A Good Porkin'

As has been well-documented in the 50-odd posts I've published on here so far (can't believe it has been that many!), I'm a big fan of barbecued food. As my flatmate quite eloquently put it, "all I want to do with my life is eat good burgers". There are plenty of good burger joints in Manchester. But where do you go when you want something a little lighter?

No, you're right, we don't do light dishes here.

On the menu this week is the Pulled Pork Pile-up, dished up by the awesome Home Sweet Home on Edge Street in the Northern Quarter. Quaint and cosy, but edgier than your nana's house, HSH serve a mix of diner food and baked goods to cater for whether you need a quick bite post-shopping or fancy a not-too-extravagant date night.

If you can get a seat (not sure why the NQ doesn't believe in reservations), there's usually a warm atmosphere without it being particularly loud. The are three small dining areas that all fit into what is generally, quite a small set-up. If it doesn't burn down and upgrade its premises in the next few years then I'll eat my hat (once they've turned it into some form of delicious toastie).

There's plenty to go at on the menu, from the mac 'n' cheese and maltshakes to the nachos and pale ales, I usually plump for the Pulled Pork Pile-up. This dish is essentially the Ronseal of cafe-priced cuisine. There's pulled pork, and it's piled up. Really bloody high.

Underneath the stack of pulled pork,lurks a complementary bed of sweet potato fries, ready for you to smash into a la demolition derby. It's also topped with jalapenos and a healthy side serving of salad and 'slaw. But I won't bore you with that. Rumour has it they'll even serve you pulled pork with your mac.

Drinks-wise there's the usual Northern Quarter Brooklyn Brewery offering, plus a few Brew Dog samples from across Manchester. There's also an oreo milkshake to ensure this place makes TGI Friday's look like a hungover Monday. 

Next visit, I'll be trying the South By South West burger. Fried chicken, pulled pork and blue cheese sauce. For now though, I'm off to experiment with a slow cooker.