I love a good banger. I'm talking high meat content, well seasoned with added herbs and spices. The ones that sizzle in a pan and make back gardens smell of summer when whacked on the barbecue. I like the ones that come from a decent butcher, who made them by hand, just like his dad did. They're the reason brown sauce was invented (surely).
More to the point, I hate hotdog sausages, so rejoice in the hashtag of choice, #NoWeiners! To borrow the words of Denise Royle, I fear they are full of 'ear holes, eye holes and arse holes'. I don't like how they still look pink inside when cooked, I'm not keen on how some come in a jar and look a bit like the floating frogs we had in the biology lab, and 'meat' which needs no refrigeration and comes delivered in a cardboard box makes me feel a little left of angered.
Enter
The Splendid Sausage Company. Let's answer a burning question before I go any further. Are they copying
Dogs n Dough? No. Splendid Sausage are celebrating all things banger related. Whilst they are both serving hotdogs, Dogs n Dough do fantastic American style hotdogs and pizzas, whereas The Splendid Sausage Company are all about the sausage itself.
There are ten different types on the menu, including spicy pork with scotch bonnets, the romany with rosemary, thyme and sage, and Moroccan lamb. You can select a sausage, toppings and sides, or go for one of the hotdog combos. All the bangers are made in house by the team of chefs, using only the best produce from their preferred butcher.
Owners Mike and Emily Edge opened The Splendid Sausage Company just four weeks ago, giving the old Jack Spratt site a facelift so quick that even 60 Minute Makeover would have been impressed. The dining room is bright and airy, with a mixture of booths, tables and nice window seats.
We arrived just before lunchtime in the pouring Manchester rain. We were welcomed in by Mike and his team, and had drinks before we knew it. I opted for a vanilla milkshake, whilst my husband decided coffee was required. We also noticed that they have a decent craft beer bottle list, including Brooklyn and Anchor, but Mike also mentioned that he's looking into getting more local brews in too.
All Day Breakfast - the splendid sausage with bacon, egg, crumbled black pudding and tomato relish: My husband fancied a full English, and that's exactly what he got! This is literally a breakfast on a brioche bap. The house sausage is juicy pork with herbs, pepper and garlic.
Mexican - the Spanish sausage with three cheese mix, peppers, lettuce, chillies, guacamole and hot sauce: I adore Mexican food. This included the Spanish pork sausage with sun-dried tomatoes and red and green peppers. The only thing I felt it was missing was a bit of sour cream and maybe a wedge of lime. Very tasty, ridiculously filling!
Chilli cheese fries: Skin on, topped with smoked beef chilli and a tonne of cheese. I made the mistake of snaffling too many of these before finishing my hotdog! Be warned.
I really like Mike and co. I liked their sausages too. Their enthusiasm is infectious, and their food is the kind of stuff which will sort out hangovers, tiredness, and general feelings of 'meh'. They're not taking themselves too seriously, but are armed with a plan, the willingness to make necessary tweaks, and some pretty special sausages. I overheard one chap ask a customer whether he had been to Splendid Sausage before... 'No?! Well then you're in for a treat!' He wasn't wrong.
Disclaimer: I was invited by Mike to sample their sausages. I did, and saw they were good. Very good.
