What we have here is one small but perfectly-formed art café immaculately decorated with retro style and reclaimed materials. Affordable art by local artists adorns the walls and indeed the young waitress who served me turns out to be a very accomplished textile designer who had recently finished her turn of exhibiting at Trove. I highly recommend you check out her blog for the quirky photography of some great textiles and garments and the gorgeous Hyacinthe herself :-) - http://hyacinthebrindley.blogspot.co.uk/
Although this was my first visit to the Trove mothership, I had already met both halves of the adorable young couple behind Trove (Katy & Marcus) at Piccadilly Gardens (Real Food Market) and also on the Saturday South Manchester Markets circuit. From their stall, I've bought homemade marmalade (above average) and carrot & almond relish (hmm - jarred veg not really working for me). But the star of the show was an almond & raspberry tart for £1.70. At that price, this marks Trove out as a poor man's Patisserie Valerie. Except Trove's tart is much better. And comes with a warm glow of the love that is making this spellbinding little place happen. I think you know where I shall still be dining when I'm rich!
Food wise, the menu is fairly short and I am my usual picky self, so a bit of give-and-take on my part was necessary. Having seen the gorgeous bowl of beetroot & stilton soup on this page http://didsburylife.wordpress.com/2011/12/17/a-real-treasure-trove-in-levenshulme/ I was disappointed to find the soup of the day was mushroom which I avoid on ayurvedic principles. But I was happy with what I ended up with, the daily salad of fennel, orange & walnut, which came served with green leaves and three slices of excellent homemade bread. Dessert was an excellent pear tatin at £1.70, giving a decent two-course light lunch for around £6.50.
The rest of the menu is teas and coffees, sandwiches and breakfast foods. AFAIK, I think I saw a 'proper' all day breakfast listed alongside a vegetarian version, and pastrami as a sandwich filling. But Trove looks to be vegetarian-friendly but with a few omnivorous options - maybe a bit like Soup Kitchen in the Northern Quarter. Plus, the bakery is gearing up to serve various loaves baked on the premises including sourdough. Trove have an alliance with another young team with an artisan bakery in Macclesfield, so the know-how should be there.
As to the wider area, Levenshulme has a fair few things to offer provided you look at it the right way. Nearby Longsight Market is a lively one - the fair number of '2 shawls for £3' stalls are redeemed by an equal number of antique and ethnic greengrocer stalls. Levenshulme itself is renowned for its concentration of antique and architectural salvage dealers, including the hugely impressive Antiques Village directly across Stockport Road from Trove. Levenshulme Market (fourth Saturday) features the usual great suspects from the South Manchester Markets plus some arts and crafts stalls which are unique to the Levenshulme Market. And there is plenty of ethnic fun to be had, including a dabba-style paratha van which I am being warned against by Levy expert Rana M, but I think I am going to have to try it anyway! Longsight-Levy is culturally similar to the top end of Cheetham Hill - think Rusholme, but much less touristy - hahaha!
I like the idea of Levenshulme as the new Chorlton or West Didsbury, for those who have that kind of spirit but maybe not the means to live or trade in either of those locales which have gone upmarket - and with canny Levy prices to match! What do you think? read more