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SOPHIE ETC’S TOP 5
Sophie etc’s top five indie restaurants to try in 2023
Milton Keynes food blogger Sophie etc shares her top five indie restaurants and experiences that need to be on your hit list for 2023 in a special guest column for Celebrate:MK...
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Whilst most people are making new year’s resolutions, I’m writing a list of restaurants I want to visit in 2023.
Milton Keynes’ indie food scene is getting better and better every year.
2022 saw some incredible new additions to the local food scene and I can’t wait to see what this year has in store.
If you’re writing your own foodie hit list for 2023, here are five indies you need to try this year.
THE BRASSERIE
at Milton Keynes College, Bletchley This is a true gem and one I continually shout from the rooftops about.
On Thursdays, you can sample a tasting menu developed and cooked by the Level 3 Catering Students for a mere £35.
Under the guidance of chefs Nico Baker and James Carr, the food that comes out of the kitchen is really something.
It’s a great way to support the chefs of tomorrow.
EAT STREET
Various locations Okay, I’m cheating a little here because Eat Street is an event, but if you haven’t been to one yet, I question why.
You can try some of the city’s best independent street food vendors with a very cool vibe, Eat Street has gone from strength to strength in recent years.
You’ll be able to find them at Bradwell Abbey every Friday until 24th Feb, and monthly events should start again in March.
Give them a follow on Facebook or Instagram to stay up to date with future events.
RAI WOBURN
Market Place, Woburn Rai was some of the best Indian food we’ve ever eaten.
The chef has 25 years of experience under his belt, a Michelin Star and a stint with Gordon Ramsay, so it’s safe to say the food far exceeds that of your typical Indian curry house.
It is the perfect place to mark a special occasion but, to be honest, I wouldn’t need much of an excuse to go back here.
Rai was some of the best Indian food we’ve ever eaten. The food far exceeds that of your typical Indian curry house
TUK TUK THAI
Aylesbury Street, Fenny Stratford Tuk Tuk Thai opened in November 2022 in Fenny Stratford and it is a very welcome addition to the local indie food scene.
With a fun interior, great service and very tasty Thai food, this ticks all the boxes for me.
The Beef Massaman curry is out of this world!
The Beef Massaman curry is out of this world!
WYLD
Secret woodland location WYLD was my favourite foodie memory of 2022. Dinner in the woods, enjoying seasonal, sustainably sourced food. The food is prepared over the fire by some of the area’s best chefs, so every experience is slightly different. It is immersive, unique and truly magical!
To discover more independent eats in Milton Keynes, head to my blog, sophieetc.com. You can also join my Facebook Community Group, Eat & Explore MK to share your reviews and recommendations with other fellow foodies.
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Musical version of Roald Dahl’s classic story on from Feb 9 to March 5
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory to wow the crowds at MK Theatre
The West End and Broadway smash hit ‘Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory The Musical’ opens at Milton Keynes Theatre on February 9th, running until March 5th.
The show tells the devilishly delicious tale of young golden ticket winner Charlie Bucket and the mysterious confectionary wizard Willy Wonka.
Gareth Snook stars as ‘Willy Wonka’ alongside Kazmin Borrer as ‘Veruca Salt’, Teddy Hinde as ‘Mike Teavee’, Marisha Morgan as ‘Violet Beauregarde’ and Robin Simoes da Silva as ‘Augustus Gloop’.
They join Michael D’Cruze as ‘Grandpa Joe’, Christopher Howell as ‘Grandpa George’, Kate Milner Evans as ‘Grandma Josephine’, Julie Mullins as ‘Grandma Georgina’ and Leonie Spilsbury as ‘Mrs Bucket’. The cast is completed by Lydia Bradd, Darcie Brown, Josh Donovan, Ewan Gillies, Lucy Hutchinson, Patrick King, Jodie Knight, Jonathan Macdonald, Victoria Nicol, Katherine Picar, Lewis Rae, Emma Robotham-Hunt, TyReece Stewart and Natasha Volley.
Featuring memorable songs from the iconic 1970s film including ‘The Candy Man’, ‘Pure Imagination’ and ‘I’ve Got a Golden Ticket’ as well as a host of new numbers by the multi award-winning composer and lyricist of Hairspray and Mary Poppins Returns, Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman, this sensational musical is choc-full of fantastical treats to dazzle your senses and take you to a world of pure imagination.
When Charlie wins a golden ticket to the weird and wonderful Wonka Chocolate Factory, it’s a chance of a lifetime to feast on the sweets they’ve always dreamed of.
But beyond the gates astonishment awaits, as down the sugary corridors and amongst the incredible and edible delights, the five lucky winners discover not everything is as sweet as it seems.
Based on the novel by Roald Dahl and the Warner Bros. film, Charlie and Chocolate Factory The Musical has a book by David Greig, music by Marc Shaiman and lyrics by Shaiman and Scott Wittman.
It is directed by James Brining, with musical supervision and orchestrations by David Shrubsole.
To book your tickets for Charlie and the Chocolate Factory The Musical at Milton Keynes Theatre, please visit ATGTICKETS.COM/MiltonKeynes
Hottest shows in February and March
Cara Lee previews her favourite theatre shows to look out for in MK
Starting with The Stables, they’re kicking off the next two months with some great gigs, including Canadian folk duo Madison Violet on the 9th of February and Malone Siburn Band on Thursday 2nd March.
The latter of those is a blues-rock collaboration not to be missed, with Marcus Malone and Innes Siburn teaming up.
Rare Productions will be making a welcome return to Stantonbury Theatre, this time with a production of Disney Channel classic High School Musical.
While that runs from the 16th to the 18th of February,
Show Stoppers
Dyad productions will take to the Stantonbury stage on the 6th of March, with Virginia Woolf’s A Room of One’s Own.
The Comedy Cow will be coming back to The Venue on March 17th, featuring Jack Gledow as the opening act, Harry Stachini as the host and Darren Harriot as the headliner.
Heading over to MK Theatre, something sweet will be coming along, as
Charlie and the Chocolate
Factory plays from the 9th of February to the 5th of March. Currently embarking on its first ever UK tour, the show also stars Gareth Snook as Willy Wonka.
And speaking of adaptations of popular kids books, David Walliams’ Demon Dentist will be on from the 23rd to the 26th of March.
More information about shows at Milton Keynes Theatre is available at atgtickets.com/miltonkeynes, Stantonbury Theatre at stantonburytheatre.co.uk, The Stables at stables.org and The Venue’s shows at thevenuemk.com
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