There’s no way that Manchester dwellers can complain of having nothing to do this Bank Holiday weekend (provided the nice weather holds out) as the city is going all out in the festival stakes– from SpinFest at The Oast House to the Northern Quarter Festival Take Over. And as I live in the Salford Quays area today I wandered over to the Food Festival at the Lowry, which is on all weekend.
The waterside quays location is an attractive spot for an outdoor food festival. I managed to go through a fair few pounds at the food market in the outdoor plaza, buying tasty pies from The Posh Pork Pie Company, traditional pink lemonade and cashew nuts caramelised in vanilla and cinnamon. I then splashed out on real treats from Bowden’s Italian Patisserie Vanillis – their signature Vanilli bar for me and a banoffee tart for Craig.
The festival continues over at the MediaCityUK piazza, with the marquee cookery theatre featuring cooking demonstrations from celebrity chefs. Today was the loveable Gino D’Acampo (I got a quick peek of him in the marquee), James Martin will be there on Sunday, and I may even have to make a second trip over there to see Paul Hollywood on Monday. As well as their demos they’re also doing book signings.
This spot at the piazza will be a really nice to spend an hour or two if the weather stays nice this weekend, as there’s the dock bar and their deckchairs, bars and stalls selling fresh lemonade and hot food and live music playing on the music stage set amongst the lawns and blossom trees. Lovely!
English Rose from Manchester's Blog 
I was there as well today. It was awesome! I think I’ll definitely be popping back again over the next few days. I’d highly recommend the pizzas made and cooked on one of the little stands.
Lucy x The New Northerner
Good tip about the pizza! I saw that stall but wanted to buy food I could take home for later (posh pork pies highly recommended). I might have to try the pizza if I make it back there on Monday though!