February 2024. Manchester.
A daft day to catch up with Matt in Manchester, with his salon literally on the doorstep of the Chinese Arch,
and it being Chinese New Year (the Dragon this year) celebrations and all.
But I was here for the football. and the street art,
and a Northern Soul toastie outside the Etihad.
Folk travel thousands of miles, possibly from China, just to eat those toasties outside the ground and buy “Haaland” shirts.
In case you wondered, that real-time display showing 93:20 tells you how long it currently takes to get served your burger inside the ground.
Inside the ground, it’s a choice of Asahi Dry or Asahi low alcohol. It’s important to have a choice.
Back in Chinatown we met Matt and Emma in Noodle Alley, the “burning noodles” not quite as intense as 6 months ago but the staff are still wonderful,
and I may have been swayed by jealousy that it was Mrs RM got to drink the Lucky Buddha beer,
while I gazed longingly at the run of Ape & Apple, Circus and Grey Horse just out of reach.
Never mind, they’ll still be there when I return to Chinatown. Talking of which;
retiredmartin 
Didn’t know Manchester had a Chinatown. Been to Gerrard St in Soho and had some amazing food, also the Chinatown in Liverpool in some pub or other (it was over 40 years ago) which had Chinese blokes in blood-stained butchers coats nipping in for a quick pint between chopping dead animals up. Seem to remember going to play crown green bowls in Sefton Park afterwards. I was young and reckless in those days.
LikeLike
2nd largest in UK, 3rd in Europe. Very central next to Town Hall and Piccadilly Gardens but actually easy to miss !
LikeLike
I remember Ma Bo’s restaurant in Liverpool fondly, and of course Wong Kei in London.
LikeLike
Aren’t you still young and reckless, Bill ?
LikeLiked by 1 person
No, just old and feckless
LikeLiked by 1 person
Close enough.
LikeLiked by 1 person
My niece’s boyfriend is Chinese and they spent last summer living in Liverpool. He reckons that there’s only one authentically Chinese restaurant in the Chinatown there.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Liverpool Chinatown beyond the arch doesn’t seem to have that many restaurants these days, but there’s a very long row of Asian places leading into the centre that probably cater more to western tastes !
LikeLike
Martin,
How is it that those of Asian descent don’t tend to use the Asian restaurants I see ?
They can be half of the diners in the Morris Man near me though.
LikeLiked by 1 person
A very interesting question that occupied my mind on my walk down to Hillsborough Morrisons just now, Paul.
In general, I sense that traditional South Asian restaurants (the Bangladeshi curry house with late night trade) are largely run for the Brits, and are struggling due to staffing (family members want better careers) and Brits moving on less traditional tastes.
You do still see the smaller Asian cafes, the ones near a mosque, with a lot of local trade, particularly during the day time. Good examples are Apna Style in Sheffield and countless examples in Bradford. The original curry caffs that served textile traders in Manchester (famously This & That) seem to attract more students and tourists these days.
Were I to manage to meet you in Glasgow at the Laurieston, I would recommend the Karahi Palace round the corner.
The other place you’ll see folk of Asian descent eating is in the Asian run Desi pubs like the Vine (ever been ?) and, I guess, the Morris Man, though I’d never heard the term Desi pub before the excellent CAMRA book last year. I must lend you that book.
In contrast Chinese restaurants seem to cater more for Chinese folk, notably along the half mile from Cambridge station to the colleges, most of Sheffield centre, and much of Manchester Chinatown.
LikeLike
Thanks.
An interesting assessment ad I don’t doubt a word of it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Asahi? could be worse. Although, I must say it’s not as clean and fresh tasting as it is in Japan (even in bottles it’s good). Somehow, the Asahi that Peroni brew has a more grainy mouthfeel and it’s usually too fizzy.
LikeLiked by 1 person
My 22 year old drinks it. Says it all. Disappointing the official beer of Manchester City isn’t Unicorn, all I’ll say.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Asahi/Peroni are certainly doing something right as far as the uncultured palate of the “yoofs” is concerned.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Love the lucky Buddha bottle
LikeLike