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11-06
2020

All your Oriental essentials: Q&A with Ennevor Yap, Director of Oriental Grocer, Wing Yip

Here at Broadside, we’re lucky to be surrounded by loads of fabulous bars, shops and restaurants, all within walking distance and ready to be explored by our residents. One of our favourite neighbours (located just next door to Broadside) is Wing Yip, the UK’s largest Oriental Grocer.

A family business since the 1970s and now with four sites across the UK, Wing Yip sources and supplies authentic Asian and Oriental ingredients to bring delicious food and exotic cooking experiences to professional chefs and novice foodies alike. One of the most celebrated superstores in the UK and a local favourite here in Manchester, Wing Yip is THE place to get all your oriental essentials.

So, whether you fancy a Tofu Pad Thai, some Kung Po Chicken, or a bit of both, you’ll find everything you need and more to cook up a scrumptious storm at Wing Yip.

We sat down recently (virtually, of course) with Ennevor Yap, Director of Wing Yip, to talk lockdown, local pride, and why New Cross is becoming one of the most vibrant and exciting places to live in Manchester.

Hi Ennevor, tell us a bit about Wing Yip and your role there?

Wing Yip is the UK’s largest Oriental grocer. We source and supply authentic ingredients to our local communities and currently have four sites in Manchester, Birmingham, Croydon and Cricklewood. We’re a family business that was established 50 years ago by my uncle, Mr Wing Yip. I’m one of the company Directors, based here in the Manchester store.

Why did you decide to put down roots in the New cross/Ancoats area?

Historically Liverpool has the 2nd largest Chinese community in the UK (after London) due to the migrants arriving in Liverpool docks and it made sense to be located nearby.

Over the years as more and more people became increasingly interested in Oriental food and cooking, we identified Manchester as a city with a thriving food and drink culture and a particularly strong demand for authentic Oriental ingredients.

We initially based our store in Manchester’s China Town but as demand grew, we required a bigger location, and land in Ancoats was slightly cheaper at the time as it was deemed to be ‘outside’ of the city centre. We also wanted to ensure that we were in the heart of the bustling food and drink scene whilst remaining accessible for all of our customers.

Do you take inspiration from the local area and reflect that in any of the products you sell?

Yes, emerging food trends and the ever-increasing numbers of pan-Asian restaurants and local street food stalls has seen many local customers (whether discerning foodies or restaurants owners) seek out authentic ingredients. We actively encourage our local customers to give us their feedback and share their requirements with us to help us continue to build our offer. The local food scene is continuing to develop in Manchester, and we will continue to respond accordingly to customer demand.

What are the most popular items that you sell?

We offer a real assortment of goods here at Wing Yip and our customers’ interest spans them all. Our fresh and frozen seafood and meats are popular, as are our authentic sauces and condiments – vital staples for any dish! More recently, interest in our vegetarian products has grown, so we make sure to cater to all tastes.

What’s your favourite oriental dish?

Oriental Style Steamed Sea Bass (serves 2 as a main dish)

Ingredients

  • One fresh sea bass scaled & gutted
  • 2 spring onions thickly sliced
  • 1 thumb sized piece of ginger, peeled and thinly sliced
  • 150ml of vegetable oil
  • 2tbsp light soy sauce
  • Cooked Jasmine rice to serve (approx. 200g)

Method

  1. Prepare a steamer pot large enough to accommodate the whole fish.
  2. Place the sea bass on a suitably sized plate and cover with the spring onions and ginger.
  3. Place lid on the steamer and allow to cook for 12 minutes.
  4. Once the fish has been cooked, turn the heat off and heat the vegetable oil in a small pan until slightly smoking hot.
  5. Take the fish out of the steamer pot and place on the side.
  6. Baste the fish with the hot oil and allow it to sizzle the side of the fish.
  7. Drizzle the light soy sauce over the fish.
  8. Serve with freshly cooked Jasmine rice and enjoy!

What’s special about the local New Cross community?

The New Cross community is vibrant, exciting and individual and the area is known for having an extensive and adventurous food and drink scene. It’s a great place for those who enjoy good quality food, drink and excellent company in an area that has its own special vibe.

What’s next for Wing Yip?

We’ll continue to provide the best service and supply authentic ingredients to our customers.

How do you see the local area evolving over the next few years? We hope to see the fantastic food and drink scene in New Cross and Ancoats continuing to develop with new and exciting restaurants and food stalls appearing.

As with every area that has a good food scene, other businesses then want to invest in the local area and as we are currently seeing, more and more businesses are choosing to locate and base themselves in and around Ancoats and more people are choosing to live here.

Most importantly, I hope to see the community coming together as the area grows to support one another.

COVID-19 had an initially devastating effect on local businesses. It’s now inspiring to see so many of them adapting to the changes – reopening with restrictions in place and boosting their online presence etc. How has the pandemic affected Wing Yip and how has the local community responded?

In times of difficulty and uncertainty, it has been great to see how the community has been able to come together to support each other. Both individuals and businesses alike have played their part in helping those who need it most. We’ve stayed open during this challenging time – whilst making sure that our customers and staff are kept safe – to ensure that our customers are still able to purchase all of the items they need. We’re really grateful for the continued support at this time.

What would you say to someone thinking about moving to the New Cross/Ancoats area?

First and foremost, welcome! There are a variety of interesting things to explore, all of which are right on your doorstep. We really hope that we will be welcoming you in-store very soon!

Quick Fire Questions…

Best coffee in the city centre?

Ancoats Coffee Co.

Favourite bar?

The Edinburgh Castle Pub (Ancoats)

Favourite restaurant?

Sushi Marvel (Ancoats)

Where do you like to go for a walk?

Cotton Field Park & Islington marina

Best breakfast spot? And favourite dish?

Pollen Bakery (Ancoats)

Favourite place in the whole of the city centre?

Ancoats & The Northern Quarter

Favourite arts/ culture/ concert venue?

Halle St. Peter’s (Ancoats)

Tell us about a local business we may not have heard of but should really check out…

Makie Mayor/ Ca Phe Viet/ Rad’s

You’ll find Wing Yip on Oldham Road, just next door to Broadside. Discover more about the products they have on offer and plan your visit over on their website. Be sure to follow them on social media for the latest news and updates @WingYipStore.

Here at Broadside, we’re lucky to be surrounded by loads of fabulous bars, shops and restaurants, all within walking distance and ready to be explored by our residents. One of our favourite neighbours (located just next door to Broadside) is Wing Yip, the UK’s largest Oriental Grocer.

A family business since the 1970s and now with four sites across the UK, Wing Yip sources and supplies authentic Asian and Oriental ingredients to bring delicious food and exotic cooking experiences to professional chefs and novice foodies alike. One of the most celebrated superstores in the UK and a local favourite here in Manchester, Wing Yip is THE place to get all your oriental essentials.

So, whether you fancy a Tofu Pad Thai, some Kung Po Chicken, or a bit of both, you’ll find everything you need and more to cook up a scrumptious storm at Wing Yip.

We sat down recently (virtually, of course) with Ennevor Yap, Director of Wing Yip, to talk lockdown, local pride, and why New Cross is becoming one of the most vibrant and exciting places to live in Manchester.

Hi Ennevor, tell us a bit about Wing Yip and your role there?

Wing Yip is the UK’s largest Oriental grocer. We source and supply authentic ingredients to our local communities and currently have four sites in Manchester, Birmingham, Croydon and Cricklewood. We’re a family business that was established 50 years ago by my uncle, Mr Wing Yip. I’m one of the company Directors, based here in the Manchester store.

Why did you decide to put down roots in the New cross/Ancoats area?

Historically Liverpool has the 2nd largest Chinese community in the UK (after London) due to the migrants arriving in Liverpool docks and it made sense to be located nearby.

Over the years as more and more people became increasingly interested in Oriental food and cooking, we identified Manchester as a city with a thriving food and drink culture and a particularly strong demand for authentic Oriental ingredients.

We initially based our store in Manchester’s China Town but as demand grew, we required a bigger location, and land in Ancoats was slightly cheaper at the time as it was deemed to be ‘outside’ of the city centre. We also wanted to ensure that we were in the heart of the bustling food and drink scene whilst remaining accessible for all of our customers.

Do you take inspiration from the local area and reflect that in any of the products you sell?

Yes, emerging food trends and the ever-increasing numbers of pan-Asian restaurants and local street food stalls has seen many local customers (whether discerning foodies or restaurants owners) seek out authentic ingredients. We actively encourage our local customers to give us their feedback and share their requirements with us to help us continue to build our offer. The local food scene is continuing to develop in Manchester, and we will continue to respond accordingly to customer demand.

What are the most popular items that you sell?

We offer a real assortment of goods here at Wing Yip and our customers’ interest spans them all. Our fresh and frozen seafood and meats are popular, as are our authentic sauces and condiments – vital staples for any dish! More recently, interest in our vegetarian products has grown, so we make sure to cater to all tastes.

What’s your favourite oriental dish?

Oriental Style Steamed Sea Bass (serves 2 as a main dish)

Ingredients

  • One fresh sea bass scaled & gutted
  • 2 spring onions thickly sliced
  • 1 thumb sized piece of ginger, peeled and thinly sliced
  • 150ml of vegetable oil
  • 2tbsp light soy sauce
  • Cooked Jasmine rice to serve (approx. 200g)

Method

  1. Prepare a steamer pot large enough to accommodate the whole fish.
  2. Place the sea bass on a suitably sized plate and cover with the spring onions and ginger.
  3. Place lid on the steamer and allow to cook for 12 minutes.
  4. Once the fish has been cooked, turn the heat off and heat the vegetable oil in a small pan until slightly smoking hot.
  5. Take the fish out of the steamer pot and place on the side.
  6. Baste the fish with the hot oil and allow it to sizzle the side of the fish.
  7. Drizzle the light soy sauce over the fish.
  8. Serve with freshly cooked Jasmine rice and enjoy!

What’s special about the local New Cross community?

The New Cross community is vibrant, exciting and individual and the area is known for having an extensive and adventurous food and drink scene. It’s a great place for those who enjoy good quality food, drink and excellent company in an area that has its own special vibe.

What’s next for Wing Yip?

We’ll continue to provide the best service and supply authentic ingredients to our customers.

How do you see the local area evolving over the next few years? We hope to see the fantastic food and drink scene in New Cross and Ancoats continuing to develop with new and exciting restaurants and food stalls appearing.

As with every area that has a good food scene, other businesses then want to invest in the local area and as we are currently seeing, more and more businesses are choosing to locate and base themselves in and around Ancoats and more people are choosing to live here.

Most importantly, I hope to see the community coming together as the area grows to support one another.

COVID-19 had an initially devastating effect on local businesses. It’s now inspiring to see so many of them adapting to the changes – reopening with restrictions in place and boosting their online presence etc. How has the pandemic affected Wing Yip and how has the local community responded?

In times of difficulty and uncertainty, it has been great to see how the community has been able to come together to support each other. Both individuals and businesses alike have played their part in helping those who need it most. We’ve stayed open during this challenging time – whilst making sure that our customers and staff are kept safe – to ensure that our customers are still able to purchase all of the items they need. We’re really grateful for the continued support at this time.

What would you say to someone thinking about moving to the New Cross/Ancoats area?

First and foremost, welcome! There are a variety of interesting things to explore, all of which are right on your doorstep. We really hope that we will be welcoming you in-store very soon!

Quick Fire Questions…

Best coffee in the city centre?

Ancoats Coffee Co.

Favourite bar?

The Edinburgh Castle Pub (Ancoats)

Favourite restaurant?

Sushi Marvel (Ancoats)

Where do you like to go for a walk?

Cotton Field Park & Islington marina

Best breakfast spot? And favourite dish?

Pollen Bakery (Ancoats)

Favourite place in the whole of the city centre?

Ancoats & The Northern Quarter

Favourite arts/ culture/ concert venue?

Halle St. Peter’s (Ancoats)

Tell us about a local business we may not have heard of but should really check out…

Makie Mayor/ Ca Phe Viet/ Rad’s

You’ll find Wing Yip on Oldham Road, just next door to Broadside. Discover more about the products they have on offer and plan your visit over on their website. Be sure to follow them on social media for the latest news and updates @WingYipStore.

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