Hooters, New York - Revisited

I'm making a pledge now, I will never go to a city with a Hooters, without going to sample their melted jalapeno cheese. Never. 

It started in Vegas when I declared the burgers there the 'best ever', then there was the first trip to the New York gaff. I even bought a t-shirt last time I went, but decided never to wear it as Trading Standards would be hauling my ass in. I'm more than ok with that tee not fitting though, because I've never missed a bus in my life. There are many 'perks' to having smaller boobs! 

For when there's not enough make up in the world... there are always cocktails!

By the time we were mooching about in New York, we had been awake for over 24 hours. We had endured a seven hour flight, lots of diazepam, sorted a hotel room drama, got massively upgraded and showered with free stuff, managed to get changed, and still found ourselves pondering which cocktail we would have first! Warriors.

There it was... the familiar sight of the illuminated Hooters sign. It had moved since I last visited the city, so it was like a sampling a completely different restaurant. We were met by the loveliest chap who was managing front of house. He asked us to take a seat in the bar whilst he sorted our table. He knew we were both celebrating, so got us the best table with an amazing view of Manhattan by night. We were really in New York! 

For those of you who think Hooters is a seedy gaff with scantily clad girls with their boobs in your face, it is not. It's essentially a sports bar where you can get huge pitchers of beer, buckets of wings, colourful cocktails, and service with a massive smile. The girls are so friendly, and I've never met anyone yet who hasn't liked it. Don't reckon I'd be friends with anyone who hates Hooters.

Blake Shelton likes Hooters. Blake and I would be friends. 

We literally necked our first cocktails in the bar downstairs in an attempt to wake up, but worry not, the girls were on our case and ensured we were never without a drink. It helped that upstairs was so lively, with birthday parties, sports fans, and jet lagged girls all having fun simultaneously. I just wish I could tell you what we drank. Lots of frozen things...

To the food. I will start with a short video. For this to work properly, I suggest you set some soft mood lighting, maybe a little gentle classical music, and imagine a gold aura shining from the edges of the screen. BEHOLD.

I ordered a 'More than a Mouthful' burger, and Ellie got the same with a veggie patty. We also got side orders of curly fries, potato salad and beans. We weren't even hungry! Virgin Atlantic had done an excellent job of stuffing us for hours. Didn't matter, we were in New York, we had alcoholic slushies and big burgers, but more importantly, we had cheese fries!  The food always looks rubbish, but tastes like heaven.

Whatever, I'm getting cheese fries... 

What a way to start our trip! We crawled back to our hotel and slept like dead things, until about 5am, which apparently is the best time to wash your hair. 

Go here for a good time. You'll always be made to feel welcome at Hooters. There's something for everyone. I'm just irked that I didn't have room for dessert, but in our defence we had been up for a very long time at this point. This will not be my last visit.

Fat Tony's at Kosmonaut Manchester

I like Kosmonaut; they have a decent array of drinks on offer, we can usually get a comfy seat (massively underrated in Manchester), and more importantly, it's unfussy. Now don't get me wrong, I enjoy a fancy cocktail as much as the next girl, but sometimes I just want comfort, and enough personal space to avoid a panic attack.

Allow me to set the scene. It was cold, so cold. We rocked up at Kosmonaut to be greeted by some delightful chap in a woolly hat (don't blame you pal), who was excited to tell us all about the new Fat Tony's menu on offer. He quickly furnished us with drinks, and left us to peruse the menu.

I was always a fan of Fat Tony's predecessor, Hip Hop Chip Shop, so was keen to see if they had changed the feel of the place. I liked the old HHCS, because it was relaxed, and they gave me fried halloumi. Tough act to follow lads.

General Manager Danny Smith has been quoted as saying “we want Fat Tony’s to to deliver tasty, well presented and simple food with top quality ingredients". Show me what you got.

Disclaimer time... we ordered too much food again. This was for two of us. 

Manchester egg: A soft boiled egg, wrapped up all cosy in a black pudding jacket and breadcrumbs. Genuinely heard someone use the phrase 'Insta-friendly' the other day. I was appalled, but I think this picture should be the definition.

Roasted bone marrow with sourdough and pickles: We went wrong here. Although this was really good, it's also very rich and filling. It's a miracle that I've not got gout at my age.

Chicken burger with winter slaw: Tasty, moist chicken, coated with a cripsy buttermilk batter and drenched in an ever so slightly spicy gravy. It's only a little thing, but I love how they serve lots of the dishes with massive pickles. Pickles improve most things.

Steak poutine with handmade chips, beef gravy and cheese curds: This, all day, every day. If you never listen to me ever again, just hear me out this once. I'm going to swear, yes, I am. This is the shit, my friends. Let me break this down for you. Rare steak, sat on a bed of crispy wedges, topped with cheese curds, and utterly soaked in beef gravy. All your essential food groups right there! It's making my brow furrow because I don't have it here now. Eat this, multiple times.

Handcut chips: Because we didn't have enough carbs already... oh wait... They remind me of the 'proper chips' my grandma made for us when we were kids. She didn't put sea salt on them though, that's an improvement.

You know what? We had a really nice time. I wasn't feeling very well on this particularly dismal Sunday, but this lifted my spirits. It would be unfair of me to finish the review without thanking all the staff who were on that night. Being nice costs nowt, but they did their jobs with the kind of sincerity which makes me want to go back, and tell everyone I know that they have to go. So go.

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

Cane and Grain, Manchester

I love Cain and Grain. The sticky sauces, the oozing burgers, and chips piled with everything edible they had to hand in the kitchen. It's a proper carnivores' night out. The staff are always dead chatty, and really try to make your experience memorable for all the right reasons. All of these things generally add up to a pretty fab time had by all. 

A couple of weeks ago, I was invited to try out their new menu. I mentally prepared by having a sausage butty with brown sauce for breakfast at work, in the hope that an early start with the meat goods might somehow stretch my stomach for later*.

* Note, this was a terrible idea, and did not work one bit. 

It was already quite busy when we got there, but we were greeted by the lovely Charlie, who seemed very excited that we were there in an 'official' capacity to put the menu through its paces. Her enthusiasm was infectious, and she seemed to know the menu inside out. It seemed only fair that we let her pick everything we ate! I love a surprise. 

BBQ chicken wings: Never used to be a fan you know. Bones, skin, and all that cack. However... The more decent wings I eat, the more I'm loving them. These are little round plump ones, not the greasy type which are more skin than meat. Gorgeous. 

Full rack of pork baby back ribs: The size of these... Who can eat a full rack? They are massive, but worry not, they will box them up for you if you find yourself stuffed too soon.

Bacon cheeseburger - beef patty, cheese, bacon, lettuce, pickles, proper burger sauce on a sesame seed bun: Guilty pleasure...  A Burger King Bacon Double Cheeseburger. It reminds me of being at college and having one at least three times a week. Had to try it. The bacon is really crispy, and the addition of home made burger sauce adds a nice tanginess. This tastes like real food where I can pick out actual flavours, unlike its BK counterpart.

Sauces (clockwise) - Dr Pepper, Kansas City and Sticky BBQ: All the sauces at Cane and Grain are excellent, but the Dr Pepper one blew our minds! Dip your chips in these.

Beer battered deep fried pickles: I love a pickle. Pretty much anything pickled. Except eggs, that's just perverse. However, there's someone I know who enjoys a deep fried pickle more than most; my pal Vicki. And whaddya know? She was round the corner as we were eating, so was summoned to join us! She approves... High praise indeed.

Hot as fuck fries - jalapenos, hot sauce, cheese and crispy bacon: Sweet Jesus, they really are. It's this kind of stuff that I could bathe in and eat my way out. I didn't, I just ate them in a fairly civilised manner.

Smoked pit beans with pulled pork: These. I think I ate most of them. Sorry.

Drinks: I wish I could remember all the drinks we had. It turns out I didn't even photograph them all. This is what happens when you suggest your server surprises you. I do remember a Flying Dog Snake Dog IPA, and a Kona Big Wave, but the cocktails are beyond me. They have a cracking selection of drinks, and their cocktails have never disappointed yet. If you enjoy a cocktail, I'd recommend that you visit their First Floor Bar too.

I urge you to go to Cane and Grain. I've been quite a few times now, and have never yet been disappointed by anything I've had. If you love your meat, this is definitely the place for you, yet I've also been for just drinks. They're a great all rounder, where you'll aways be made to feel welcome.


Disclaimer: I was invited to sample the new menu by Cane and Grain. We were under no obligation to say nice things or befriend their staff, the last bit is just in our MO. 

Boozy Bowling at All Star Lanes, Manchester

It's one of my favourite venues in Manchester; the hallowed All Star Lanes. I knew I already loved them when it was just a twinkle in Great Northern's eye, and they didn't disappoint me. Their 50s styling, friendly staff, American diner menu, constantly changing specials, and frankly outstanding cocktails really rock my socks. 

It's probably one of my most frequently visited venues for all the reasons listed above, but they are also bang on the money when it comes to throwing a party! We booked the private lanes for my friend Lucie's 30th (have a nosy here), and went back over the Bank Holiday to sample the new Boozy Bowling. 

How do you like this; two hours of unlimited bowling, booze and American bites for £35? Yeah, we thought it sounded pretty darn good. So off we trot, ready to don some amazingly unflattering shoes.

So this is how it works. On arrival you give your names, which are then popped onto the boards on the private lanes whilst you sort your hoofs out. We had our own little seating area, and two lanes meant that between four of us, we were pretty much constantly bowling with no waiting around. This in itself feels like a real treat! Granted, it also caused some interesting bowling induced bum cheek and tricep injuries the day after...

Your server will come over pretty sharpish, and explain that the booze is either unlimited Prosecco or bottles of Coors (we had a mix), and that food would be arriving around every twenty minutes. Great!

If you do become overly involved in stuffing your face, the game reminds you that it's waiting too! Oh the shame of being told off by a blue snail...

I am notoriously terrible at bowling, due to the fact I am lacking in any sort of technique, and generally break my nails within five minutes of getting there. However, it's too much fun for me to care much. The food is more my area of expertise!

Pretzel bread with smokey cheese sauce and fries: That cheese sauce is like crack. I'm pretty peckish as I'm writing this, so this picture is utter torture. Probably bad timing. This bread is really soft but has that distinctive pretzel taste, and goes perfectly with the cheese. We thought that this looked like a lot of chips, which is funny, because we managed to snaffle the lot!

Southern fried chicken skewers with barbecue sauce and mac 'n' smoked cheese croquettes: Those beautiful words... 'Southern fried'. These dipped in barbecue sauce were just heavenly, and the probable cause of the snail who equally sauced me!

Mini corn dogs and deep fried rice balls: So much golden food... The thing is though, you're bowling hell for leather, so surely you are still in a calorie deficit at this stage! I lapped up those sticky rice balls dipped in the cheese from earlier.

Sliders - marinara meatballs with tomato sauce and pulled pork and 'slaw: We were getting really full by this stage. Just before these arrived, we had just had another round of pretzel bread, so our carb reserves we pretty well stocked. If these had come a little earlier, we would have been a little more successful at polishing the lot. Fret not though, for they were promptly boxed upon our server seeing how disappointed we were in ourselves.

We wanted for nothing. I have no idea how much Prosecco we drank, because our glasses were constantly being topped up. The staff were fantastic, and the food was to the usual brilliant standard. The only thing we would have changed was maybe getting the sliders earlier, and perhaps end with something sweet to perk us back up.

Having been some of the first to try Boozy Bowling, the venue were also really keen to get our feedback on how this could be improved in the future, which I really liked.

Here's what my pals had to say about our afternoon of fun...

• We had the best time! The private lanes really add to the group activity, and meant that we weren't fighting to be heard over other people.
• Wasn't sure what to expect but very pleasantly surprised!
• We didn't expect the private lanes, and were absolutely thrilled when we arrived. Such a great idea.
• It was amazing! Loved the private alley, felt very indulgent.
• Our glasses were never less than half full, the staff were attentive without being overpowering, and the food came just at the right intervals.
• The private lane section was ace. The staff were amazing and so attentive (glasses never empty and all friendly and fun to speak to) 
• Loved every minute, the staff were fabulous and didn't make us feel at all ashamed of our gluttonous behaviour

I urge you to try this deal the next time it's on. It's amazing value at £35 per person, and looks like it'll only get better next time round.

Cane and Grain - The First Floor Bar, Manchester

Before we start, I have a couple of questions for you. Do you like cocktails? Yes? Great. Now then, how do you feel about the kind of food where you end up with sticky hands, bits dripped on the table, and quite possibly a splatter on your top? You're down with that? Oh good. If you did answer 'no' to these, it's probably best that you stop reading now. Time is precious my friend.

I first went to Cane and Grain around this time last year. It had just opened, and my friend Emma and I ate too many ribs and sides. No, there was no learning from this on the subsequent visit. Their hidden First Floor Bar has become a bit of a favourite of mine recently, with its ambient seating area, elegant cocktails and terrifying taxidermy light fittings. The staff are always an utter delight to have a chat to, and are well versed in the drinks and food they serve.

So then, off we trot the other day to check out some of the brand new cocktails, which were helped along with some of the tantalising meaty treats as mentioned above.

We were greeted by Jen; a lovely bubbly lady with a genuine enthusiasm for everything she described to us. We agreed that the best way forward was to remove any element of choice, as everything sounded far too wonderful to possibly choose between them.

I'm going to cover cocktails first, as the second you clap eyes on the food, you're going to be transported elsewhere for a bit.

1862 (left):  A strong bourbon based number with a peppermint kick.
Amaretto Sour (right): Sour but with sweet almond from the Amaretto.

Corn n'oil (left): Another strong one, this time rum based with a hint of lime.
Casablanca (right): More rum, but with tropical flavours. A bit cakey, this can only be a good thing.

Bees Gimlet (left): Gin with syrup and honey. Sweet and simple, again with dessert-like qualities.
Ramos Gin Fizz (right): Creamy cocktails turn my stomach as I'm not a fan of milk, however, this opened my mind! Gorgeous. Gin based with egg whites, citrus and sugar syrup.

So to the food. I should have taken pictures of our hands and the table afterwards. Sauce bloody everywhere! 

Beef Short Ribs with Dr.Pepper sauce: Why did I not take a picture of the inside of these ribs? Oh I remember why... because we were too busy eating them! So tender, sweet and sticky. Big old Jacob's Ladder style bones too. 

Half Rack of Baby Back ribs with rum sauce: Smaller and sweeter than the short ribs, and smothered in rum sauce with soaked sultanas. My mouth is watering, and I'm considering making a trip there this very second. 

C&G Burger: Nothing standard about this house burger. A quarter pounder with smoked pulled pork, Monterey Jack and pickles. It ran down my wrist. Gloppy burgers rock my socks.

Truffle Cheese Fries: Seriously, Cane and Grain do amazing fries. Never underestimate a good portion of fries folks. Recall how disappointed you are when you get a pale, limp chip? These are golden and crisp and salty. Yes. I didn't have these particular ones as I have a very melodramatic reaction to truffle, and my eyes were on the prize that was the 'Hot as F*ck' item below...

Hot As F*CK Fries: Christ alive. Happiness is hot as f*ck fries. Fries, Monterey Jack, Louisiana hot sauce, crispy onion bits and wait for it... bacon wrapped jalapenos! Anger has set in. I need these now. I'm having a Chinese for tea, but it's just not going to cut it.
Carolina Slaw: I've become very fond of this kind of 'slaw. This is what happens when your co-diners are generally adverse to mayo. Crunchy veg with a tangy dressing. 

So I've upset myself horribly reliving my First Floor Bar experience. I have the most horrendous craving for ribs, which will not be satisfied by anything within a reasonable distance of my chair. Yes, I felt like I may never be clean again when I left, and I'm fairly sure I had hot sauce in my hair. Word of advice, go with someone who doesn't mind a clean up operation with 'Wet Ones' before you leave - those with cleanliness OCD will not enjoy it one bit!

Go to Cane and Grain if you love cocktails, bones covered in barbecued meat, and a belting chat with the folk who serve them.


Disclaimer: We were invited to the First Floor Bar to try the new menus. We were under no obligation to say nice stuff about them, or clean the table with wet wipes afterwards, but it was quite frankly a slip hazard. 

Nolita Cantina, Liverpool

I love Mexican food; the bits, the heat, the shedload of cheese, the gloppy sauces and tangy salsas. Love it. Nachos drenched in liquid cheese have to be one of my favourite things in the whole wide world. It's the kind of food that's best shared with your mates alongside a few cocktails or bottles of craft beer. So that's what we did.

We found Nolita Cantina in Liverpool when searching for a suitable pre-gig, face-stuffing establishment. The menu looked pretty good, so after a quick peep inside, we decided to give it a shot. Drinks were offered, and arrived promptly, and then came the horrific task of picking starters. I think we ordered everything on the menu bar one, which in hindsight I'm thinking we really should have got!

Drinks:
Sam Adams Boston Lager - 4.9% something half decent on draught, and came in an impressive glass.
Flying Dog Doggie Style Pale Ale - 5.5% notice any similarities to the restaurant logo? All the cool kids seem to be using the Flying Dog typeface these days.
Mad Hatter Toxteth IPA - 6.4% a bit stronger but was received well...
Mad Hatter Drink Me Rye Pale Ale - 5.8% a nice change from your standard IPA.

Mystery cocktail- so they didn't do cocktails. Not to worry, our lovely bartender made one up! He uttered those hilarious words... 'do you like gin?' Oh how we chortled. He came back with some sort of gin meets ginger beer and lime wizardry. We'll love him forever. 

House white - we also had a bottle of the house white; a rather tasty Sauvignon Blanc. My only complaint was that it was served in tumblers, which always makes me feel a bit odd. I soldiered on though. 

Street Corn - charred skewers of corn with a chilli cheese coating: We left these to Mark as some of the other starters had been contaminated with one of his mortal enemies, tomato. The rest of us were down with the red things so we were happy to let him devour these, which he did. The chilli cheese coating is a brilliant idea.

Chilli Pops - jalapeño peppers stuffed with cheese, breaded and fried: Jeez Louise, I adored these. Fiery jalapenos stuffed with cheese and deep fried. I can hear the local NHS Trust whimpering. If you go, I must insist you try these. I'll know.

Baby Corn Dogs - baby frankfurters coated in a cornmeal batter, fried and striped with american mustard and spiked tomato ketchup: Not a fan of frankfurters; they make me think of abhorrent things involving left over bits. Like I wasn't going to try something that looked this good though? Good lord they were a thing of wonder. The sausage itself isn't an overpowering flavour, but the addition of the corn coating made me feel like I was on Coney Island.

Nachos – crisp tortilla chips topped with cheese, spicy beans, salsa, sour cream, guacamole and jalapeño peppers: Nachos; they rock my socks. If they're there, I have to have them. They were beautiful, a real thing to behold. Lots of cheesy aceness with a good dollop of guacamole and beans. The salsa is usually mixed in too, but we got it separate because of Mark's distaste for the devil's fruit.

Chicken Wings - Dr. Pepper barbecue sauce: Again, I didn't try these because I generally end up wearing them. Strictly speaking, these are Phil's department. He dealt with them accordingly, with Sarah noting that they were rather large! (I noted 'that's what she said')

Hush Puppies - small savoury donuts made from cornmeal, beer and cheese, drizzled with blue cheese dressing: Savoury doughnuts... I had to play around with it a bit in my head first. It's a doughnut, yet there is no jam or sugar involved. The verdict? One of the best things I've eaten in some time. A crisp exterior with a soft, fluffy interior, and more cheese.

Brie and Bacon Grilled Cheese - Brie, mozzarella, cheddar, crispy bacon and caramelised onions, pressed and grilled: Apologies were offered to the chef for not finishing all of this. In all fairness, we did eat our bodyweight in starters, and I don't think any of us devoured a whole main course. It was genuinely massive, and had all the cheese on it.
Hot Mess - single stack burger with cheese, maple bacon peanut popcorn crumb: Sarah and I both opted for the Hot Mess after flirting with several sandwiches. I've had messier burgers (the type you can't even pick up), but in terms of flavour ratio, they had it bang on here. The burger was pink as requested, and the maple bacon and peanut popcorn added an unusual sweetness which was very pleasant indeed. We should have shared as we managed half each. Poor show girls.

Brisket in tray gravy Po’ Boy - warm brioche sub, iceberg lettuce, tomatoes, red onion and homemade New Orleans style remoulade: There was no picking this big lad up! Tender brisket topped with everything they had to hand. Bread was abandoned in favour of finishing the filling.

Nolita Cantina was a lovely little find. Quiet and unassuming from outside, but warm and welcoming inside with the loveliest waiter we've met in a while. He even drew us a map of other bars we could try later. Granted, we ended up off piste and landed somewhere else entirely!

There were lots of little restaurants on Bold Street, but I'm really glad we stayed with Nolita. Go here with the type of pals who you can have a laugh with, and who won't mind at all if you have wing sauce and cheese all over your face...