/THE BEST OF MANCHESTER
THE Manchester Christmas Markets officially kicked off for their 20th year last week. Although a lot of the markets look familiar – same wooden huts, same smell of sausage in the air, same abundance of wooden Christmas ornaments – there are a few exciting new faces who have joined the festive fray.
Several of Manchester’s most beloved independents have opened stalls this year, joining the likes of Northern Soul and Porky Pig.
You’ll find these new spots dotted all across the city centre, sandwiched in between stalls selling all manner of gifts and trinkets.
We took it upon ourselves to seek out all of the new offerings and report back on what’s worth your money.
Fried chicken in a cone from Yard & Coop
OKAY, so buttermilk fried chicken might not be the first thing that springs to mind when you think ‘Christmas,’ but that hasn’t stopped newcomers Yard & Coop from setting off huge queues from day one.
With an attractive pink sign and a hut right in the middle of Albert Square, it’s hard to miss them - if in doubt, follow your nose.
The intoxicating scent of frying meat and tangy BBQ sauce wafts across the crowds from here, where dishes include chicken trays (fried chicken tenders with chips and a choice of sauce, £8) and the Chick-In Cone (£6).
The latter is a wide waffle cone packed with fries, chicken and a messy mix of sauces including Dr Pepper BBQ and blue cheese.
It’s incredibly salty, but that’s where the waffle cone – essentially a sweet edible bowl – comes in handy. The chicken itself is juicy beneath its batter thanks to its wallow in some buttermilk.
On this occasion, it’s safe to assume the queues are there for good reason.
Battered pigs in blankets and a ‘Cumberland Rose’ from Porky Pig IF ever a meal summed up the festive excess of Christmas, Porky Pig’s deep-fried pigs in blankets (£4.50) are the one: two full-sized sausages (no chipolatas here) swaddled in bacon and batter and dribbled with gravy and apple sauce.
There’s no easy way to eat these, especially not armed with just a wooden fork.
After a few prods and pokes, the