Chaophraya, Manchester

Chaophraya seems to have been around forever, and was certainly part of the Manchester dining scene long before the Northern Quarter got its facelift, and Spinningfields was even a glint in Tim Bacon's eye. I think it got a little lost in the 'foodie' (hate that word) explosion that happened after around 2011, when names like Solita and Southern Eleven started to dominate Manchester dining, everyone wanted either burgers or pulled pork, and a tribe of bloggers began to emerge from their back bedrooms (guilty). Fine dining was dying off in favour of 'down with the kids' pop ups, no booking policies, and restaurant Twitter banter. There they stayed, quietly waiting, dormant. 

I'm only a recent convert to Thai food, but I'm now fully embracing it. I think my first experience was some dodgy gaff in Bolton where the staff were rude, and the other diners were ruder still. That ended badly. Chaophraya's a world away from that terrible night. We were greeted like friends when we arrived, despite never having set foot in the place before. It certainly has a wow factor, the large doors concealing a beautiful reception area which is not visible from the street. 

Our welcome included introductions to the front of house team, Thai crackers with a sweet chilli dipping sauce, and some beautiful cocktails.

Temple of Dawn -  smoked, Whitley Neil gin, cherry marnier, almond, maraschino, lemon (bottom)

Rubies and Diamonds -  Pama pomegranate liqueur, cranberry juice, Pinot Grigio (top)

Whist we waited for our starters, one of the managers came over to explain how the new menu had been created, including many trips to Thailand, of which I was immensely jealous.

Mushroom tom-kha soup (Tom-kha het) -  An aromatic Thai soup with enoki and shimeji mushrooms with galangal, lemongrass, chilli and kafir lime leaves: One of the stand out dishes of the evening for both of us. If you're not a mushroom fan, worry not, as this is very delicate, and tastes nothing like your standard fungus.

Steamed dumplings (Ka Nom Jeeb) - Assorted prawn and pork dumplings steamed and topped with fried garlic and a sweet soy sauce: I love dumplings. Despite the fact I used to hate prawns with a passion, these have become one of my favourite Thai dishes. They add a delicate sweetness which works fanatically with the salty soy sauce.

Thai chicken tacos (Taco Gai) -  Red curried chicken finished off with coconut milk and served over lightly pan-seared rice flour tacos: Yes, they're very pretty, but they also taste remarkable. They are just like the Mexican kind, only with the signature Thai flavours you would expect. Loved these.

Massaman lamb curry (Massaman Gaeh) - Pieces of tender lamb stewed with massaman curry, coconut milk, carrots, potatoes and baby onions, topped with cashew nuts: Massaman curries are one of my new favourites because of the sweet cashews. This was a lovely, fragrant curry, but it was a little overshadowed by the other main we ordered.

Chamber aged sirloin steak (Nua Sirloin Yang) -  8oz sirloin steak cooked at your table on a Himalayan rock salt block. Served with a tangy chilli dip alongside stir-fried shimeji mushrooms, onions and Bok choy: Seared on the outside before it's brought to the table, the steak is then finished off Raclette style on a hot block of pink Himalayan salt. I like my steak really rare, so this did not take long at all! I like a bit of theatre with my food.

Sides - sugar snap pas, mushrooms and tenderstem broccoli and sticky rice: I adore the crunchy vegetables served with Thai food, and the fact they aways add red chilli, which is either sweet or will blow your head off; you never quite know which one you'll get! Sticky rice is the only type I ever order because I love it so much. This was slightly overdone and was a little hard in places, but they were forgiven, because strangely, I quite liked it.

Desserts don't generally appear to be the strong point in Asian cuisine. I'm thinking Funky Pie at every local Indian I've ever been to, or basic 'three scoops of ice cream' at some Thai places. No, no my friends. The desserts we had at Chaophraya were some of the best I've had in Manchester.

Mango meringue roll - A light Alphonso mango and passion fruit meringue roll served with Thai Mango and roasted almonds and lightly caramelised strawberries: So delicate, every flavour and texture were considered, and presentation was just perfect. The tang in that mango with the sweet meringue was heaven. I just need a Viennetta sized portion.

White chocolate box - White chocolate mousse with raspberry coulis on butter shortbread served with a mini macaron and passion fruit syrup: I love white chocolate, some say a little too much. So many elements, which were just perfection. A chewy macaron, that shortbread concealed beneath that moulded chocolate, and the tiny leaves placed 'just so'. Who knew?

What a wonderful evening we had at Chaophraya. Not only were we treated to the most fantastic of feasts, but I can't leave you without mentioning quite how lovely the staff were too. Our waitress was very sweet, and described every element in painstaking detail, despite struggling with her English a little (I can't speak a work of Thai so she immediately put me to shame), and one of the front of house chaps was keen to tell me what to try next time, with such infectious enthusiasm, that I'm already looking forward to our return. Go to Chaophraya for a real treat.

Disclaimer: I was invited to Chaophraya to sample their new menu. I was not asked to rave about their roulade, or indeed get so excited when my food came served with flowers. Excitement - blogger's own.

Vivid Lounge, Manchester

We thought it was a weird concept; cafe by day, Thai restaurant by night. It was hard to fathom how that might work. It's a bit out of the way too, yet still I found myself drawn to Vivid Lounge. The name doesn't give much away, so it had to be investigated further. 

So it had tipped it down, but we arrived in sunny Ancoats to the perfect parking space, and a gaggle of geese having a little rest by the canal lock. It's a beautiful little spot which made us feel like we were a million miles from the city.

We were welcomed like old friends, and seated near a huge window. It looks like a cafe, but feels like you've been here a thousand times before; it just throws you when you don't know where the loo is. First of all the lovely Martha sorted us some drinks, and then a bubbly chap called Sam came over and explained how the menu works.

It's very simple in the evening. You decide which size bowl you want, and then pick something the list under each section. The bowls are split into the base, curry, bites, salad and extras. The tough bit is picking what you want to try. There is also a starter board where you pick two bites and a salad, which means you get to try even more!

Starter board
Bites - Southern chicken wings and pork skewers: Little crispy bits that blow your mind... It's a good job these were limited, as I think I would be 47 stones by now.
Salad - Carrot and coconut: How can something so simple be so full of flavour? This was one of my favourite things from Vivid Lounge. When Martha noticed us both fawning over its brilliance, she brought more without hesitation. We didn't feel bad, it's salad. It's good for you. Five a day, for your health.

The mains come in bowls ranging from large to small. I have a confession. I may have showed myself up when asked if I wanted the large one, I may have said 'that's what she said' to someone I'd never met. Luckily, it was Martha, who laughed. I knew we were going to get on... Anyway, who wouldn't want the large one? (that's what she said).

Bowl 1
Base - Roti: So soft and fluffy, the perfect base for that lovely tamarind sauce.
Curry - Duck and tamarind sauce: Beautifully cooked duck in a sweet and sticky sauce.
Bite - Thai corn fritters: One of the best things on Earth, I'm quite confident. You must have these.
Salad - Poached pak choi: Simple, yet a great side for all that sweetness.
Extras - Cherry tomatoes, Thai pickles, boiled egg and fried chillies: I adore the concept of the lovely little fresh things to accompany the bowl.

Bowl 2
Base - Jasmine rice: I can't get enough of sticky jasmine rice. I have to have it if it's an option. This soaked with Massaman sauce rocked my socks.
Curry - Beef Massaman: One of my favourite Thai curries. Slow cooked beef that falls apart, with the most delectable sauce.
Bite - Thai corn fritters: As above, I'm still insisting that you try these, only a little more fervently now.
Salad - Thai sauerkraut: Oh this. Crunchy and tangy and all kinds of aceness. Perfect with the sweet stuff.
Extras - Fried onion, Thai pickles, spring onions and green chillies: I think I made great choices here. I'd happily sit and eat a full bowl of those pickles.

I couldn't understand why I was so abhorrently full when I got home, but looking back at the pictures, it's suddenly becoming very clear. This is some of the most exciting food I've scoffed in a while. Just look at the colours in those bowls! It was all very exciting. 

The drinks were pretty good too. I was driving so stuck to San Pellegrino Limonata, but there's also a great selection of craft beers, including local brewers Marble and Cloudwater. 

We decided that our food coma may possibly be rectified with a hot drink. We tried both the sugar and caffeine routes. As lovely as both were, it turns out we were done for.

The food was phenomenal, but the staff made the experience equally brilliant. Their sense of humour and chatty ways made the whole experience an utter pleasure. There was another slightly sticky moment where I clocked this sign in the toilets, only to guffaw so loudly that I am sure the people outside heard. My bad. I had to get a photo for you...

I know the food was something special as I'm sat here feeling aggrieved that it isn't here now. I'd much rather have bits of different things than one big bowl of something. I'm easily bored by the same thing; I have a very short attention span. Although we didn't stay late, for some reason I was knackered when I got home. I can only think that I was suffering from sensory overload after such a feast!

I've already recommended Vivid Lounge to pretty much everyone I have come into contact with since. Go here if you like to try lots of little things, but still leave feeling very full indeed. They also have a pretty selection of home made cakes, but I'm sorry to say my powers had left me by this point. Just go. I have a lot of love for these folks.

Busaba Eathai, Manchester

Thai food has become one of my new faves in recent months, so when Busaba recently opened in Manchester's Printworks, it went straight on 'the list'. We've had a bit of a flurry of exciting new restaurants over the past few months, so I only got round to sampling Busaba a few weeks ago.

First thing's first, I shall address the elephant in the room for anyone over the age of 25 who knows Manchester. Yes, it's in the Printworks, but no, it is not chavtastic in any way. You don't even need to enter the building to get into Busaba. It's right on the edge and is accessible from Withy Grove. There, all sorted. I shall continue.

So then, it was chuffing freezing with that fuzzy rain that soaks your face, and the kind of wind which makes you question why you left the house. We were blown through the door of Busaba by one particularly ferocious gust, and it was all okay again. It was warm and the smell of delicate incense sticks perfumed the restaurant. I knew everything was going to be just fine.

The menu is pretty big, and we did find ourselves a little overwhelmed by the many pages we had to leaf through. Our first drinks arrived promptly, which somehow made the decisions a little easier to make. Cocktails were flowing nicely, and Phil was mightily impressed that Busaba have their own saison beer brewed by Hop Kettle. We were so keen to drink them that I forgot to take pictures... ~sends self to corner~

Salt and pepper cod - lightly battered cod fillet, chilli and Sriracha sauce: That's right, I'm kicking off with fish... the life long fish hater has gone rogue! Although I didn't order this, I knew I was snaffling some after a show of recent fish bravery at Ning. You know what? Delicious. Really delicate with a gentle heat from the cracked black pepper. Fish fan.

Thai tacos - spiced minced chicken in soft corn tortillas, cucumber relish: You will instantly notice the omission of cucumber relish. That's because cucumber is vile, and the lovely folk at Busaba were more than happy to remove it from the theatre of conflict. These have to be the standout dish for me. The chicken is sweet with a subtle bite to it. I made a mess, but it was ok.

Thai calamari - ginger and green peppercorn: Sweet Jesus, this is gorgeous! It tastes a bit like sweet popcorn. Don't be put off if you generally don't like the texture of calamari, as this is nothing like rubber!

Songkhla red curry - slow-cooked beef, cherry tomato, banana pepper: The beef in this curry fell apart when pressed, and was delicately fragranced with warming spices. 

Char-grilled salmon fillet with baby spinach, cucumber salad and coconut rice: The only complaint about this dish was that it was served skin on, which I know a lot of people struggle with. Reports were that once the offending article had been removed (and hidden), this was a lovely fresh dish.

Aromatic chicken curry - potato, cucumber relish and jasmine rice: This was my choice. I love that sticky jasmine rice so very much... Sauce to rice ratio was bang on, and utterly delicious. I'd have this again without hesitation. 

Som Tam - green papaya, dried shrimp, peanut, cherry tomato, lime: Warning... this little mama is a hot one! Not immediately, but a little while later. There she blows! It was touch and go for Tasha for a while. 

Banana mousse topped with salted caramel and banana chips: Light as a feather and not too sweet. 

Chocolate fondant served warm with coconut ice cream and chilli chocolate sauce: The original order was ice cream, but this appeared instead because the freezer was acting up (note the presence of ice cream... I know). However, this was a happy little accident, as it turns out the chocolate fondant was rather lovely. 

Coconut rice pudding topped with palm sugar caramel: Winner! This was my dessert, but like an utter lightweight, I managed about two spoonfuls. It was gorgeous, but I'd already been crowned Pig of the Week. The other two didn't even manage to finish it between them after abandoning their own desserts in favour of this!

What a little belter Busaba was. I was fully expecting it to be a bit like a Thai Nando's, but I have to say, I was pleasantly surprised. The food was really very good indeed, and our waiter was chatty without being intrusive. We had a little trouble paying via their fancy-shmancy App at the end, but it didn't spoil our experience. Go here with pals, get lots of little dishes, and gorge yourselves on their lovely food.

Ning, Manchester

I've become a bit partial to Asian cuisine recently. I told myself for years that I wasn't keen after a particularly heinous incident involving a Chinese restaurant and a four hour flight. Anyway, that's all a distant memory, and my new found bravery has meant that I've been sampling dim sum and rendang left, right and centre.

When Ning asked me to go and put their new Christmas menu through its paces, I was more than happy to oblige, and took my Malaysian food-loving homie for a trusted second opinion. We weren't really sure what to expect when we arrived, and were seated at a long table at the back of the restaurant. As others piled in, it became apparent that co-diners Beth and Adam were our sort of people! Over the course of the evening we shared some wonderful food, funny stories, avoided photos (almost successfully), and laughed lots!

We sampled all the options available to festive diners (yes, we really did take one for the team!). I'll let the pictures do most of the talking.

Drinks - Rioja Tinto, Passion Fruit Mojito and Strawberry Mojito: A fantastic drinks list with some interesting tropical themed cocktails. We opted for a nice bottle of red and some fruity mojitos.

Mixed plain and spicy prawn crackers: I'm not a huge fan of prawn crackers, but the spicy ones were really tasty. Life hack... save some of these to help deal with the leftover satay sauce from the prawns. You'll see.

Sate Udang Berempah | Spiced Prawn Satay - skewered prawn satay marinated in spices: I don't do fish, especially the type with an actual face. I was feeling brave, and it paid off! These were utterly delicious. Drenched in warming spices and very moist. That bloody sauce... Gorgeous.

Telur Rendang Ayam | Rendage Scotch Eggs - Eggs coated with minced rendang chicken and crispy breadcrumbs: One of the best things I have eaten this year. I urge you to order these. We all agreed on this!

Sup Asam Pedas Ikan | Spiced & Sour Soup - Pan-fried crispy salmon chunk with mangetouts in spiced and sour soup: A little too fishy for me, but a hit with my co-diners. Very pretty too.

Jasmine rice: It's just rice right? No my friend, no. I loved this sticky jasmine rice. Perfect for sauce soaking.

Achar Nyonya | Nyonya Vegatable Pickle - Medley of vegetables pickled in herbs and spices: Cold, crunchy and tangy, this was the perfect accompaniment to the warm chicken, beef and fish dishes to come.

Siakap Halia and Limau | Poached Sea Bass - Fillets of sea bass poached in ginger, lime, lemongrass and coriander marinade: Delicately spiced fish with a subtle lemongrass flavour.

Ayam Goreng Kemangi | Chicken and Sweet Basil Stir-fry - Wok fried chicken pieces with sweet basil leaves and beans: Loved this... The depth of spices worked beautifully. This sauce over jasmine rice rocked my world.

Kerutup Saging | Braised Beef - Chunks of beef braised in Malaysian spices and herbs with roasted coconut: Our favourite main by far. All four of us agreed this slow cooked beef was a huge winner.

Sayur Goreng | Stir Fried Vegetables - Wok fried fine beans, carrot and spinach with a hint of herbs and spices: Nice and refreshing after the meat-fest.

Trio pf Pandan - Glutonous rice balls with palm sugar filling & coated with desiccated coconut, dark chocolate brownies with cashew nuts and pandan flavour, and rich ice cream made of pandan extract with roasted and glazed walnuts: A platter of purest green. A nice way to sample a few little desserts.

Tropical Fruit Salad in lychee juice, cinnamon dust and fresh mint leaves: I was craving this after all the rich food we'd devoured. Those lychees sorted me right out.

Chocolate Lava Cake with orange compote and cinnamon dust served with vanilla ice cream: We left this to the boys; I'd have been asleep in the taxi home! Soft chocolate cake with a fondant centre.

Christmas Pudding with dried cranberries and nuts served with double cream or brandy sauce: I was the only Christmas pud lover in our group. I cursed my fullness for these were spectacular. Soft, spicy and packed with fruit.

We were pleasantly surprised with what Ning had to offer. Chef Norman Musa popped out at regular intervals to explain his food, and gather our feedback. He was happy to talk us through where he has learned from past menus, and what excited him about this one. General consensus was that all diners must order the Scotch egg and the beef dish, although we loved being able to sample all of it! I can't wait to go back already.

Disclaimer: We were invited to give feedback on the new Christmas menu at Ning. We were under no obligation to say nice things, and no-one had my arm up my back forcing me to eat prawns with faces. 

Thailand Cafe, Bolton

Last year John Torode hailed Bolton's Thailand Cafe as 'the best Thai food I have had outside of Thailand.' That's right; it's in Bolton town centre. I've intended going ever since, but never quite got round to it. Cue my friend Dave hailing it as a tour de force, and suggesting we go on a lunchtime jaunt.

So the other week I had this particularly 'interesting' morning planned, so decided to meet up with homies Dave and Phil for a lunchtime trip to Thailand Cafe. I was never a massive fan of Thai food until we went to Buddha Lounge in Whitefield, and now I'm sort of hooked.

It doesn't look much. In fact, it looks like the kind of town centre cafe you would expect in Bolton. However, we walked in to a warm welcome and a wonderful smell, so we were more than happy. All three of us are big fans of 'bits', so we ordered a nice little variety of picky things which we could share.

Chicken satay with peanut sauce: That peanut sauce... sweet, sticky and a bit sickly. It was out of this world. I could make myself quite ill with that stuff. The perfect accompaniment to the chicken.

Steamed dumplings - pork and prawn dumplings with dark soy sauce: I've just been thrown into a state of confusion. I adored these. I just checked out the menu - prawns!? I hate prawns, the evil little things. Turns out I like them in steamed dumplings. Who knew?

Massamun - chicken with potatoes, onions and peanuts: A creamy dish which is perfect for those with a sweet tooth like me. Turns out that Thai food is all about the mixture of sweet and savoury. I'm a bit annoyed with myself for only discovering this now at the age of 33. This was my favourite of the three curries we tried. I can almost see you all shaking your heads at me...

Yellow curry - chicken with coconut, potatoes and onion, topped with shallots: It's not giving a lot away with the name there, is it? Again, a lovely savoury dish sweetened by the addition of coconut milk. Although the sauce is quite runny, it was soaked up by the pile of rice we had on the side.

Jungle curry - beef with ginger, fresh peppercorns, red chilli and vegetables: This was the boys' favourite. That warming peppery sauce was just delightful. It's worth mentioning that all the curries are available in beef, prawns, chicken or pork too.

Sticky rice: I loved these little pots! I'm a very simple soul at heart. Sticky rice was the perfect option to mop up all that beautiful curry sauce.

I cannot wait to go back to Thailand Cafe. Turns out that Torode chap knows what he's on about.