, cherry tomatoes, radishes, red onion, mint and parsley, with toasted pita bread, fresh pomegranates and sumac dressing: It's like a good version of salad... 
• Lahme Man’ousha - Oven baked flat bread with minced lamb, diced onions, pepper and chilli topped with mint leaves, pomegranate seeds, a wedge of lemon and pomegranate molasses: God this was outstanding! Spicy meat on soft bread. Nice...
• Sojok in Pomegranate Molasses - Spicy Armenian sausages with tomato, parsley and pomegranate molasses: Sausages in sweet stuff; what's not to love about this?
• Jawaneh - Chargrilled marinated chicken wings served with harissa and garlic sauce: I have form for getting chicken wing sauce all over my face, so usually skip them. Couldn't resist though because they smelled amazing. I mitigated the risk by using a knife and fork. Playa...
• Batata Harra - Lebanese spiced fries with red pepper, fresh coriander, garlic and chili: These are like little spicy roasties. Loved their crispiness!
• Pickles - Dead sea pickles: I am a total freak for pickles. These were exceptional! Perfect for dipping. 
• Pitta Bread - Soft, warm bread, perfect for dips: We ate way too much of this, and then it was seamlessly replenished by our waitress. Then we ate more.
• Harissa, mint and yoghurt, garlic and tahini sauces: Dips rock my socks; and these were no exception. 

Mixed Grill - Lamb kofta, chicken kofta, chicken shish taouk served with vermicelli rice: So imagine you've just eaten everything above, then this appears. I could have cried. Word of advice; the mezze is enough. You do not need a mixed grill, despite what your initially hungry belly will tell you. At a push, share one! It's bloody good though. Those chicken pieces are pretty hardcore. 

Baklawa and a selection of Lebanese pastries: I was pathetic by this stage. I managed little nibbles, like a wee rodent, then sat with the face on until the lovely tea arrived. 

Fresh Rose Mint Tea served in a silver teapot - A healthy blend of green tea, fresh mint, rose water and sugar: I presumed I wouldn't like this because it has fresh mint in it (fresh mint being the Devil's weed). Poured from a height, the smell of this permeated the air with sweet mint and rose. It's utterly delicious. They blend it in house, otherwise I'd have bought several kilos. Tetley just isn't the same...

An unexpected evening out at Comptoir Libanase turned into a little cracker. The service was exceptional, and the food was some of the best I've had in a while. I'm already looking forward to going back for brunch of some description. Turns out I'm a big fan of Lebanese food.