Yee-haw! This summer, The Blues Kitchen Manchester is proudly presenting A Taste of Texas – an eight-week series showcasing the finest music, food and drinks from the legendary US state of Texas.
A Taste of Texas, in collaboration with Travel Texas, is a first of its kind partnership bringing together the Texas tourism board and a UK hospitality venue. From Saturday 1st July until 31st August, The Blues Kitchen will transport guests to the soulful US state with an expertly curated food offering and music programme.
Known for serving American Soul-food plus rare and vintage bourbon, Manchester’s authentic Southern-inspired venue has partnered up with beloved Texas restaurants Beto & Sons and Nitro Burgers to curate a truly authentic limited-edition menu that will be available throughout the eight-week series.
True masters of old school Tex-Mex cooking, Beto & Sons is renowned for being one of the best Mexican bars in America, recently taking home the title of ‘Best Dining Experience in Dallas’. Beto & Sons have let The Blues Kitchen team in on their secret, creating an exclusive collaborative taco menu featuring Texas Brisket Tacos and Beer Battered Salmon Tacos – a tasty mix of crispy salmon, pickled slaw, cilantro pesto, avocado and chipotle aioli. Whilst Dallas’ futuristic burger concept Nitro Burgers have cooked up a limited-edition burger – The Big Texan Beef is stacked with brisket, beef sausage, onion rings, cheddar cheese, pickled jalapeno salsa & a chipotle BBQ sauce.
Behind the well-stocked bar, Executive Chef and restaurant owner Julian Rodarte has curated a selection of special Margarita cocktail creations. Julian is a legend of the Texas scene – he opened his first restaurant at 23 years old with his dad and was the youngest of “Zagat’s 30 under 30 Most Innovative Chefs in the U.S. in 2017”.
Cocktail fans can try Julian’s Spicy Strawberry & Jalapeno Margarita at The Blues Kitchen throughout A Taste of Texas – a perfect mix of El Jimador Tequila, Cointreau, strawberry, jalapeno, lime and Tajin. Further cocktails on the Margarita menu will include Julian’s Prickly Pear Margarita – a mix of El Jimador Tequila, Cointreau, prickly pear puree, lime and chipotle rim, and the Smokey Paloma – combining Ojo De Tigre Mezcal, grapefruit liqueur, lime, grapefruit tonic and smoked salt.
The sounds of Texas will echo through The Blues Kitchen this summer, with live gigs from Jarrod Dickenson – a stalwart of the Texas scene, known for his bluesy rock and roll growl. Jarrod’s two albums have earned him critical acclaim and a devoted audience on both sides of the Atlantic, entertaining crowds with legendary artists such as Bonnie Raitt, Jools Holland and Jimmie Vaughan.
The birthplace of Western swing, Texas has roots in blues and jazz, and a thriving country and Rock ‘n Roll scene. Each year, music fans flock to Austin to visit famous festivals like SXSW and Austin City Limits. Outside of the carefully curated music programme, the eight-week series will feature an extensive line-up of art and culture events; all to celebrate Texas’ culture and musical heritage.
Since its opening in 2021, The Blues Kitchen has been Manchester’s home for blues and soul, embodying the sounds, smells and styles of the Deep South, a region of the states where founders Steve Ball, Liam Hart and Riz Shaikh have made many friends and enjoyed countless nights out.
Liam Hart, Head of Content at The Blues Kitchen, said: ‘Over the years, we’ve made a bunch of great friends in Texas. We’ve always been shown incredible hospitality, with amazing music, food and drinks at every turn! We’re stoked to bring a slice of the Lone Star State over to The Blues Kitchen.’
To celebrate the series, The Blues Kitchen is giving one lucky winner the chance to win a holiday to Texas for two people, with flights, hotels, travel and experiences all included. Head to The Blues Kitchen’s Instagram page (@theblueskitchenmcr) and like, share and tag your friends to enter. The winner will be announced on the 16th of August.
To book a table at The Blues Kitchen please visit theblueskitchen.com Walk-ins are available on a first come, first served basis.
