Recommended Places to MAKAN at Manchester

This is a brief compilation for Tess. Hope you make full use and enjoy Manchester! ^^

Fast Food

Pizza Co. - Opposite All Saints Library/park of Manchester Metropolitan University on Oxford Road itself. Very small shop with green sign and orange words. Serves the best deep pan pizza and spicy chicken wings. Must eat with lots of mayonaise mixed with their special blend of chilli sauce.

Dim Sum

Pearl City - Best dim sum in Manchester, relatively cheap for the quality you're getting. Their siew mai is the BEST! Recommended dim sum dishes: egg tart is nice, dai pai tong cheong fun (hawker's cheong fun) can only be found here, all other dim sums are above average.

Tai Wu - I think its half price at 12noon. Avoid Sunday dim sum lunches due to overcrowding. Located at the crossroads from Chinatown and Oxford Road. Beside McDonalds. EVERYBODY knows this place, just ask around.

Chinese Dinner

East - Located within Chinatown itself, this restaurant is slightly more pricy and flashy, but I heard is currently serving the best Chinese food around.

Tai Wu - After 12 midnight, selected menu half price! Got student discount. Food is quite good. Best way to know what is good to order is to just look around at other tables and see what other people ordered. *WINK*

Korean Dinner

Koreana - Standard Korean food, OK prices. Are you daring enough try their "Yuk Gae" or raw beef starter? Just opposite Gaucho Grill, the junction off Deansgate at House of Frasier.

Italian Dinner

Cocotoo - Best Italian restaurant EVER! A MUST TRY! Recommendation including: Linguine alla Josephine, Speghetti Carbonara and the Tiramisu that brings out the letters S.E.X.Y deep within you. No joke. Located off Oxford Road from Sainsbury Local and Palace Hotel.

Japanese Dinner

New Samsi - How can I not promote the restaurant I once worked for 3 years? Located on Wimslow Road and they are constructing a big structure beside the restaurant. Recommendations include: starters - karage chicken; main course - teriyaki salmon set, teriyaki/schimi (spicy) beef steak set, pork katsu-don. When you arrive, tell one of the veteran waiters/waitresses that you know Chong (ex-sous chef) and he recommended this restaurant. They'll put in maximum effort serving your table... Maybe even extra portions... ^^"

Wine & Dine

Gaucho Grill - Argentinian steak house just opposite Koreana restaurant with good atmosphere and wonderful food. Be prepared to stretch the wallet abit though.

La Vina - Spanish restaurant of a higer class compared to other tapas serving Spanish rip-offs. Try their paella for 2 person. Bet both of you can't finish it. They boast a good selection of red and white wine too. It is located at Deansgate opposite House of Frasier, near AMC Cinema.

NOTE: All the locations and location references I provide are well known, just ask around. I've only provided information on the places that you can access easily from town centre.

Start 2008 with a Meme from Tess

1. What did you do in 2007 that you’d never done before?
Geee... Life is pretty much the same. Its my first time living and studying in London I guess, living a life of a Master's student, getting to know a whole new world and a whole new bunch of people.

2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
This is funny: my previous new year resolution was to have a loving relationship with Fion, and it kind of came true, we just celebrated our first anniversary. ^^ My 2008 new year resolution is to get fit again, like my high school days! Gym membership here I come... -_-"

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Not this year, not that I know of.

4. Did anyone close to you die?
Choi... Luckily no. Actually, I just realise the chef which I use to visit often to eat Bak Kut Teh has died. Apparently he died a long while ago.

5. What countries did you visit?
Malaysia and UK. So far Berlin and Dresden - part of MA course trip. Going China soon!

6. What would you like to have in 2008 that you lacked in 2007?
A disticntion for my MA degree.

7. What dates from 2007 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
3rd January - Fion and my anniversary; 30th January - Fion's birthday; 3rd July - My BA graduation; 2nd September - The day I began my MA life.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Graduating from University of Manchester and getting into Sotheby's Institute of Art, London.

9. What was your biggest failure?
Not achieveing the grades that I anticipated and worked so hard for.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
The annual common cold always gets me bad. I always fall ill during my end of year trips, catching some deadly Mediterrannean sickness.

11. What was the best thing you bought?
A lousy Fujifilm camera which came REALLY useful in my studies. Thank God!

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Erm... The feelings when I vist Fion in Manchester is always like a child during Christmas morning.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Many... But I've got too big a heart for these issues.

14. Where did most of your money go?
Aih... Books, art events and food.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
My sister's secret birthday present for me, which she has yet to disclose. Fion's presents for me! ^^

16. What song will always remind you of 2007?
Sun Yan Zi - Yu Tian (Rainy Day), sang by Yang Zhong Wei in that Taiwanese singing competition/show. Man... nearly brought tears into my eyes.

17. Compared to this time last year, are you: a) happier or sadder? b) thinner or fatter? c) richer or poorer?
Happier because I'm getting somewhere in life and I'm finding my direction in life; fatter as I'm still concentrating on studying not my fitness, hopefully this will change soon; poorer as life in London is tight on my pockets and I'm no longer working... -_-"

18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Studied harder, be a lil' more sensible about issues.

19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Unhealthy stuff. I'm working on it.

20. How did you spend Christmas?
One word, uneventful. -_-"

21. Did you fall in love in 2007?
YES! It was like a dream. ^///^

22. What was your favorite TV program?
Lately, after getting Virgin Media Box, I'm kinda addicted to the UK Food TV channel. Don't ask, I just like to cook and learn new recipes ok? I hear you laughing, yes you.

23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
I'm for one who holds no grudges. Peace people, peace.

24. What was the best book you read?
In 2007? well, I'm still not done with Tom Clancy's Red Storm Rising. No time. -_-"

25. What was your greatest musical discovery?
I'm not as good as I used to be, but I've still got the X-factor on the piano.

26. What did you want and get? now?
Internship with Sotheby's and hopefully a permanent job after I graduate from MA degree.

27. What did you want and not get?
Not enough holiday and alone time with Fion.

28. What was your favorite film this year?
It's got to be 300 I think. "SPARTA!!!"

29. What did you do on your birthday and how old were you?
I'm actually turning 23 in 2 days time, but last year, I spent it with darling Fion in Gaucho Grill Argentinian Restaurant, and we were both dressed up. Brings back wonderful memories. ^^

30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Erm... If Fion came to work in London instead of staying in Manchester.

31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2007?
I droped the torn denim jeans and leather jacket and embraced collar shirts, cardigan, vests and casual jacket.

32. What kept you sane?
Fion's affection for me.

33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
I've always thought Kate Hudson was abit of a hottie. ^///^"

34. What political issue stirred you the most?
Increase in train ticket prices! Like I'm not poor enough.

35. Who did you miss?
Fion, my brother Chung Sheng, my best buddies Shaun and Yun Han, the ex-Manchester/Manchester Univeristy mates and my ex-restuarant staff.

36. Who was the best new person you met?
Rhonda from my course. Generous girl with a big heart.

37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2007.
I should never take things for granted and mush cherrish every moment. I must always self-reflect on my mistakes and make them better. I must learn to be a much responsible person for the people close to me. Working hard pays off.