To describe Big Zuu as larger-than-life doesn’t really conjure the sheer personality of the man. Enthusiastic, jovial and incredibly funny, the rapper, grime MC, and presenter first burst onto our screens with Big Zuu’s Big Eats, and his star quickly rose as one of the country’s favourite foodie personalities. Born in West London to a Sierra Leonean mother and Lebanese father, Big Zuu was born Zuhair Hassan. An unwavering love of music, food and conviviality mixed with his say-it-at-he-sees-it-manner and megawatt smile are instantly recognisable and make for heart-warming, hilarious television.
His latest show, 12 Dishes in 12 Hours, shows Zuu, as you’d expect from the name, covering cities across Europe, including Valencia, Bologna, and Amsterdam, eating 12 dishes in 12 hours. He explores each place with a different celebrity friend. The first episode kicks off with him in Bologna alongside close friend and Marvel star Will Poulter, trying local delicacies such as Certasino (a classic Bolognian Christmas cake), ice cream with balsamic – “you’ve got to try it!” Zuu enthuses, “It’s actually crazy good” – and, of course, ragu.
The idea for Zuu’s latest show is, as he describes it, a “continuation of the big, vibrant food” we saw in Big Zuu’s Big Eats. “We wanted to give good reasons why we’re going to places,” he explains, “showing people exactly what to eat and where. It was great fun to make, but not easy, because trying 12 different dishes in 12 hours wasn’t simple; it was a serious challenge.” He admits that for him, travelling is, first and foremost, about the food. “There are people who fly without thinking about food”, he tells me, but “those people are quite different to me!”
And, when he wants to “get away from London without flying away,” it’s Manchester that pulls at his heartstrings, not to mention his appetite. Mani (as he calls it) is home to many of his friends and a city he has visited more times than he can recall. “It’s a big vibe, and if you’ve ever had a night out in Mani, you’ll understand. It’s great fun, and the people are very kind and genuine. There’s a huge warmth to Manchester, and the people are really great in terms of how they welcome you and interact with you.”
As such, Big Zuu takes a break from eating 12 Dishes in 12 Hours to chat all things Manchester with us.
San Carlo
“San Carlo is an Italian restaurant where I always start with dinner before a night out with friends. It’s very famous for how big and extravagant it is, but it’s not very expensive. You can go with 10 of your friends and have a really nice meal and you’re not spending a stupid amount of money. It’s very good quality and the vibe when you go in is so good because it’s always packed full of people.”
Who comes here?
“Everyone in Manchester heads to San Carlo. It’s very famous and people go for the food but also the energy. It’s just buzzing.”
Best table in the restaurant
“San Carlo is seriously massive and it has a main part to the restaurant, but there is also a bit that is sort of tucked away around the corner. If you want to be a bit more low-key, then try and get a table there. It’s a bit quieter, but if you want to be right in the thick of it then get in the main dining room and you’ll be surrounded by people.”
Best time to come
“I think it’s great for dinner before heading out into Mani with mates for the night.”
Dish to order
“They have a half-and-half pizza. Half is garlic with cheese and then the other half is tomato. It makes an incredible starter, and they serve it on these little rings above the table. The risotto is nice; they do lovely fresh pasta. And arancini. I should be in their adverts; I love it so much.”
The Drop Bar Cafe
“Most places people go to in Manchester are in the city centre, but this is out near Old Trafford, so this is a bit out there. If I am in the city and I’ve got a couple of hours to myself, I always head here. Get the bus if you need to. It’s a Caribbean bar-slash-café and I love it, especially on Sundays. I love their portions, which are absolutely massive. It’s worth every penny. The plates are so big. Honestly, one plate will easily serve two people.”
Who comes here?
“You’ve got to know about this place to go so I’d say it’s mainly made up of locals and Manchester residents.”
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Best table in the restaurant
“If it’s not too cold outside, then get a table out on the terrace. It’s out on the street and it’s really nice.”
Best time to come
“I always go for lunch on Sundays.”
Dish to order
“They do a Caribbean Sunday roast and it’s just so good. You can get everything you want – lamb, chicken and all the usual sides like coconut rice with peas and fried plantain. And there is an epic ‘reggae roast,’ which is jerk chicken with things like mac ‘n’ cheese and the ‘veggie rasta roast,’ which is toasted pumpkin.”
Jimmy’s Killer Prawns
“This is quite a daring name for a seafood restaurant but it is all about the prawns at this place and they are not lying when they say they’re killer. You can get other dishes too, like steak, but they specialise in seafood. And they come with the shells on so you’re going to get messy – there’s no way of eating this and not getting messy. Get ready to lick your fingers. It is such a lovely place and it’s really good for delivery if you want to order. It’s great value – you just can’t go wrong. ”
Who comes here?
“Everyone. A lot of people opt for delivery too, but it’s a bit of a Manchester institution.”
Best table in the restaurant
“To be honest, I’ve actually never been in the restaurant to eat. It looks really nice but I always get Jimmy’s as a take away or delivered. I’ll get together with my mates and we will order, literally, about 80 prawns between us.”
Best time to come
“Any time is a good time for Jimmy’s.”
Dish to Order
“I’d go for the prawn combo, which is a huge container with all the juices in it and the sides like spicy rice and chips. They are platters of killer prawns, and you order them as either original, spicy or extra spicy. You can’t go wrong with one of these.”
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Dishoom
“I know these are all over the place, but I have to give it a shout out to the one in Mani. They’ve got their own flavour. I know the one in Soho, London, is the best-known and it’s got crazy wait times, but I’ve got a real soft spot for the Manchester one. It’s big and a little bit easier to get into. I love the décor: it’s in a beautiful building, with beautiful architecture.”
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Who comes here?
“Anyone in Manchester wanting a good curry comes here and, of course, anyone who loves Dishoom.”
Best table in the restaurant
“It’s not quite as hectic as the others so it’s got a great vibe and it’s got areas that are sectioned off so it can feel a bit more private. When I’m in a busy restaurant, I don’t always want to be right in the middle of things. I hate yelling to have a conversation; it’s the worst. ”
Best time to come
“I go for dinner before going out for the night but I’ve never been for their breakfast and I’m a big Dishoom lover but I’ve heard it’s amazing so I’ve got to go and try it sometime. ”
Dish to order
“The daal is my favourite thing with naan bread and they make great vegetarian dishes as well. That chaat is very nice, too.”
Chai Latte café
“This is a loud café that does breakfast. Now, it may not be the best in the universe – but after a good night out, when you’ve got to check out of your Airbnb at 11am and you’re starving and you’ve got to get on a train for two and a half hours back home, this is what you need.”
Who comes here?
“Students, locals, anyone needing a good fix up after a night out.”
Best table in the restaurant
“Sometimes you’ll go there on a Sunday morning and it’s packed, with queues out the door. Sometimes, you can’t even sit with your friends. I’ve been with, like, five friends before and we’ve had to sit across two different tables. So, basically, just get any table you can.”
Best time to come
“Always for breakfast.”
Dish to order
“You can customise your breakfast, so get everything you want, with a big apple juice. It’ll sort you straight out. If you want the full English experience, go to Chai Latte - it’s old school but I love it and I’ve been going there since I first went to Manchester.”
Special Mention: Yours
“I also want to give a special shout out to a place called Yours. It’s a restaurant that turns into a vibe in the evenings. It’s a restaurant all day and, by 11pm, it turns into a bar. If you know about Mani, this is the spot. You might see footballers and celebrities in there, but it’s very local and anyone can get in. I love how accessible it is.”