Proud Mary keep on burning!
Porridge at Proud Mary
I was happily impressed with my visit to Proud Mary as I was a bit weary given the high level of hype which for some places can set high expectations but under deliver. However, I can confidently say that it was not the case here.
I will admit the first time I attempted to dine here I didn’t even end up setting foot inside. Driving towards Proud Mary on a late Sunday morning, the bustling group of people pouring out of the doors waiting to be seated did not agree with my overly eager and hungry stomach. So treat that as a lesson to anyone else planning to go at a busy time, or at any time for that matter, this is a very busy place (similar to hustle and bustle of Manchester Press) so prepare to wait especially if you plan to dine here on a weekend or at brunch.
Latte at Proud Mary
When I did return it was a Friday morning, it was still full but we only waited a couple of minutes to be seated and the employees that served us and who we spoke to were very knowledgeable, helpful and friendly. The coffee was absolutely wonderful, very smooth. Proud Mary is not only a cafe but a coffee roasting company too and in my experience, buying a coffee at a café that uses Proud Mary coffee is usually a tell-tale sign that you’re in good hands. That being said, if you feel like being a little adventurous with your coffee then I suggest not sticking to their standard coffee blend but trying one of their single origin coffee blends, or their blend of the day. I tried their blend of the day which on my visit was the Honeysuckle blend, described as ‘big buttery body, sweet caramels and a crisp red apple acidity’ and it was amazing! I also got to try their cold drip coffee, and for a coffee lover, watching the barista carefully prepare the cold drip coffee was like watching a scientist concoct a winning formula. When I used to think of cold drip coffee, I would immediately think of the uninviting filter coffee served in dodgy diners in American movies. If you make the same association then make sure you do try a cold drip coffee from a quality coffee roaster like Proud Mary and I guarantee you will change your mind set.
The wait for food was honestly a little longer than expected but once the large serving of ricotta hotcakes arrived it was definitely worth the extra wait and the extra hungry appetite that ensued as the portion sizes were very generous. The hot cakes were equally as fluffy as they were delicious so what happened next was a very rare occurrence for me. Despite the hotcakes tasting absolutely delicious, I struggled to finish my meal because I was getting so full! Not complaining about though, I just wish I invited another friend to help me finish eating it! The Potato Hash was an interesting and delightful take on a big breakfast and the banana and toffee porridge was delicious, very filling and sweet without being sickly. The café interior had an industrial and funky design, reminiscent of what you would find in the meat packing district of New York, complete with old school Hip Hop music playing in the background which the staff were clearly enjoying as the the barista danced while making the coffees! Well you know what, their awesome coffee makes me want to dance too! So far my visits here have been really enjoyable and I can do recommend this place to coffee lovers and those with big appetites!
Potato Hash at Proud Mary
Ricotta Hotcakes at Proud Mary
