While we've become accustomed to seeing local indie street food operators out on the Manchester Christmas Markets in recent years, it's rare to see an award-winning chef busy firing up a stove on a stall. And yet here is Simon Shaw, boss of the acclaimed El Gato Negro restaurant, out in his apron firing up stoves in a tent along King Street.
It is an ambitious new project for Simon - he's taking a punt on his own food stall at this year's Manchester Christmas Markets for the first time. He's serving up food to the masses tailored from the menus of his Michelin Guide-mentioned Habas restaurant, his most recent Manchester opening a little further up King Street, for the next six weeks up to Christmas.
It could well be a bit of a trailblazing move from Simon - and it's certainly one other independent Manchester operators will be eyeing with a keen interest in the weeks ahead. Simon knows only too well that if he makes a success of it, others could see this as a way to adapt and develop the Christmas Markets experience in future years.
