/THE BEST OF MANCHESTER

THE regeneration of Ancoats has led to a heap of new openings for Manchester city centre, but there are plenty of exciting openings further afield too. The arrival of Simon Martin from Noma with his fine-dining restaurant Mana could see Manchester awarded its first Michelin star, and there’s a highlyfancied new Catalan venture set to join King Street from a chef with stars hanging off him like baubles on a Christmas tree.

Elsewhere, much-loved local businesses such as Trove bakery and El Gato Negro are branching out with extra sites and new projects.

There’s plenty to look forward to on Manchester’s food and drink scene in the coming months.

Here’s our pick of what has just opened or being planned... Tast, King Street

Will it be third time lucky for that King Street unit, after Suri and Quill failed to make their restaurants stick?

Renowned chef Paco Perez will open Tast at the three-storey site on King Street.

With five Michelin stars to his name, Perez is promising authentic, affordable Catalan food, and unexpected flavour combinations across the board.

Backed by Man City boss Pep Guardiola, each of the restaurant’s three floors will be named after the levels of the human towers built during festivals in Catalonia - Pinya, Folre, and Enxaneta.

In a teaser post on Facebook, they said, “We believe that joy comes from stepping out of our comfort zone so, don’t say we didn’t warn you!”

We’ve already tried some of the food on offer - and it’s definitely setting the bar high.

Opening July 20 Kala, King Street

Gary Usher has revealed the opening date for his second Manchester restaurant, following on from the success of Hispi in Didsbury.

Kala is to join the crowd on King Street - a two-storey affair with a dessert and cocktail bar downstairs and a 50-seat dining room and open kitchen upstairs.

Although Kala won’t be crowdfunded, Usher has successfully crowdfunded his way to five restaurants already, including Wreckfish in Liverpool, Sticky Walnut in Chester, and most recently Pinion in Prescot.

Food-wise, you can expect the usual bold, flavoursome cooking and simple, quality ingredients that the bistros have become renowned for.

Kala will also serve breakfast seven days a week from 7am.

Opening September 24 Trove, Ancoats

Trove are the latest Manchester business to settle on Ancoats for a second site, bringing their breads and bakes from Levenshulme to the city centre.

Though the build is apparently running behind schedule and the June launch date has been pushed back, they’re still expecting to open in the next couple of months.

They’ll be worth the wait, we’re sure. As well as the baked stuff tarts, cheesecakes, biscuits, pastries, breads - they have an ever-changing menu of seasonal salads and savouries.

When it does open, you’ll find Trove on Murray Street.

Expected to open July/August Mana, Ancoats

Yet another new opening for Ancoats now, with Mana poised to open its fine dining restaurant in Sawmill Court.

Ex-Noma chef Simon Martin is the man behind the project, which released details of its menu prices earlier this month.

While it’s set to be the most expensive restaurant in the city, Martin is confident that Mana will become a destination restaurant on a global level.

Diners at the 30-cover restaurant will receive between 12 and 18 plates in quick succession, which will change regularly to showcase the best of the British Isles.

Could this finally be the one to get Manchester a Michelin star? Let’s wait and see.

Opening September Canto, Ancoats

With the massive amounts of development taking place in Ancoats, it’s no wonder it’s opened up opportunities for a flurry of new food and drink sites too.

One that’s sure to create a buzz when it opens is Canto, a new Portuguese restaurant by Simon Shaw, the chef behind the acclaimed El Gato Negro.

After many visits to Lisbon, Shaw developed a passion for Portuguese cooking, and when Porto-born Carlos Gomes joined as head chef at El Gato Negro the idea was cemented.

Expect traditional dishes with a typically modern edge at the new site on Henry Street.

Opening in autumn Porta, Salford

The loss of Caffe Lupo Italiano was a blow to the burgeoning food and drink scene on Chapel Street, but there’s very good news on the not-too-distant horizon.

The brothers behind Porta, who already have two hugely popular restaurants in Altrincham and Chester, are set to open their third tapas bar. This time, they’ll bring their authentic small plates and constantly changing specials to Salford.

They’ll be opening on Bexley Square, opposite The New Oxford, and we reckon this could be the one that sparks a food revolution for Salford.

Opening this summer Manahatta, Deansgate Taking over a huge site on