When a celebrity chef comes to town there is often much pomp and circumstance but all too little flair. So it was with some trepidation that Manchester received the news that Masterchef star Michael Caines was opening a restaurant in the new Abode Hotel. And to be fair, many were looking to find fault, a small hairline crack in the service or food that could point to a dismal future demise. No such cracks appeared though and in fact the restaurant has already been racking up several plaudits, all of which are justly deserved.

So, it was with some excitement that we heard about the wine dinner that Michael Caines is hosting on 2nd May. At £75 per person, the places aren’t cheap but frankly we’d pay double the money to learn what the celebrity chef has to say on the subject of all things foodie especially when it comes to local, regional and seasonal food and what we should be eating when.

And ok, we’ll admit it. When faced with eating course after course paired with a different specially selected wine we’re first in line. The menu’s going to include wild mushroom risotto, marinated tuna, Herdwick lamb and rhubarb jelly and coffee crème brulee and the wine pairings end with an extra kick – a glass of Appleton Estate 12 year old rum. Put it this way, after a meal like this, any other restaurant is going to have a hard act to follow.

One thing's for sure. Not only does he know how to silence his critics, Michael Caines certainly knows how to throw a dinner party too. Now we just have to figure out how to befriend the great man and get him to move to Manchester to throw regular shindigs. Answers on a postcard with the subject: Move To Manchester, Michael…