Manchester Diner hosts all-around-the-world dinners
One dish from the Brazilian Dinner. Photo courtesy of Leslie Kirkland.
by Colleen A. McKenney
The Manchester Diner located at 112 Adrian St, has been hosting special 5 course dinners that feature a specific culture, region, or national cuisine for local Manchester foodies to sample and enjoy. Each featured meal includes a multiple option appetizer plate, soup or salad, two main courses, and finishes off with dessert. The latest of the dinners was German themed food, on Thursday October 22, and featured main courses of Rouladen and Schnitzel. It also featured traditional German Knoedeln (potato balls), spaetzel, home made red cabbage, and for dessert Beinensteich (Bee-sting cake), and more. Happy Oktoberfest!
Owner and operator of the Manchester Diner, Leslie Kirkland and her mentee Dezire Clouse (“Dez”), get to stretch their creative chops in designing the menu, the decor, the place settings and the general atmosphere of the dinners. Leslie said these dinners have reignited her passion of creating delicious dishes to share with others and that she loves learning the new dishes and the information about the culture and dishes.
Clouse does research on the selected dishes and provides information to the diners about the culture and the specific dish they’re serving so diners are also learning about the culture and people the dishes come from too. For example, there are two possible origins of the Beinensteich cake dessert that Clouse was able to share with dinner goers. One, is that during an invasion, a German village threw actual bee hives at the invaders to drive them away, and another possibility is that a baker, while baking, was stung by a bee and used it as inspiration for the name of his cake.
They have hosted a German themed meal, an Asian fusion meal, Brazilian, Caribbean, Mediterranean, Italian, Eastern European, so far. The Diner also puts any extras to use with special dishes offered as their weekly specials too. Remember that week of Asian fusion breakfast bowls?
Next month, on November 19, the dinner will be a surprise offering of Kirkland’s favorite and specialty dishes. Kirkland said she adds herself to every creation by putting her spin on the dish, which she termed “Lesli-fying” it. Sometimes there are multiple versions of a dish so she gets to tweak them and combine them to make them her own. The ingredients, like their normal menu offerings, will be sourced as much as possible from local providers so that they are fresh and support local growers and businesses.
Tickets can be purchased by phone (734) 428-0721 or in person at the Manchester Diner. Dinners are limited to 30 tickets per event and tickets sellout quickly. Pre-registration is required.
The dinners have been popular. One big fan of the dinners, a Chelsea resident, has been to every one and now brings along up to 5 people. Attendees often bring their own containers to pack up any leftovers (if there is anything even left) to take home.
In the future, Kirkland and Clouse have plans for a Latin/Spanish themed meal, a soul-food theme, comfort foods, an Irish theme, and an Ethiopian theme. There is also a potential collaboration meal with the Clinton Taco Truck vendor in the works. Keep an eye on their FaceBook page for information and dates of future dinners.
A slice of Medovic, a seven layer honey cake from Eastern European Night. Photo courtesy of Leslie Kirkland.
Leslie Kirkland (second from left, first row) and Dez Clouse (behind Kirkland), with staff and patrons. Photo courtesy of Leslie Kirkland.
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