With Christmas around the corner, local dumpling deviants Desert Island Dumplings have a lot going on. Their annual Christmas menu is launching this weekend (November 24 – 25) at GRUB MCR and the extended Christmas menu is coming to their Afflecks site the following Monday (November 27).
This year’s menu is sure to put a spring in your step. We’re talking Deep Fried Salt and Pepper Sprouts, Caramelised Chrimbo Veg, Biscoff Brownie dumplings, Cheezy Pigs In Blanket Dumplings, and Christmas Dinner Dumplings.
Of course, these will be accompanied by boats full of their signature gravy and cranberry sauce to dip… what a ridiculous twist on the best food of the year.
That’s not all, as Desert Island Dumplings will also be serving Christmas Coffees and Hot Chocs which will apparently give the Christmas Markets a run for their money.
Aside from bringing out a cracker of a Christmas menu, Desert Island Dumplings are also opening a second site come December 15. Details of their residency at the most hush-hush new queer bar to hit the Northern Quarter are yet to be released but what they can reveal is their plans to play matchmaker…
Every fortnight of their three-month residency, Desert Island Dumplings will arrange for two queer singletons to have dinner and cocktails free of charge. You can apply to participate here.
Speaking briefly about opening another location, owner Lucy Linford stated: “Since opening at Afflecks we tend to get a mad rush at the very end of the day (Afflecks closes at 6pm daily). So I figured the next natural step for us would be to secure a site that’s open later, so people can get their dumplings fix well into the night.
“It felt like serendipity when talks of taking over the kitchen at (*to be revealed*) came about. The team behind the bar are the best in the biz and we’re learning loads.”
So whether you’re chomping at the bit to try the Desert Island Dumplings Christmas menu, or fancy being set up for a night of free cocktails and food on a queer date, keep an eye on the Instagram page for updates and more information.
The Christmas menu will be available at Desert Island Dumplings at Afflecks, Third Floor, 52 Church St, M4 1PW and GRUB MCR, 50 Red Bank, Cheetham Hill, M4 4HF.