Here’s a picture of some of our office Christmas decorations! Keith decided to make a dangly Christmas tree, and set some of us to work making paper chains to go around the ceiling here in the office. We all had to make those paper snowflakes from primary school, too. Phil and I tried to work out how to make a six-sided version, but that was too much to handle so we stuck to the traditionally incorrect eight-sided snowflake. There’s tinsel, too!

Merry Christmas if you celebrate it

As 34SP.com sits on the edge of Chinatown here in Manchester, we often pop over the road for our Monday lunches. Our favourite Chinese restaurant is the Pacific.

While Pacific offers a full menu (all written in Chinese with English version available) they also have an Executive Business Lunch - effectively a limited selection for a bargain price of �9.50 for 3 courses. First up we have soups; today the hot and sour and chicken and sweetcorn varieties were had. Next up we shared a crispy duck, and a fine example it was. Dim sum and hot appetisers are available if you’re not a fan of crispy duck. The meal can be made even cheaper by leaving out either the soup or the appetiser rouse.

Onto the mains. Today I had chicken with salt and chilli pepper on fried rice. Not too hot, but a good tang to it! The food is traditionally eaten with rice bowls and chopsticks, although the staff are happy to provide knives and forks if you’d prefer.

Little did we know before we went, but today was the draw for a raffle they’ve been holding over the past few weeks. To enter, you simply need to spend over �40 on a meal. The top prize is a return flight for two to Hong Kong or Beijing with �200 spending money. Second prize is the same trip for one with a meal for 10 for third place. There seemed to be various other prizes being given out during the draw, but it resulted in every table being full (thankfully filling up after we arrived) giving a friendly crowded atmosphere. There’s another draw on the 18th September, so a visit before then could end up being more than just a meal!

Today’s lunch was at one of the regular haunts of 34SP.com - New Samsi. New Samsi is one of Manchesters very few Japanese restaurants. Thankfully it is also excellent. The restaurant is located on Whitworth street, just across from the former UMIST building. Whilst situated in a converted warehouse, the restaurant has a contemporary airy feel, light woods with subtle lighting.

Mention Japanese food and many people invariably imagine raw fish and turn green; whilst New Samsi has its share of Sushi (maki, nigiri, sashimi etc.) the menu is quite diverse and by no means limited to fish.

Lunch comprises two options - sushi buffet or bento box. Sushi is a particular favourite here at 34SP.com (see Keith top left and myself bottom right digging in!). �10 gets you a bowl of miso, 8-12 mixed pieces of sushi (choice of the chef) and if you like, another serving of sushi once you’re finished with the first!

The other choice of bento box is also great value for money. Ranging from �6-�12 the bento boxes are large compartmentalised trays. Each little compartment is stuffed with something different: noodles, rice, chicken, beef, pork, vegetables, sauces, skewers and so on.

Whatever you choose, its a certainty you won’t leave hungry - Japanese also makes a nice change from the more prevalent Chinese eateries that abound the city centre of Manchester. A big 34SP.com thumbs up!

New Samsi