Northwest Food News – September 2013

Manchester Food and Drink Festival gets underway at the tail-end of the month; there’s a recurring band of itinerant street food traders every year at the hub on Albert Square, and we’re looking forward to see who wins out of Crêpe Lucette and Pancake Corner. 26 Sep-7 Oct, www.foodanddrinkfestival.com.

Across the river, the Salford Food and Drink Festival is running events all month long. An ale cruise from Worsley to Moston with the guys from MaltDog beer shop and tap house sounds about as adventurous as ale drinking can get, and The Mark Addy’s Gourmet Night sees Robert Owen Brown, one of the region’s finest and most versatile chefs, serving up six courses. 1 Sep-6 Oct, www.visitsalford.info.

There’s more to look forward to post-payday with Liverpool Organic Brewery hosting the city’s biggest ever beer festival in the neo-classical splendour of St George’s Hall. It’s ostensibly a chance to drink beer in a more opulent setting than on your sofa, and you’re unlikely to get bored with 300+ ales and ciders on offer. 26-29 Sep, £8 entry, www.liverpoolorganicbrewery.com.

Finally, a concession for those who prefer socialising in smaller groups with less extraneous noise and fewer distractions: a supper club is no place for diagnosed xenophobes, but if you don’t mind meeting 'randoms' then sign up for Wendy’s House in Chorlton, Manchester. It’s run by professional chef Wendy Swetnam, who will be putting on two events in late September – a veggie feast and the enigmatic Mexico Monday. See  wendyshousesupperclub.co.uk for tickets.