Going out to eat it not quite the same once you discover that you are pregnant. You have to check that the meal you want to order doesn’t contain any of those foods that the NHS determine to be off limits due to possible risks to you and baby, and you can’t order a glass of wine to complement your meal.
But, 9 months is a long time to abstain from dining out and, much as I love a glass of wine (although the Pea has put me off it to some extent) there’s still a lot to enjoy about a really good meal.
On Saturday hubby and I took his parents to Manchester House, Aiden Byrne’s fine dining restaurant in Spinningfields, for their somewhat belated Christmas present.
I notified the restaurant of my pregnancy when I made the booking as we were planning to have the 8 course tasting menu. The dishes change regularly so they assured me that I could talk through the menu when I arrived to make sure that everything was OK for me to eat. I felt like a bit of a nuisance (I’m not usually a fussy eater) but our waiter was very understanding and pretty clued up on what foods to avoid. The kitchen was happy to cook the fish and meat that would otherwise have been off limits.
The tantalising list of virgin cocktails almost made up for not being able to enjoy the wine flight (paired wines with each course), although I couldn’t pretend it was the same!
So, don’t let the fact you are pregnant put you off going out for a special meal. In fact, I would say now’s the time to do it – these places aren’t suitable for children, and you wouldn’t want to take them anyway.
8 course lunch menu
Oxtail and onion brioche with bone marrow emulsion
Cured mackerel, grilled squid and squid ink risotto
The mackerel was cooked in my portion
White asparagus, palm sugar and confit pigeon
The confit pigeon was fully cooked for me, and I avoided the cured duck on the side.
Roasted monkfish tail, fermented parsnips, smoked eel and Albufera sauce
The smoked eel was absent from my dish and I chose not to have the Albufera sauce.
Beer-can chicken, Jerusalem artichoke and vanilla purée, baby salsify
Rhubarb, rosemary and orange
Mango, passionfruit and pistachio
Macaroons and madeleines
Manchester House: 18-22 Bridge St, Manchester M3 3BZ, Tel:0161 835 2557
