Sampa

Manchester’s most exciting chef is at it again. Born in Brazil and adopted by the UK, Caroline Martins is the very definition of independent. No shady hedge fund backers, no corporate overlords reining her in, just dazzling idea after dazzling idea. 

Her acclaimed Sampa tasting-menu project has an all-new, slightly secret pop-up in the city centre (you’ll get the precise location shortly before your visit). 

The whole operation has levelled up. At our sneak preview visit, we’re met with handpicked local artwork (their first featured artist is Pete Obsolete), Brazilian wine pairings, and a series of all-new dishes. These are inspired by Caroline’s formative years in South America and her current years in the good old North of England. 

A big part of the joy of the menu comes from the breathtaking reveals, so we won’t be picking through each dish in turn, but know this: you’ll taste things most people wouldn’t believe. Scallops fired at the grill with heart-of-palm and a cassava mousseline, chalkstream trout glittering with laranja, and so on, to misquote Roy Batty.

Her menu joins the dots between the UK and Brazil, to create flavour combinations you’ve never tried before, but this meal is about more than tastebuds. It’s about how the texture of the ingredients marry, matched with aesthetics and spectacle. It’s theatrical dining without the pomp and circumstance, and no one else is doing it like Caroline. 

She’s the perfect host – chatting warmly with guests while introducing each dish and casually dishing out deep insights into her native cuisine. 

More than this, the loyalty and affection from her staff is palpable. Hers is a young, tight-knit team, proud to be a part of the Sampa project. 

Sampa is a true Manchester-meets-São Paolo success story, and Caroline is one of the city’s most talented and charming food superstars. We’ve said it before, we’ll say it again: we’re honoured to have her.