M and M’s Caribbean Spice

Mispelling the word Caribbean, let me count the ways (and amount of times I’ve actually done it)…
When I spent a week’s spell in Farringdon down in London Town, I was pointed in the direction of an excellent Caribbean restaurant named Cottons. If anyone’s in the area I urge you to go, it’s bliss. Bear in mind I’d never had Caribbean cuisine before so my tastebuds were awakened with delicious deep fried savoury plantains and salted cod fritters and chickpea filo tarts and spicy yet creamy sauces… cue salivation.
Well, you can imagine when I returned to Manchester I felt bereft as the only option I seemed to have was Panama Hatty’s, and one of my foodie friends had already poo-​pooed that to hell, so what’s a girl to do? I got a fever for da flava and even the companion who dined with me at the time tried to recreate the plantains at home and failed miserably. And she’s a really good cook.
Step in M and M’s Caribbean Spice. I shall list the celebrity clientele first. When Simon Webbe who used to be in Blue is in town, he always visits. When Wyclef Jean played the MEN Arena, he ordered takeout two nights in a row. Both these guys would know their Caribbean cuisine. Their visits tell you a lot. It’s a great little casual diner where you can grab some cake (make that homemade Jamaican rum cake served with rum cream… mmmmm) or get proper main dishes like smoked mackerel in coconut sauce or filleted fish with callaloo with rice and peas.
I’ve been bitten by the Caribbean bug, and if you’ve not yet experienced it, M and M’s is a great place to start. Mike the chef has been in the business for over thirty years, so I wouldn’t knock his knack for the sweet n’ spicy. It’s closed Sundays but we can live with that, as it normally stays open nice and late.
If your Jamaican accent is a little rusty, here’s a good starting point. To say the word ‘bacon’, simply say two words. ‘Beer can.’ It’s foolproof. I learned that one many years ago. Not that it’s convinced anyone I’m Jamaican so far.

M & M’s take rustic to a new level. The interior of the restaurant could probably do with a face lift but somehow I think it would lose half its charm, because this place has always been about the food first.
You can just taste how home made every dish is in here. The house speciality is Ackee and Saltfish (Jamaica’s national dish), and is like a hug on a plate. All dishes come with rice and peas but a portion of jerk dumplings for 50p and fried plaintain for 80p per portion never go amiss. I love M&M’s Carrot Punch to wash it all down with, but if it isn’t your cup of tea there’s always Redstripe!