Ahh brunch. That amalgamation of two meals into one (so you can eat more, obviously) and the perfect reason (I don’t need an excuse really, but still) to have booze at breakfast.
The latest to join the brunch trend in Manchester is Cottonopolis – a venue I love, but can only visit intermittently. Sparingly. Simply because I have a habit of spending all the money on food and booze.
Mostly because I just want to eat it all.
And it turns out, brunch is no different. Post training run is my favourite time to indulge. Mostly because I’ve worked up a proper appetite, and want to eat everything in sight. Which is pretty much what happened.
Though we had selected our dishes, we couldn’t help ordering a little something to keep us going while we waited.
The smoked salmon and cream cheese maki roll, was exactly what you’d expect. Quality smoked salmon, cool cream cheese, fresh crunchy cucumber, sticky, rice. Perfect. But then we had it alongside this sexy little number.
Beef and quails egg nigiri. Creamy egg yolk, rich tender beef, sticky rice. I could have eaten these til I burst, just for the little pop of the egg yolk and the rich finish.
And we’d barely started when our ‘mains’ arrived.
Though we were going to share, Mr GFB had opted for the pork, kimchi and sweet potato hash. Crisp pork, runny egg, soft sweet potato and the astringent notes of the kimchi is a stunning combination. But for me, there’s something that now steps above that dish.
Crumpet, topped with wagyu beef brisket, poached egg and Hollandaise sauce. Again, it’s that beef and egg combo, which is just so tasty. Rich meat, rich runny egg, and then the soft, crumpet underneath.
I had first dibs on this dish, and almost didn’t want to hand it over. The sacrifices you make for a good marriage, eh?
Stick a fork in me, I am done.
You can, if you wish go bottomless on the brunch in Cottonopolis too – £12.50 gets you all the prosecco, Bloody Marys or Bellinis you can manage in 1.5 hours. But Cottonopolis is always going to be about the cocktails (and sake) for me. I am partial to a little booze at breakfast.
The Spritz – with Portobellow Road Gin, Contratto Apertif, Ferdinands Riesling Vermouth, Mastiha Water and Prosecco is refreshingly boozy, the thyme spring emphasising the herbal notes. It’s smoky cousin, Dead Red is a shorter drink with Pierde Almas Puritita Mezcal, Ancho Chilli liqueur, a cherry and mirin and sherry was a great match for the hash. But my heart belongs to another.
The Milk and Two Sugars, is just delicious. Black Cow Vodka is infused with Quinteassential Garden of Eden Tea, , Heaven on Earth, sugar, milk acid and egg white. It’s lightly sour, with a gentle lip smacking dryness, and tea notes. It’s an elegant sipper that makes me want to reach for kid gloves and a little hat. 
It’s here I’m quite relieved to say we had a date with my 18 month old niece. Otherwise I can honestly picture us sitting there for the remainder of Sunday, topping up with alcohol and food.
But they won’t let me live there.
Yet.
This brunch and accompanying drinks were supplied for free by Cottonopolis. As ever, this doesn’t guarantee a positive review (if anything, I tend to be a harsher critic).
In this case, again, we were very happy with the service, meal and venue. And this is why we keep going back.