SMOKESTAK and manteca announce Blok Party

Two of the most popular restaurants in east London have announced a joint birthday celebration in the form of a fire- and smoke-filled blok party.

On Saturday 7 November, SMOKESTAK and manteca are firing up an off-set smoker and wood-oven to celebrate their respective 10th and 5th birthdays. 

The two teams will take over Protein Studios in Shoreditch for one night only with a joint celebration street food party.

"November 2026 marks the joint ten years of SMOKESTAK and five years of manteca," says David Carter, founder of SMOKESTAK and co-founder of manteca. "Fifteen cumulative years of stoking fires and rolling pasta. As such, we’re throwing a street 'blok party’ in celebration and, more importantly, in thanks to all those who got us here. The vibrance and glory of the OG Dalston Yard/Street Feast days, just this time at Protein Studios."

What can guests expect?

Ticket holders will be greeted with a welcome cocktail upon arrival, either a manteca spritz or a SMOKESTAK punch. There will be a line-up of guest DJs, as well as oyster shuckers, a popcorn machine and freshly-swirled soft serve.

Reminiscent of SMOKESTAK’s formative days as a trader at Street Feast, the team will mark the restaurant’s 10th birthday by serving their original street food menu. Two wood-fired smokers will be housed outside the Studios, dishing up 12-hour brisket buns and charred pork belly ribs.

From manteca, guests can expect bowls of pig skin ragù topped with crackling, and wood-oven flatbreads layered with steamed clams and chilli, or ‘nduja and honey.

The team will also serve Italian-style sandwiches filled with capocollo, pickled peppers and Fontina cheese. A manteca Della Dogs stand - hot dogs filled with mortadella - will move around the room, featuring dogs topped with a choice of cacio e pepe or tonnato.

A central bar will serve a selection of the restaurants’ signature cocktails including green chilli frozen margaritas, manteca negronis, Bajan rum punch, and burnt peach Old Fashioneds. 

“Five years of cooking on Curtain Road, done properly with our mates at SMOKESTAK: fire, food, drinks and music," adds Chris Leach, chef and co-founder of manteca. 

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