Blackburn samosas feature in ‘Best things ever eaten’

Now the takeaway has featured in a national list where chefs and food writers reveal the best places they visit in 2023.

Newspaper The Observer featured everything from Oliver’s fire-roasted vegetables in Stratford-upon-Avon to Tomos Parry’s cheese on toast in Puglia.

Among them were the samosas hailing from Manchester Sweet Centre.

Stosie Madi. chef and co-owner of the Parkers Arms in Newton-In-Bowland, wrote: “Manchester Sweet Centre sells Pakistani sweets and savouries to the Asian community around Blackburn, and it’s supremely good value. Its samosas cost 80p each. Whenever we go to Blackburn we always bring some back with us. 

“The pastry is lovely and flaky and crispy. You only get two choices, a traditional vegetarian one with potato, or minced lamb. 

“They are really quite big, each about the size of your hand, so one is ample for lunch. They’re served with some kind of oniony broth to wet the samosa, and that’s delicious too. I absolutely love them.”

So, what makes Manchester Sweet Centre so memorable?

Anyone who has stepped foot onto the bustling stretch of road that makes up the Victoria Street and Whalley Range district will be taken in by the variety of foods and shops. The high street attracts people from across the region and is second only to Manchester’s Curry Mile for visitors.

New takeaways and fashion shops spring up every few months but in amongst them is Manchester Sweet Centre. It takes up a prime spot in what is essentially the heart of the Whalley Range district on the junction with Randal Street.

It hasn’t changed much in three decades and neither has the food.

For many people Manchester Sweet Centre was one of the first takeaways they visited as a child.

There is a ritual to any visit to the takeaway. From finding yourself to a parking spot, waiting in the queue, purchasing the samosas to then standing at one of the benches at the back of the store to eat them. Times have changed a little and you can opt for one of the stools if you wish.

The chutney or sauce might be a tad spicy for some but for many others it is a reminder of how fast food used to be. A handful of ingredients melded together to create something quite heavenly. The kind of snack you would may have from a street vendor on the streets of South Asia.

Of course, you could take the samosas home but there is no better feeling than eating them right there at the shop and watch the world pass by in one of the liveliest parts of Blackburn.