Last updated on May 6th, 2024 at 10:21 am
It doesn’t take long to look at my food category to know that I am a huge foodie. Nor does it take long to realize my passion for food styling and how beautiful food can truly be. Whilst I love creating amazing things from scratch from my very own kitchen, I also have a soft spot for fine dining. Who doesn’t? Mr P and I love finding new restaurant to try out and there isn’t a type of food either of us doesn’t like.
We have dined at the Intu Trafford Centre many times in the past so I am familiar with a lot of their restaurants. What I love most of dining there is that you can restaurant hop. We love having a pre-dinner drink at one and moving onto to another for my main meal and then another for desserts and after dinner drinks. It really has a great atmosphere and your options are endless. Being that there are so many to choose from there are many we haven’t been able to test out yet or ones where we have never ate at but have had the pleasure of their cocktails. I was ever so excited to be apart of an amazing group of bloggers and attend the Dine Around the Dome this week at the Intu Trafford Centre to test the finest and see what’s on offer.
We were greeted at 360 Champagne & Cocktails with an elderflower martini that was smooth, delicious and a new favorite of mine. It was a great way to meet and greet the rest of the lovely group that was attending. The 360 Champagne bar is a great place to have a social drink and meet friends at the mall. The views from it are beautiful and the bar is classy. 
Also great when a real life friend starts blogging and we get to attend events together. Had a lovely night with this beauty Jane from A Little Lyrical. 
We were then ushered to Cafe Rouge, a restaurant I was familiar with as we have taken the kids numerous times before. But as all parents would agree we choose different foods when we are dining with children than we would alone. I was blown away with the Ceviche de Saumon which had salmon slices cured in lime, and marinated in chilli, red, and spring onion served on a bed of crisp baby gem. It isn’t something I would normally order for myself but completely loved it. It was lovely to sip a crisp and tangy white wine called Saint Etalon Sauvignon Blanc that paired nicely with it.
It was then time to dive in at Carluccio’s. The food on display was mouth watering and you almost didn’t know where to start. There was Pepolata Arancini which were a crispy fried rice ball that quickly became my all time favorite nibble on the table. Caponata is a Sicilian aubergine sweet and sour stew served with toasted focaccia. This dish surprised me the most as I was expecting it to be served hot and spicy and it was cold and sweet and more importantly delicious. There were rustic boards filled with Parma ham, Milano salami, herbed roasted ham, mortadella and fennel salami with olives, caperberriess and home baked focaccia. If that’s not enough to make you salivate I don’t know what is. We were spoiled with a beautiful Aperol Spritzer to wash it all down with. 
Even though we had gorged ourselves at Carluccio’s we still had a night of tasting ahead of us. Next up was Las Iguanas. I have had drinks here before but never had the pleasure of dining here. My friend highly recommends this place so I was very eager to see what the fuss was all about. It definitely was a fuss to be mentioned over succulent foods. Las Iguanas definitely is a great place for friends and family alike to gather and order something different to share. The table was dressed with Empanadas, Churrasco Skewers, Manioc root cassava fries with salsa, Totopos which are Mexican spiced corn chips and salsa, Mango and pecan salad (a huge favorite of mine now) and Mango Collins to top of all off. If I didn’t have fear of no more room for the next few places we still had to visit, I would have sat there all night gorging myself in amazing flavors and combinations that made my taste buds jump.
We all took a five minute breather and hopped over to Wokooshi. I love Japanese and Korean food but have never been to Wokooshi before. The restaurant is family ran and staff are super friendly. It was the first thing I noticed when we walked in. The decor of hand painted fish mirrors was stunning. To drink I was mildly surprise that I liked the Asahi Japanese Black lager. It was not at all heavy as I anticipated. Of course, one must taste the Sho Chiku Bai Nigori Sake. It’s one of the oldest style of sakes around. The food was just as surprising as the drinks. We were served Beef Bulgogi. This dish is listed 23rd in the World’s 50 most delicious food poll. The Salmon Teppanyaki was up next and it did not disappoint. I would love to know exactly how to cook salmon like this as I would eat it everyday. Filleted perfectly, juicy inside and a crisp bbq-style outer layer – yum! There were numerous dishes to follow including Sizzling seafood Udon Noodles full of scallops and king prawns then onto Spicy Chicken Bibimbap which is a signature Korean family dish with some many mouth watering ingredients mixed together in a hot stone bowl and topped with raw egg, it really does blow your mind. 
Wow, I know that’s a lot of food and drinks! Are you full just reading all this or is your mouth watering so badly you must go get something to eat! I feel the same just typing this out. The food were was magnificent. If you think that’s it … there is more.
The night ended up in the Captain’s Table of Intu Trafford Centre. A place that celebrities have adorned and no public access is allowed. Where we all squealing with delight for our photo to be taken from the heavens above. If the view wasn’t enough to take in, we walked in to find a whole buffet of the finest desserts imaginable. There were coffee martinis on hand to wash it all down. For those that were ready for their coffee nightcap the new limited edition Nespresso capsules were offered with a lovely coffee expert to share her knowledge. Forget about the drinks let’s go back to the desserts I hear you say.. it was a sea of sweetness. Boards full of churros, chocolate dipping sauces, and whip cream and cheesecakes adorned with berries and caramel sauce or lemon flavored, ice cream full of dried fruits, chocolate mousse layered with pecans and almonds, nutella sundaes and tiramisu wonders. The list goes on and on. What I loved about this amazing group of ladies was that we each got assigned a dessert to test and it wasn’t long before we were all just trying bites of each others and passing them on. It was a true sweet feast to end the night. 
I love attending these events and meeting other bloggers. It always leaves me feeling inspired and full of fresh ideas that these events have sparked something inside me again. I always feel like I come away from these events having made a friend or two too. That’s one of the reasons I love blogging so much and the community support you get from everyone.
This event has really opened my eyes on the food available at the restaurants we frequent and the ones we have longed to try at the Trafford Centre. It’s great to have tasted so many dishes that I normally wouldn’t have ordered. I now know what I can recommend to friends and family when they go now. I definitely have a list of dishes for the husband to try the next time we are there dining out. This foodie was in her element this week amongst mind blowing food, elegant and smooth drinks and new amazing friends.
Thank you Intu for a great event and presentation from all the restaurants we attended. Thank you Jason Lock for some many great photos here. (some photos above are my own the rest are Jason’s magnificent captures). The PR ladies you have done a brilliant job of organizing such an enjoyable and amazing event. I had a lovely night – Thank you ever so much.
Ah Jenny it looks like it was a fantastic event and I am gutted I couldn’t make it and meet up with you again. The food looks amazing, and what a great opportunity to be able to dine at such a variety of restaurants. We love dining out at The Trafford Centre, and one of our favourites is Las Iguanas, especially as it does kids eat free. Hubby and I are back to the Trafford Centre next Thursday, and staying over, so wondering where to eat now. I like your idea of restaurant hopping ! xx
OH Tracey that would have been so lovely. Darn it. Definitely next time. It was a great experience. Loved all the food too. Definitely one of my favorite places to go and eat with Mr P for date nights so we can restaurant hop.
Yummy the salmon in lime and chillies sounds very nice and I think I really need to try Wookooshi! We love the Trafford centre and tend to go to the same places to have the same food so I think it’s time to venture a bit!
We do too. While we loved going there for meals out and date night we really stuck to what we know and now my whole world has been opened and I have a huge list to try. Can’t wait to go back.
Wow that food looks yummy. X
Thanks Daniella it truly was divine to eat.
Oh my word Jenny, this event sounds like my idea of complete and utter heaven! That beef dish sounds incredible, mo wonder it’s in the top 50. Gotta love being a blogger 🙂
It was my heaven too and I loved every second of it. I could do that every month. Thank you.
Yum yum what a fab foodie event Jenny! We love Carluccios in London and Cafe Rouge is always a great hangout but I didn’t know the others so I’ve learned something today – glad you had a fun night with your friend too x #ShareWithMe
OH yes those are great favorites and now I have new favorites to add to my list to take Mr P. We love going to the Trafford Centre for dinners out.
Ah how lovely Jenny, yes sounds like ‘the’ perfect event for you. I’m so glad you had such a great time. Brilliant write up and great to know what is on offer. We’re terrible creatures of habit and often end up in the same restaurants when we got to Intu Trafford Centre. Great post #sharewithme
OH I think we all are like this and get into our favorites and comfort zone and I probably would have stayed the same but now I know so many great dishes at each, I definitely am spoiled for choices and it will be hard to pick next time.
Wow. It all looks amazing. Very very jealous!
#sharewithme
Thanks I am jealous and wish I could do it again. The food was truly SENSATIONAL.
We love the Trafford Centre – we normally go into the amazing food court. All these fantastic restaurants, it looks like a great night! Kaz x
We have always had a love for it but usually stuck to our key favorites now we have so many new favorites to enjoy I can’t wait. Such a great place.
Wow what a fabulous event! The food looks incredible, so glad you had a lovely time x
Thanks Aby it was beyond scrumptious and such a lovely night with so many great bloggers. Really enjoyed it.
I love the Trafford Centre.. It’s only about 20 minutes away from me so we tend to spend quite a bit of time there. It looked like a fabulous event and the food looks amazing. #sharewithme
Oh me too, I am probably there once a week at least and just been today in fact and it’s about an hour away for me. We used to live closer so I used to go even more. So much to do there with kids and families, shopping and eating out all in covered roof as the weather here isn’t that great to be in the city centre these days.
Oh it looks amazing – what a great idea for an event and how lovely that you could share with with your friend and fellow blogger! I’m jealous of the lovely food 🙂 Mim x #sharewithme
I loved trying new dishes that I wouldn’t order myself scared to not like them and end up loving them so much so I know what to get next time.
Popping back over from Sharewithme, you’ve just reminded me I need to pay the Trafford centre a visit 🙂
Oh we still need to get together, let’s pay it a visit together. I practically live there these days. lol
Oh wow, I live so near The Trafford Centre! The food looks amazing and I didn’t realise there were so many different restaurants to choose from nowadays. I often just bob in to shop and bob out. I’ll have to take my man there for a nice meal. xx
Oh yes definitely some amazing restaurants and all these we went to have great bars in them too for a good cocktail. We restaurant hop for date night at the trafford centre all the time.
Wow what an amazing event to go too and so many delicious dishes to try out – your descriptions and the photos combined have my mouth watering. The Beef Bulgogi and the Salmon Teppanyaki sound wonderful #sharewithme
They really were Louise. Nothing disappointed on this very special food fest evening. I was in heaven.
Wow! That sounds like me perfect event! Elderflower martini sounds lush and those desserts sounded amazing! 🙂 x
Oh the dessert finale was amazing and really something to do just on its’ own I could have kept eating. lol Thank you.
I have never been to the Trafford centre, I don’t think I have ever been to Manchester to be honest. This whole post made my mouth water and tummy rumble! Having been to Japan a few times, I love the food and would choose that straight away! It all looked so delicious though 🙂 #sharewithme
Wow you have been to Japan I bet its’ even better in its homeland of course. But it really was amazing here too. You must try it. So many great restaurants to choose from.
Wow this sounds and looks amazing! And the food looks Devine! I love the sound of an elderflower martini. What a great experience to try lots of different restaurants and foods so you can decide which you prefer and where to go with friends and where to go with family. #ShareWithMe xx
It really was amazing. I loved every dish and every second of the whole evening. Great event put on and did not disappoint. So many places I want to go back again and try.
Wow – what an amazing event – great that you got to try so many different types of food. I’ve never been to the Trafford Centre before but have heard it’s great. All those photos have made me hungry! #ShareWithMe xx
I know it was amazing experience as I wouldn’t have ordered half of what I ended up loving. Thank you.
Wow, how wonderful! That food really did look tasty, a real torment when I’m trying to kick start my diet. 😉
I’ve never been to the Trafford Centre but it really sounds like a great place full of yummy food, great for a foodie! Your write up really shows off the wonderful, tasty food and you’ve made me want to visit. Although… that might have to wait a bit. 🙂
Oh I go so much there even though it’s not close to me anymore as we moved. It’s great for shopping and amazing for kids days out so much to do there but yet there are so many restaurants for date night and movie night there too. 🙂
I don’t know how you fitted all that lovely food in! I really like Las Iguanas and recently a Carluccio’s opened here in Newcastle (about a year ago) but I haven’t been in there yet. x
#sharewithme
OH you must try it out it’s one of my new favorites for sure. I really enjoyed the evening and I being a foodie myself I always have room for good food.
How lovely – not far from me 🙂 #sharewithme
Really, I am always there whether it’s shopping, eating or taking the kids to the movies. So much to do at the Trafford Centre.
This sounds like a brilliant evening out – nice to go to some of your familiar haunts but without the children! Those Aperol spritzers look divine, but you had me at Champagne to be honest! x
Of course, I have myself always at champagne darling. But the drinks and food definitely blew me away and I have so many I want to go back and take friends and family too now.
This looks like such a fantastic place to dine! I love that there are so many options all in one roof! And the food, as you said, looks so mouthwatering. Yet another reason I want to vacation in the UK, for establishments such as these! Thanks for sharing, Jenny and for hosting us on #sharewithme. Have a fantastic rest of the week!
OH yes there are so many great restaurants here and the food choices far more than back home for me too. It’s a great place to try all cuisines.
That food looks amazing, wow. Great photography #sharewithme
Thank you Rebecca. It was a great night.
Oh Jenny, yum yum yum! What a brilliant event. I’m now starving!! xx
It really was yum, yum Kiran and every time I come back to reply to someone’s comment on here I get hungry again. Torturing myself.
I was invited to this too Jenny. Wish I’d been brave enough to make the trip up to Manchester for it – looks amazing! x
Oh Suzanne you naughty girl you should have come, we would have had a blast together all evening and the food would have been worth every second of your travels. Next time event up north shout you can always stay with me darling.
Wow this all looks yummy. I love carluccios. I have to say i tend to steer away from eating at the trafford centre as it’s always so busy and crowded. Maybe I should give it a try. KA #sharewithme x
OH yes stay away from the fast food part of the food court and it’s always got space and time for you in the nicer restaurants. We often do date night there and love the atmosphere too.
That sounds like a great night out. I always stick to safe dishes that i know that i like when i am dining out, i would love to go to something like this to try out new foods. I bet you were so full afterwards xx
Me too, I am a save player when it comes to menus and places I love I stick with the same ones that never disappoint and I am trying to branch out more. But this was great to taste things I didn’t even know how to pronounce and find I loved them.
Ooh you lucky so-and-so! That sounds like an amazing night! I bloody love food so I would love to do something like that – especially with other bloggers. Great photos too, and yes you have definitely made me hungry! xx
Food really is the way to my heart so this was heaven to me. I felt very lucky indeed my lovely. Great company too.
nothing beats a night of food and drink hopping. looks like a great time
Couldn’t be more right there Jeremy. Food and drinks is the way to my heart. I love a good feast and friends.
Looks lovely and some fab food., maybe me hungry! #sharewithme
It really was a fab night of good food, drinks and friends.
What a great event to attend, and the food looked pretty good too! I hope there’s something like this in my neck of the woods that I can join in on! #sharewithme
It was an awesome event and so glad I went. Truly enjoyed every minute of it.
Sounds like an amazing night, everything looked delicious. And yes, I’m starving now 🙂 Thanks for hosting #sharewithme
Debbie
http://myrandommusings.blogspot.com
I know every time I come back to reply to a comment I get hungry. So amazing and the food was out of this world delicious.
Wow, that looks like an amazing event! What a fabulous evening, glad you had such a good time xx
It was amazing Sara and I love a good feast with friends. I couldn’t say a bad word and so many places I want to go back to now.
Wow, what a feast! Very jealous, that would have been totally up my street, especially the Korean / Japanese fusion, my type of food. I’m glad you had such a nice time and met up with other bloggers. I’m yet to get an opportunity to meet other bloggers, but I can imagine that it’s really inspiring. x #sharewithme
I love a good food night with ladies. Had such a great time and so many great dishes. Back to the kettlebells now.
Wow this all looks amazing! We live close to the Trafford Centre but would never think to eat here, instead we go into the City Centre. I just wouldn’t have thought the food would be this nice!! #ShareWithMe
Oh yes we go on date nights and nights out there so easy to hop from one restaurant to the other. The food is amazing.
Wow, it looks delicious. I think the next time I visit my friend, we should leave the kids with her partner, and we should go out to eat there. So much that I’d like to try. And looks like a lovely place to have a collection of restaurants too.
Oh yes sounds ace idea. Its great food and a good atmosphere all day and night. Nice to hop restaurants too.
The Mother says – What a fab event to attend and a wonderful experience. You looked gorgeous BTW 🙂
Lucas says – So, you got to go for one meal but ended up having loads of different things at different places. I reckon the Mother should take me to something like this. Or maybe she could do this in our house. A different type meal in every room. How awesome would that be???? #sharewithme
A different meal in every room sounds amazing doesn’t it. You can’t beat a good food buffet either of various grub Lucas you are right buddy! Thanks.
Wow! That looks amazing! You must have been a little tipsy by the end!! I love that you can do starters / Mains / puds all at different places. Really great post – enjoyed reading it x
No I was good one sip per various drink and ate so much I don’t think it would have mattered. The food was truly amazing.
What a fantastic event and I bet you were so stuffed afterwards! Xx #sharewithme
Yes definitely didn’t need any breakfast the next day. So yummy though and worth every calorie ate.
What a fantastic opportunity 🙂
Looks like you guys had a blast!
Wow what an amazing evening, my mouth was watering just reading about all those tasty dishes! xx
That food looks heavenly. I love eating out and I too recently discovered alcoholic beverages featuring elderflower x
Elderflower is so tasty who would have thought? I am a huge fan of eating out wish I didn’t gain the weight along with it. Its great having others cook and clean up after you. lol
Oh wow what a cool event, I would have been stuffed! There really is a lot of choice at your Intu. It’s nice to see the faces of the people behind the blogs too 🙂 #sharewithme Sabrina xx
Thanks Sabrina. It really was a great event and always amazing to meet other bloggers too.
I love the trafford centre looks like you had a great time.
Jemma x
#Sharewithme
Thank you, it’s amazing there isn’t it. We go often.
I am feeling hungry now and also longing for some adult time out. It will have to be arranged, from a fellow foodie. #sharewithme
Wow, food looks yumlicious – I bet is nice to have an adult meal with the complexities of children attached. The experience sounds interesting concept. I’m glad you had a good time. Thank you for hosting #sharewithme
The experience was phenomenal. I am always worried to order something out there because one I am always hungry and two don’t want to waste it or the money if I hate it. But this way I got to test so many that I never would have but love it.
Wow what an amazing event – the food looks fabulous! It looks like you had a lovely time 🙂
What a great event. The food sounds amazing, and I’d never considered the idea of restaurant hoping. I hope we have an event like this in Nottingham as we have some great restaurants! x
Yum I love a bit of challenging food that you would normally not get in a normal restaurant. #sharewithme
Oh wow this looks amazing. I was so upset I couldn’t attend, it would have been nice to say hello xx Mummy2Monkeys xx
What a fabulous evening! Glad you enjoyed yourselves! #sharewithme
It was a great experience for sure. Thank you.
So happy we found your blog! It’s darling! You are darling!…and i want to eat that food right now! Looks amazing!!
Thank you so much Krissy that means a lot..
Looks amazing! I will pay a visit next time I am there!
Oh yes it’s worth it. Thanks.
Oh the food looks divine, you must have had such a wonderful time there and especially with having a real life friend with you too
Thank you so much it was a fabulous night.