Amma's Canteen

Amma's Canteen - photo courtesy of Amma's Canteen

This is going to be a short and sweet one from me, but I have to tell you guys about this place.

Nestled in between Chorlton and Didsbury (no man's land), opposite the massssive Southern Cemetery graveyard (stay with me, people), is Amma's Canteen. You'll have probably driven past it a few times and not really noticed it, as it's on a row of small shops, easily miss-able with a blink of an eye.

I'd heard a few mumblings about the place on social, and so last Thursday, Hannah, James, Jak and I made the way to no man's land to see what the fuss was about.

First of all, it's BYOB which is great, and even better when you realise you've got a bottle of unopened red from that one weekend where you managed to abstain from drinking.

We went on a Thursday evening and there were about four other tables eating. It's not massive, so definitely book if there's more than four of you. The atmosphere was very chilled and friendly - our waitress was great.

This isn't Indian food as us Brits know it. It's South Indian street food serving small plates... essentially Indian tapas. You won't find any korma here, which is fine by me.

I'll get straight to it, as that's essentially what we did on Thursday - we ordered pretty much everything off the street cart menu bar 4 dishes (I think there are about 14) so we had a LOT of food - but it was so delicious we polished it all off.

They're great as they cater for meat eaters, pescetarians and veggies / vegans alike - there's so much choice. The emphasis really is on flavour rather than the 'meat source', which gets a thumbs up from me.

From memory, we ordered:

Chilli paneer: The paneer was absolutely incredible. Big, chunky and a really generous portion, it came with a gorgeous sauce and lots of veggies- almost like a mini curry. Would have eaten two portions if I didn't have the rest of the menu to devour! My favourite dish..

Masala Vadai (4x pieces of falafel with a red cabbage slaw). Very very flavoursome and not hideously deep fried like some falafel can be.

Spiced Sundal - slow cooked chickpeas with chilli, mango, coconut and lime; really refreshing and I loved the addition of coconut - this was a great side 'filler' dish, but if you're veggie definitely get the paneer and falafel to go with it!

Chicken 65 - apparently this is a famous bar snack in Chennai - deep fried spicy chicken, really, really good!

Tamarind wings - can you ever go wrong with sticky chicken wings?

Beef dukka: slow roast beef, pearl onion and coconut - this was gorgeous, pulled beef with crispy veg - no sauce, but I really liked it dry. Great portion size here too.

Pepper squid - I'm not a massive fan of squid, I have to really be in the mood for it, but I tried a little bit and was pleasantly surprised! Again, comes with loads of peppers and onion (a big win in my eyes!).

Sauteed prawns - king prawns with red chilli, crushed shallots and coconut. These were amazing and the prawns and veggies were coated in a gorgeous light sauce.

Well, you'd think after that we'd be full, but we decided to order "just three" main meals to finish us off.

We ordered two dosa's (Indian pancakes) - one beef and one potato and spinach. They're massive and come with a nice dipping sauce. I'd never get pancakes as a main usually, but these were great.

Jak also ordered an amazing chicken curry pot - spicy, pulled chicken pieces in a gorgeous spicy, thick sauce that was literally "me in a dish" - it came  with pancakes, not rice as a side.

One thing I'd say is that you really get the feeling that the food has been cooked with care, and passion - does that make sense or just sound odd? To explain a little better, the chef came out and chatted to us for a while and wanted to know where we'd heard about their place (I think he might have been the owner.. could be wrong), and explained why they'd chosen the seemingly random location. He said that they couldn't choose between Didsbury and Chorlton so chose somewhere slap bang in the middle to attract both tribes. Clever, and I bet they've saved a fair bit on rent too!

It was a good 'double date' venue but I also think it would be great as somewhere to come as a group where you can all order loads of bits and share.

It's a fifteen minute walk from Chortlon and probably a bit longer to West Didsbury / Nell Lane, but trust me, it's worth the short Uber ride.

They also feature on a Manchester Confidential article about restaurants locals don't want you to know about - you can read it here.

Their website is ammascanteen.com - check out their menu there.

We'll definitely be back - Indian tapas is amazing!


I'm hopefully going to do a few posts on my favourite restaurant gems, so keep an eye out for more!

Busaba Eathai opens in Manchester

I went to see the Book of Mormon back in August (if you haven't seen it yet get it on your to-do list!), and afterwards James and I needed food. We happened to stumble across Busaba Eathai in Leicester Square - with bi-fold style doors spilling out onto the pavement, our open window seat was perfect and the food was delicious...

I had no idea it was a chain until they got in touch and asked if I wanted to come to the preview of the Manchester restaurant launch, and naturally I was all over it.

I've spoken before about my favourite Thai dishes so I was looking forward to checking Busaba out again, as well as enjoying a good cocktail or two.

We kicked off with a Thai taste session with Busaba's executive chef, Jude Sangsida. He talked us through the three dominant flavours found in Thai food (sweet, salty and spicy), offering round various sauces and things to dip in so we could choose our favourite. Mine was spicy, quelle surprise. He also made us Som Tam salad - an amazingly light, zingy papaya salad sprinkled with nuts and chilli.

It was then onto cocktails. Before we had our cocktail masterclass, we had a round of drinks to limber up - I went for the Thai Martini and my god it was amazing:

Gin, basil, lemongrass & elderflower served in a basil-sugar rimmed glass.

Then it was our turn to mix the drinks - we each made a Coconut Collins (described to us as a more mature pina colada).  Jamaican coconut rum, crushed ginger and lemongrass, pineapple juice and lime juice, ice.

Ho ho ho and a bottle of rum...

Delicious, but I definitely preferred the Martini.

Now on to foooooood. Naturally, I went for my faves - chicken satay starter and pad thai for the main. James went for calamari followed by, hands down, one of the best red Thai curries I've ever had (the Songkhla red curry). Maybe even the best. The beef was so tender and soft, falling apart in your mouth it had been cooked that long, and mixed with a creamy, spicy sauce and coconut rice, it was safe to say I had food envy. The calamari was great and had a popcorny taste to it (which sounds odd, I know, but just worked). I'm annoyed because I didn't take a picture of the red beef curry!! But take my word, it was the absolute dogs b.

The satay didn't disappoint; the sauce was spicy and rich, and I loved the way the chicken was cooked, barbecued with a definite smoky taste.

My classic pad thai (first picture) was everything I could've asked for; rice noodles, chicken, tofu, peanuts, dried shrimp, egg, beansprout and lime. Great portion size too.

We didn't notice at the time, but both our mains were gluten free which is handy to note for all you GF's.

After *another* Thai Martini (that sugared basil rim though) and chatting to some lovely, likeminded (read, tipsy) people, we headed home. But we'll be back! It's an absolute winner in my eyes.

Busaba Eathai is open from Monday 18th January and can be found in the Printworks. 

The Best Curry in the World

(First up, sorry for the picture quality - as you can tell they were taken rather hurriedly on my phone!)

After visiting the Great Kathmandu in West Didsbury for the first time in 2012 it's been a favourite place of mine to eat (I ate there last Friday, and the one before that, ahem...).

I love the atmosphere; the place is always buzzing and the windows are always steamed up from the delicious sauces hectically (but perfectly) being marched out of the kitchen on to your plate.

It's won loads of awards but don't go there expecting an immaculate, spick and span surrounding - its imperfections are what makes it so charming. The decor is fine, the chairs and tablecloths too; sometimes if dining for two you'll be paired up with another couple you don't know on a table of four but hey, everyone's friends when curry is involved.

My favourite thing about the Kathmandu is the family behind the name - it was set up by Gopal Dangaol and is run by his generations that followed. Gopal is a regular at the restaurant, and often comes in and makes his way round the floor chatting to guests and asking how their food is. You can tell there's so much passion there, which is definitely conveyed in the food.

When we go, there are a number of dishes we can't bear to not order. We always, always start with a mountain of poppadoms and demolish the pickle tray (mint yoghurt, onion relish, mango chutney and chilli lime pickle).

We don't usually do starters but the last couple of times we've ordered the Chicken Chewla and my god, it gives a kick. It's really hot. Like not even a 'ohh-that's-a-bit-spicy-why-don't-i-eat-a-spoonful-of-mint-yoghurt-to-counteract' kind of hot, but very, VEEERY spicy - and absolutely flavoursome too. It's a dry dish 'cooked in Nepalese herbs and spices'.

Without fail we'll order a chicken shak-shu-ka (top dish in the pic) - this is a weird sounding one but it tastes divine. It's essentially chicken cooked in spices and sauce with mince meat and green herbs. We were recommended it on our first trip and haven't gone without it since... 

We were also recommended the 'award winning' makan chara (third dish down in the pic) - I can't even begin to explain this dish to you. It's creamy like a tikka masala, but it's also got this smokey, tomatoey, spicy and a little bit cheesy (but don't let that put you off!) flavour. It's my favourite dish. Mopping up the sauce with a peshwara naan is bloody heaven. 

I love the place so much, when Millennium Hotels asked if I wanted to take part in naming my favourite 'hidden gem' restaurant in Manchester in exchange for a Taste card (thanks!) I had to say this place.

The graphic they created includes a load of other people's hidden gems, so it's worth checking out if you're stuck for food places.

The full infographic can be found here - it's a bit small to read everything below, and it's worth a peruse.

Got any other hidden gems in Manchester I can check out?

Healthy Restaurants in Spinningfields

The Supergreen Juice from Wholesome & Raw

I was walking through Spinningfields the other day, and it suddenly occurred to me how many healthy restaurants there are clustered around each other. It's great!

I've tried most of them and thought I'd give a whirlwind review of my favourites.

First up, Wahu.

I went to Wahu for the first time for pancakes with the one and only SpamellaB, and have been back god knows how many time for their infamous lunches. The atmosphere is chilled and friendly, and despite the queues backing out the door on weekday lunchtimes, I've always found a place to sit. The addition of the outdoor seating (and the sturdy awning for when it occasionally rains) is a massive bonus.

Must try: Salmon teriyaki with rice, broccoli and peas (sauce on the side).

Wholesome & Raw

Nestled in the Kitchens area of Spinningfields, Wholesome & Raw is a great place to pop in to on a lunch break to grab a quick juice and an energy ball. The staff are always so friendly, and their juices are massive, so you don't feel like you're being mugged off paying nearly £5 for one. I keep meaning to try their raw pad thai, too...

Must try: their super green juice hits the spot just right (wheatgrass, spirulina, avocado, kale, spinach, apple, pineapple, celery, ginger and lemon).

Rust & Stone

Rust and Stone sits next to The Lawn Club and attracts a business clientele, think women in sharp suits, blokes on business meetings and friends out to enjoy a delicious, 'consciously healthy' lunch. It reminds me of a clean Philpotts; when you walk in you're made to feel special, which is always nice.

I absolutely love it here, although there aren't too many seats indoors - so get there early!

Must have: their salad bar changes a lot but if I were you I'd ask for a little bit of everything to sample it all. Oh, and the maple carrot detox juice is bloody lovely (carrot, ginger, lemon, turmeric & maple syrup).

Salad bar on @rustandstone Instagram

Juices on @rustandstonemcr Instagram

There's also Giraffe - their halloumi starter is lush, and their bunless burger is good, as well as good old Pret, your best friend in the morning if you want an egg & spinach protein pot along with your caffeine fix!

Lululemon Manchester

Last Thursday Lululemon Manchester gracefully opened its doors to appreciators of fitness fashion in the North West, and I for one was keen to get involved.

The girls have worked so hard over the past few months to keep the store in the forefront of our minds, organising workouts like Circuits in the City, urban triathlons and yoga as well as a massive flashmob in the city centre, and the opening night didn't disappoint!

Circuits in the City

After ogling the rails in the shop, we started off the evening with a fast paced circuits session outside the store involving boxing, burpees and running, quickly turning a cool October evening into a sweaty one.

With the work out done, I could shop guilt free.

Cue my latest wardrobe favourite, this lovely little sports bra:

I can't even with the straps. So nice and neon. Needless to say I've been 'wearing it in' a lot the past few days..! 

Wahu, Wholesome & Raw and Just Bee looked after us with endless juices, protein pots and wraps (the breakfast juice from Wholesome & Raw was especially nice, I don't know what was in it (oats, PB, banana...) but I'd definitely get it again.)

One of the nicest aspects of the showroom is wall of fame; a creative space for recipe ideas, favourite studios and pin pointing local places of interest to the health and fitness community.

In true Lululemon style there's a real sense of community about the showroom, including free yoga classes for anyone who can get to the showroom for on Saturday mornings.

Big thanks to the Lululemon ladies, who will have my credit card bill in a frenzy over the coming months. 

Lululemon Manchester is at 3 Saint Ann's Place, M2 7LP. It's open Wednesday - Saturday 11-6.

Lunch @ Foundation Coffee, Northern Quarter

This afternoon I met up with three fellow foodies for lunch, a natter and an impromptu potter around the Makers Markets in Spinningfields. Pamela, Sophie, Vicki & I had been meaning to try out Rust and Stone, but sadly they aren't open on Sundays, so had to make do with Foundation Coffee instead - and I'm so glad we did; it's lush!

Definitely perfect if you're looking for a 'coffice' to work from during the week (or weekend), and it's so refreshing to see more eateries in Manchester catering for the health conscious. I love the look of the place; bright white tiles, big tables and low hanging lights.

The coffee menu is extensive, however after enjoying a huge mug of caffeine earlier in the morning, I opted for an almond milk matcha latte.

For food, I went for a mixture of two salads; the chickpea, cumin, cucumber, chilli and tomato & the bulgur wheat, fennel, red onion, orange and almond, teamed with a savoury mackerel and pumpkin seed muffin - which does sound odd I'll admit, but absolutely hit the spot and was a winner with the beetroot dip (beetroot, zaatar [middle eastern herbs, FYI, I had no idea], chickpeas & chilli). The carrot and star anise dip was beautiful in its own right, adding a sweet element to cut through the chilli.

We also did shots.

100% ginger shots. It was er, spicy to say the least! Warming to the back of your throat, and not a taste I'll forget in a hurry..!

There was a selection of cold salads, dips, tarts, raw fruit and nut balls, savoury muffins, and an impressive cake selection from the black cat eatery.

Oh my gosh the cake. Let me tell you about the cake.

I opted for the dark chocolate and almond (look.at.it)... it was so delicious, even the lovely bloke behind the counter said he wasn't into healthy eating and couldn't tell it was vegan and sugar free - winner!

Next time, I'm definitely going for a coffee, and another large slice of that cake...

A lovely lunch, enjoyed with three other lovely girls!

Spinning with Sweaty Betty @ The Spin Factory

Last Tuesday I was invited by the lovely team at Sweaty Betty Manchester for a spin class at the recently opened Spin Factory on New Bailey Street. I'd been to the launch and heard great things about the classes from a good friend who's already got through a fair few rounds of credits, so I couldn't wait to give it a go! 

We did a 45 minute spin class which focused on sprints, hill climbs, core stability and improving your spinning technique. The class was challenging and the instructor (I feel bad as I've totally forgotten his name!) was really encouraging and got us all pumped up, not to mention glamorously sweaty.

The atmosphere is great and really gets you in the mood to work hard; bright neon lights and loud music are a winning combination although I wouldn't go if I had a headache haha. 

They also offer Wattbike classes which are tailored for keen cyclists or those who really want to hone in on their spin skills and offers a more intensive, personal session without music. I'd be up for trying this too (but perhaps after a few more regular spin sessions!)..

There's a launch offer on at the moment where you can buy 60 credits for £30, usual cost is £60. You can find all the details on their website.

It was a great evening and especially nice to finally meet Sarah from That Squat Bot, as well as being introduced to Emily from The Health Cave (both a pair of babes) - bring on the next meet up! 

Thank you Sweaty Betty; I'll definitely be back to the spin factory.

Malaysian Supperclub @ Ning

On Tuesday I was invited to Norman Musa's Malaysian kitchen in at Ning, in the Northern Quarter to celebrate the Malaysia's comparatively un-honoured cuisine.

Norman's bagged the title as Europe's leading Malaysian chef, so I had high hopes for the feast!

Needless to say, I wasn't disappointed!

We started with a DIY mango salad that came with shallots, crispy anchovies, peanuts and chilli; battered crabs with a chilli sambal dipping sauce; and chicken skewers with a rich peanut sauce - these were my absolute favourite, I could've eaten them all night. Yum.

In between courses, we had a go at making roti jala, a laced pancake that's a nation snack staple. It was nice, but a little odd - the pancake is sweet and then covered in a spicy curry sauce..

For mains, we had Ayam Percik - grilled chicken breast with coconut milk, lemongrass and chilli sauce, Sambai Petai and Udang - prawns with beans in a chilli sambai sauce, Siakap Kukus - a whole steamed sea bass with lemongrass, kaffir lime leaves, garlic and ginger, and Masak Lemak Labu and Keledek - roast pumpkin and sweet potato with a coconut and turmeric sauce.

Each dish was scrumptious in its own right - but the prawns won me over hands down! They were so juicy, and the sauce was just spot on.

For dessert, we tried gorgeous Malaysian rice cakes, fresh fruit and ice-cream. The ice-cream is where it starts to get a bit weird. We felt adventurous so ordered the Durian flavour.....

And it tasted like iced onion. With cream. It was just odd. It's been dubbed the world's smelliest fruit, and I can safely say I won't be trying it again!!

How nice does the dragon fruit look?

I'd definitely recommend checking the restaurant, especially if you like Thai food (it's very similar).

The restaurant details are here!

Date Night: Grey Goose Martini Masterclass @ Harvey Nichols

Last night James and I discovered our favourite type of Martini - wet and stirred, with an olive to garish. I'll be honest, I don't think I've ever ordered one before, but after last night's masterclass, I'm definitely going to try ordering one like a pro...

We were invited for an evening of cocktails & canapes with the Grey Goose clan at Harvey Nics to celebrate the arrival of Grey Goose Boulangerie Francois - a kitch, seemingly innocent 'bread delivery van' - that's actually the world's most intimate Martini bar!

A 'wet' Martini is, if I'm not mistaken, made with more vermouth than vodka (or gin), so gives it a slightly sweeter taste. Garnished with an olive, we both agreed it was a good palette cleanser (because everyone knows cocktails and palette cleansers are synonymous), and our favourite out of the three variations we tasted.

The cute, artisan camionnette is outside Harvey Nichols and open for Martini making from 12 - 8pm and runs from tomorrow (22nd) to Sunday 26th October - it's well worth a visit!