This month saw us bring the celebrated Italian ritual of aperitivo to Fumo at 1 St Peters Square in Manchester. Already billed by press as the classiest happy hour in the city, Fumo’s aperitivo offers two for one offers on a selection of signature cocktails, bottles of house wine, Prosecco and Peroni all served with delicious complimentary bar nibbles between 4 and 7pm from Sunday through to Thursday every week. These are no ordinary cocktails – from the refreshing and summery Hugo – a blend of Prosecco, elderflower and fresh mint to the ever popular Aperol Spritz or Wild Hibiscus Mojito, there’s something to suit every taste. Perfect for catching up with friends straight from work or a pre-theatre or dinner treat, pull up a chair at our sweeping marble bar and enjoy!

We’ve picked a selection of our favourite recent tweets to share with you:

@millertarmac

Can you open a restaurant in Newcastle I’m sick of driving to Leeds @SanCarlo_Group

This month we’ve also received requests for a San Carlo Fumo in Sheffield, Newcastle and Oxford and San Carlo in Brighton and Scotland.

@TheNigelroberts “@SanCarloGroup Huge priceless publicity for you all today! Very well deserved @MGD and family”

Referring to the Leicester City Football Club Champions celebration lunch for the players and Directors at our San Carlo restaurant in Granby Street.

@78Seal “Pigeon breast pate @SanCarlo_Fumo Birmingham. Utterly stunning!”

Still one of our most popular dishes.

@pernicegiovann1 “What a wonderful place @SC_Cicchetti !! Real Italian food and amazing staff!! #buonappetito”

Strictly Come Dancing’s Giovanni on visting our Cicchetti Piccadilly, London

@MillieKiosses “Booked @SignorSassi for dinner tonight, never want to eat anywhere else when I come to London. #TheBest already dreaming of my Ravioli Tino”

A lady with superb taste!

Want your tweet to be considered for the next San Carlo Group newsletter? Tweet us @SanCarlo_Group @SC_Cicchetti @SanCarlo_Fumo @SignorSassi

Rosso 43:

April’s Cocktail of the Month at Fumo is the ‘Rosso 43’.

A refreshing long drink made with freshly squeezed red orange juice, Spanish vanilla liqueur and topped with Prosecco.

This beautiful aperitif will bring back memories of Summer holidays and sunsets by the sea.

Ingredients:

40 ml Stolichnaya Vodka
25 ml Liquor 43
50 ml Freshly squeezed red orange juice
Top with Prosecco

Method:

Shake and strain. Serve over ice.

Did you spot our MD Marcello Distefano finding Manchester’s first wild black truffle in a Manchester city Park? Yes, it was indeed a bit of April 1st food news fun. Thanks go to our foodie friend Thom Hetherington for the loan of Ruby the Vizla, a star in the making for sure. In case you missed it, here it is again Read more…

Our Chairman Carlo Distefano hit the headlines recently when The Daily Express met up with him to find out about the man behind the San Carlo Group success story. Read the full story here… Read more…

“In a market that sometimes feels saturated with inoffensive high street chains, it’s refreshing to come across a restaurant for whom passion for produce remains a guiding principle. At the heart of Carlo Distefano’s business empire lies a real appreciation for quality ingredients – and it shows!”

This extract from Birmingham’s What’s On Guide’s review of our San Carlo restaurant in Temple Street was music to our ears, for it strikes at the heart of our philosophy – our passion for produce is key. Find out what happened when the Guide dropped by to review us here… Read more…

Our menus change with the seasons to reflect our food philosophy – using only the best, seasonal produce and allowing those ingredients to shine. Spring Summer is an exciting time for us as our Executive Development Chef Filippo Pagani sets to work creating those new dishes for you to enjoy. Available from the end of April, expect lighter, colourful dishes bursting with flavour, featuring artichokes, asparagus, spinach, wild garlic, lemons, tomatoes and lamb.

‘Jet Set Chick’ highlighted our six sites within a ten mile radius – all just as good as each other – in her ‘San Carlo for Every Occasion’ travel and lifestyle blog post.
Reviewing all of our outlets across Manchester, here are Asma Younus’ recommendations of which restaurant to visit when: Read more…

Fumo Sound is back at the end of the month with performances on Easter weekend in Manchester and Birmingham.

DJ Myles Langley and DJ Ben Martin will provide sets at both venues on Saturday 26 March before handing over for live sax sessions from ‘The Sax Guy’ and ‘El Sax’.

The saxophonists are really sensational so book your table for cicchetti, cocktails and Spring sounds early.

Fumo Manchester, 1 St Peter’s Square Manchester 0161 236 7344

Fumo Birmingham, 1 Waterloo Street, Birmingham 0121 643 8979