JackieL

Thom, Perhaps a festive drink soon? WOuld be good to meet. Cheers jackie

Now I finally feel as though I have something to contribute. I live just south of Manchester and would whole heartedly agree with some of the recommendations. I moved up from London 8 years ago and now LOVE Manchester becuse the food is so good now! Comments on previous recommendations:- Restaurant Bar and Grill - Better for a drink than food I think, but the best place for a drink at 5.30! Croma - Excellent Pizzas - good atmosphere whenever u go. Love Saves The Day - Great for lunch or just a coffee. Good selection of wines (and a great deli too) Yang Sing - Always a favourite Heathcotes - Can be good, can not be Petit Blanc - Gone off a bit Urbis - Wow ALSO: Sam's Chop House and Mr Thomas's. I prefer Sam's. Manchester institutions - Original Victorian pubs with great beer and food. (just round the corner from Croma) Stock - Fantastic Italian (Enzo just won chef of the year at Manchester Food & Drink Festival). Situated in the old Manchester Stock Exchange. Brittas Protection - 18th Century pub in odd spot next to the Bridgewater Hall - but worth a visist if you're in that direction. p.s. - If anyone from Manchester fancies meeting up for a drink let me know!

Now I finally feel as though I have something to contribute. I live just south of Manchester and would whole heartedly agree with some of the recommendations. I moved up from London 8 years ago and now LOVE Manchester becuse the food is so good now! Comments on previous recommendations:- Restaurant Bar and Grill - Better for a drink than food I think. Croma - Excellent Pizzas - good atmosphere whenever u go. Love Saves The Day - Great for lunch or just a coffee. Good selection of wines (and a great deli too) Yang Sing - Always a favourite Heathcotes - Can be good, can not be Petit Blanc - Gone off a bit Urbis - Wow ALSO: Sam's Chop House and Mr Thomas's. I prefer Sam's. Manchester institutions - Original Victorian pubs with great beer and food. (just round the corner from Croma) Stock - Fantastic Italian (Enzo just won chef of the year at Manchester Food & Drink Festival). Situated in the old Manchester Stock Exchange. Brittas Protection - 18th Century pub in odd spot next to the Bridgewater Hall - but worth a visist if you're in that direction. p.s. - If anyone from Manchester fancies meeting up for a drink let me know!

Good butcher bought fried bacon, a fried egg and brown sauce in a white (plastic) bread sandwhich (x 2) and several cups of tea!

Going back to the original question - to use whole or not to use whole - if you cook whole canned tomatoes for long enough, they disintergrate anyway. A neat squish with the back of a wooden spoon and they become part of the sauce if you want to speed the process. Having said that, I prefer chopped toms because I'm basically a lazy cook. By the way - I've just joined...hello to all!