This weekend, Old Granada Studios In Manchester was transformed into an Italian utopia as Birra Moretti showcased culinary delights from every corner of Italy at pop-up palate pleaser, Moretti Gran Tour.
The Venue
Beautifully adorned in festoon lighting, rustic seating and clusters of tables and chairs remnant of an Italian piazza, the Moretti Movement was in full swing and immediately evidently a hit with attendees. Ambient music compliments the chilled, relaxed vibe of the evening and the fragrant aroma of the Mediterranean street-food filled the air and tantalised the senses. There’s only so much aromatic teasing we could take before we dived straight in.
Family style seating, blushes of olive trees and street food stalls adorned this typically industrial space.
The Food and Drink
After we grabbed a bottle of the ice-cold Birra Moretti, we started out Italian culinary adventure with Pasta E Basta. On the menu was gnocchi with slow braised pork shoulder in a rich tomato and herb sauce. The vegetarian option included a creamy Gorgonzola cheese, hazelnuts and rocket. Cooked fresh to order, each portion was an absolute dream to sample and the gnocchi was perfection.
One of the big names at Moretti Gran Tour, Pizza Pilgrims knocked doughy bases out of the park.
After sampling some gorgeous Torta Frittata from Gormetti, and Sicilian risotto balls filled with the creamiest mozzarella from the talented Arancini Bros, we ‘travelled’ to Puglia where we sampled mini calzone from the cheeky Cheeky Italian. On to Lombardia where tasty ravioli from Cooking Cooks was on the menu, and then we hotfooted across to Campania where Pizza Pilgrims were feeding the masses (including the never-ending queue for the Forza Win porchetta) with their delicio stone-baked Neapolitan pizza margherita from their clay oven. By far the best pizza this side of the Med.
For those with a sweet tooth, Gelupo had eight flavours of their delicious gelato on offer. From pistachio to the decadent black cherry and ricotta, these guys knew their art. No longer will I be satisfied with a Mr. Whippy from your average ice-cream vendor after sampling what can only be described as heaven in a scoop. Terrone & Co.’s traditional specialty coffees were also a huge hit. Quintessentially rich, aromatic and velvety, the perfect espresso was the perfect aide to compliment the rich, Italian cuisine.
Live masterclasses and free Birra Moretti were but the final cheese on the pizza at one of Manchester's most talked about pop-up events.
Summary
As the Birra Moretti continued to flow freely from the pumps and groups of people spilled out into the courtyard, the carefree Moretti Movement was in full swing and we didn’t want it to end. A beautiful way to spend an evening with friends, old and new, the Moretti Gran Tour encaptured everything authentically Italian and encouraged a laid-back, easy-going ambience and free-flowing conversation and encouraging groups of people to mix. A typically Italian custom. Amo l’Italia!
