Last Christmas I wrote a blog about The Meat Crusade campaign to save the High Street Butcher and get quality British meat back on dinner tables. The last 12 months have seen the meat industry hitting the headlines more often than ever before, and for all the wrong reasons.
With the season of feasting approaching, The Meat Crusade and its loyal supporters are back and are telling the world why we should be making friends with our butcher. As one of few remaining reliable sources of quality meat, sourced from reputable British farmers, I think it’s time us shoppers showed our butcher friends some festive cheer for their valiant perseverance in the face of supermarkets. If we don’t use them, we will lose them – it’s as simple as that.
TV chef Brian Turner is a supporter of The Meat Crusade. He adds his support; “Your local butcher values your custom, and takes pleasure in providing you with exceptional tasting, quality meat to be enjoyed by the whole family. They source traceable meat from reputable farms, and have a wealth of knowledge on cooking various cuts that they are only too happy to share to ensure you have a roast to remember this Christmas.”
So when you’re planning your festive feast, consider The Meat Crusade’s 12 reasons to visit your Butcher this Christmas (and year round!):
Full Traceability – a good butcher will know where his meat comes from and have a relationship with the farmer who supplies it.
Something special – a butcher can offer you something bespoke. Not keen on turkey? He can prepare a stunning rib roast instead. He’s not preparing for a mass market, he’s there to serve you.
Made to order – he’ll prepare cuts of meat to your requirements and mince meat to the quantity you specify.
Just for you – he will order special things, given a bit of notice; game in season, an ox tongue, a goose, pig’s trotters or organic meat.
Sausages – a good butcher makes a variety of his own sausages, from chipolatas, pigs in blankets to Cumberland, Lincolnshire, or Irish Breakfast. Often produced to well-guarded family recipe, and using quality ingredients, butchers sausages beat supermarket sausages hands down – and your butcher can tell you exactly what has gone into them.
A good butcher makes a selection of the following (or stocks examples made by local artisan producers) – bacon, black pudding, faggots, pork pies and pasties, pates.
Cooking tips – forget Delia, a good butcher will know how long to cook any roast or bird he sells.
Advice – he will advise you on the right cuts for particular dishes, and point you to where cheap cuts shine.
A warm welcome – a butcher will chat with you about your day, you won’t get that in the meat aisle of the supermarket.
Questions are welcome – butchers are there to cut meat and offer a service. Butchers love to talk shop.
Regular customers do get special treatment – pop in often and you’ll get to know about special offers and different deliveries, including seasonal products like game.
The butcher needs your custom – it’s a case of use them or lose them. Your High Street Butcher needs you to shop often and regularly.
The old fishing village of Marina Grande in Sorrento is a hidden jewel, easily missed by travellers captivated by the heart of Sorrento; its main Piazza Torquato Tasso and Marina Piccola.
Those seeking solace from the bustle of tourists should take the 10 minute walk to Marina Grande, a working fishing port which has retained its rustic Italian charm. There’s a real sense of community with washing lines strewn from balconies and friends and families congregating by the beach.
View across the marina to a cafe over the sea (we didn’t eat here but it looks idyllic)
It was mid-May and out of season which will have played a part in the slower pace of Marina Grande. The beach front is made up of cafes and fish restaurants selling the day’s catch and we sat with a coffee watching the boats bob up and down peacefully. Routine everyday life was going on around us; the fishermen sat out in the sun untangling their nets from the morning’s work and a school class of children were guided hand in hand across the square.
Here I discovered the most incredible restaurant I’ve come across in long time and a pleasure I have to share with you. Ristorante O’Puledrone stands out from other restaurants on the marina – it is understated, a discreet stone building with barn doors opening out onto the cobbled road, minimalist tables and chairs and a white board that read; “Fresh fish daily. This restaurant is owned by a group of fishermen. Please ask about today’s catch”.
It opened for the first time only five weeks ago and is a cooperative of 8 local fishermen who supply restaurants around the marina and nearby shops. The fishermen set sail at 5am each morning to fish off the Amalfi Coast, most commonly bringing home prawns, calamari, sardine, tuna, swordfish, clams and mussels, seabass and other white fish.
Gaetano, one of the fishermen in the cooperative, expressed that the industry has been suffering for up to five years and opening a cooperative restaurant, whilst it took 2 years to gain permission from the authorities, will help them to seek another form of income. When they bring the catch in each day their chef gets first pick of the fare before the remainder is sold elsewhere. This is literally the best fish in Sorrento.
I ordered mussels with spaghetti and it was exquisite, tossed in garlic, tomatoes and chilli with huge juicy mussels. It sounds simple but it is quite possibly the tastiest simple I’ve ever eaten. Mum ordered fried fish of the day, a plate full of an unidentified white fish fried in a very light batter. It is a fish very common off these coasts, in between a sardine and whitebait. It might have a name, but the language barrier prevented us from getting to the bottom of it. Again, it was absolutely perfect.
The meal was very reasonably priced and the only discrepancy was mum and I debating whose meal was more delicious. If I have any regrets, it was discovering this place on the last day. I’d have done almost anything to take Gaetano up on the offer to join them at sea the next morning…
Only a 45 minute drive from my Yorkshire home, The Devonshire Arms is situated on the 30,000 acre Bolton Abbey Estate and is owned by the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire.
We pulled up to a grand ivy covered property with immaculately maintained gardens standing in all its splendour. Greeted by a porch filled with green wellies and a roaring log fire, there’s nothing understated about the arrival (or the rest of the hotel for that matter). Magnificent paintings and antlers hang from the walls and the lounges are furnished with antiques, heavy draping curtains and sofas you sink into.
We were welcomed by a tour of the hotel before being showed to our room – a contrast to downstairs, the room was light with soft creams and pastels and a stunning view across the estate towards Bolton Abbey. The wall between the bedroom and bathroom featured a large glass window which caused much amusement but fortunately had sliding canvas doors for privacy.
A gentle stroll alongside the river leads to the ruins of Bolton Abbey. After weeks of dreary weather, we couldn’t have been luckier to spend the day in glorious sunshine and a blue cloudless sky.
The Burlington Restaurant is the highest rated restaurant in Yorkshire with a Michelin star and 4 AA rosettes and the Devonshire Brasserie and Bar is lively and vibrant and wouldn’t have been out of place in a city setting. Feeling like a more informal atmosphere, we opted for the brasserie for dinner.
We began with an aperitif of prosecco. Fortunately for me my partner had a change of tune and I began the evening with two glasses of prosecco. Perfect. The menu had just the right selection – not too many you’re stuck for choice and few enough to make you try something different.
Dan’s Wild Rabbit & Tomato Ragout with Pan Fried Potato Gnocchi and Pesto was light, well-seasoned and the meat was succulent and tasty. This contrasted with my heavier starter of Pan Fried Pigeon Breast with a rich accompaniment of Brussel Sprouts, Pancetta, Juniper Jus. We ate half and switched over, not wanting to miss out on either.
My pork fillet medallions were cooked very well, moist and tender and came with a Bacon & Apple Potato Rosti, Wild Mushrooms, Celeriac Puree and Thyme Jus. Dan’s Pan Fried Venison Haunch Steak came with creamy Dauphinoise Potatoes, Braised Red Cabbage and a sharp Blackberry Jus.
Portions were a healthy size without being overwhelming and we had just enough room to squeeze in a cheese board of Harrogate Blue, Gjetost (with a sweet caramel flavour and colour that could easily be confused with fudge), Livarot, Cooleeney, Wensleydale Special Reserve and Black Crowdie.
The Devonshire Arms prides itself on having “one of the finest wine lists in the country” and we were successful in wangling an envied tour of the hotel’s wine cellar courtesy of the lovely Ben. The list includes over 2,500 wines with the oldest vintage dating back to 1900. Whilst there are a number of reasonably priced bottles, the prices for the fine and the rare frequently reach 4 digits.
We retired to the interestingly themed “dog” lounge for cocktails after dinner, decorated with velvet dog print wallpaper, dog paintings and everything else dog related and reclined into another deep sofa with a very potent Apple Martini (seriously, that’ll put hairs on your chest!). The hotel is dog friendly and we had the company of 4 canine guests sprawled contentedly in front of a log fire.
Breakfast the following morning was just what the doctor ordered. A Yorkshire fried breakfast and pot of tea in The Burlington Restaurant set us up for a work out in the hotel’s gym. The Health Barn consists of a small gym, swimming pool, jacuzzi, steam room, sauna and cold plunge pool – I tried all bar the cold plunge (not that I’m a wuss or anything). There’s also a good range of spa treatments but book in advance, I left it a week before and both days were fully booked.
It was a wonderful few days and the perfect romantic getaways so fellas, get your hands in your pockets and whisk your lady away – http://www.thedevonshirearms.co.uk.
I’m relieved to finally be updating my blog following a number of technical crises with my laptop (technology hates me) which have now been fixed… I hope.
I have also at last visited a restaurant I’ve been meaning to visit for a while now – Gaucho, an Argentinean steak restaurant in Leeds. Considering it is located near Greek Street, in the popular food quarter of Leeds, it’s barely visible situated below ground level. The only indicator is a very discreet menu fixed to the wall.
But Gaucho isn’t a restaurant that needs worry about being visible. It’s inconspicuous and understated exterior is a charming reminder that a place which is so well-known by word of mouth doesn’t need to be anything but subtle. Its reputation alone finds foodies hunting the place out.
However, the understated exterior isn’t reflected in the extravagant decor. Inside, the mood is dark and romantic. Retro cow print fur, white leather and huge chandeliers give a sultry boudoir feel to a restaurant filled with smartly dressed professionals. This is posh steak.
The wine menu is vast – it’s more like a brochure. We went for Argentinean in the spirit of the evening (plus it was one of the only wines in our price bracket) – Torrentes Michel Torino at £21.35. It came from Selección G, a series of wines made exclusively for Gaucho which allegedly represent the best of Argentina’s grape selection and terroir in their various regions of origin.
Our ‘hostess’ for the evening was pleasant but formal (personally, while I do prefer unobtrusive service, a smile now and again goes a long way). Prior to ordering, the hostess brought the raw cuts of meat to the table on a platter to describe the cuts, the weights and how they should be cooked. All steaks come in either 300g or 400g. I’ve learnt a lot about the various cuts of meat since I began working in the world of food and thought the act of explaining them to customers who may not know a great deal about how they differ was a nice touch.
I went for my preferred steak – ribeye – “delicately marbled throughout for superb, full-bodied flavour” as did a friend. We chose 300g at £20.50 which was more than big enough for us. Plus, there was no way that 400g steak was going to squeeze into my dress. My other friends chose rump – “the leanest cut with a pure, distinctive flavour” – at £17.95 for a 300g steak. It was without a doubt the most spectacular steak I’ve ever eaten. Tender and cooked to perfection, there’s certainly no need for a steak knife. There was a little mix up with the steaks when both Jamie and Abbey were disappointed with how they’d been cooked, however we quickly realised they’d been given each other’s steaks. Once these had been changed, everyone was in steak ecstasy. Sauces, at 2.75 each, were absolutely mouth-wateringly delicious and I had to secretly scoop the remains of my mushroom sauce out of the pot with a chip when no-one was looking.
The side dishes were extraordinary. We chose sautéed green courgette with ginger, mint and lemon oil (£4.00), tenderstem broccoli sautéed with shallots in a soy and wasabi dressing (£5.25) and spinach sautéed with garlic, olive oil and lemon (£4.50).
After dinner, we retreated to the bar lounge for cocktails. Relaxed and chatty, it serves a wide range of cocktails – a great place for after dinner drinks and conversation. Although, a warning to men, some of the cocktails are served in very feminine glasses. One of my male friends had a series of girly cocktails and feeling somewhat emasculated, wished he’d asked more questions about the presentation beforehand.
I can understand why some people may feel slightly uncomfortable or out of place in Gaucho as it could be seen to some as a little pretentious (an observation a couple have friends have shared), however it’s the perfect place for confident, smartly dressed, food loving professionals. I’m pleased we had an occasion to go and I absolutely plan on returning.
This weekend I had the great pleasure of staying at the stunning White Swan Inn, a 16th century coaching inn located in the beautiful Yorkshire market town of Pickering, just on the edge of the North Yorkshire Moors.
It is in a prime location, only 45 minutes from York and 30 minutes from the picturesque fishing village of Whitby on the Scarborough coast. The quintessential fishing village of Whitby, nestling beneath it’s 13th Century abbey, is packed full of charm. We parked at West Cliff, where you can climb down steps to the beach, and strolled down the prom and around the Bay – the smell of fish and chips radiates from the streets where there are a number of seafood restaurants and chippies serving the day’s catch of fish. I’d packed a picnic and we sat on the windy beach looking across at the beautiful town. Feeling enthusiastic after lunch, we then tackled the 199 steps up to Whitby Abbey with splendid views overlooking Whitby Bay and had a stroll along the cliff tops.
Not afraid of being the clichéd tourist, we stopped at Goathland on the way back to Pickering, a village which Heartbeat lovers will recognise as Aidensfield. We visited all the iconic Heartbeat sets, including the Aidensfied Garage and Grocery Store, saw Greengrass’s farm and had half a pint in the Aidensfield Arms – unfortunately, in a moment of excitement, I accidentally threw my drink all over Dan who spent the rest of the afternoon looking as though he’d had an accident. Safe to say I was in the bad books!
So, with beer stained trousers, we headed to check in at the White Swan Inn. We were welcomed by friendly and attentive staff who led us to our room – the ‘Hideaway Treat’ –
White Swan Inn
situated separate to the main hotel in a very attractively converted stable block.
Our luxurious two-storey room had a downstairs sitting room with a large free-standing bath (equipped with candles and bath soak for the more romantic guests), a chaise longue and a wide-screen TV. Leading from the sitting area was a stunning wet room with a double shower (plenty of room for two). Upstairs, the spectacular bedroom with king size bed had French windows and a ‘Juliet’ balcony
I was blown away by the interior design of the hotel and our room – hats off to the designer! Each room is individually themed and every item has been specifically selected with this in mind – it really is incredible and extravagant. Our contemporary room was light and spacious with blues and creams, gleaming metal and a chandelier. A stunning portrait of a woman hung on the wall in the bedroom and I had to try my best not to run away with it! The hotel is owned by Marion and Victor Buchanan and it is Marion’s eye for design that is behind the creative and imaginative decor of the hotel. This is a talent she carries out professionally outside of the White Swan Inn and something she is passionate about developing.
There is a real personal feel to the place – from the attentiveness of the staff, to the human touch that’s evident in the decoration and the care and thought that has gone into producing all the great information about the hotel. Dan and I sat for a good 20 minutes reading the welcome booklet which is written with wit and personality. I almost felt like I’d been friends with the owners for years. I particularly enjoyed the bar information; “a late bar may be available to those that have dined with us at the discretion of the manager on duty. Bribery often works. Anyone crawling in after hours from other hostelries should go straight to bed in disgrace”.
The private club lounge for guests is a perfect space to relax – again designed to be a homely, welcoming place for guests to unwind, there is an honesty bar, a selection of the day’s newspapers and a pool table. As we had a little time before dinner, we went inside and I wupped Dan at a game of pool – five years and I’m still surprising him with my endless talents!
We headed over to the main hotel for dinner where we were greeted by a member of staff and taken into the bar to have a drink and look over the menus before dinner. The menus change regularly as the hotel is renowned for using fresh, seasonal local produce. On the website, chef Darren Clemmit guarantees that over 80% of the ingredients used in the kitchen are sourced locally within Yorkshire.
There is an extensive wine list of reasonably priced wines – I ordered a bottle of Chilean Sauvignon Blanc for £17.95 which was waiting for us at our table when we moved into the dining room. Again, the dining room – low ceilings with warm reds and browns – had been designed to reflect the era and style of the 16th century inn. One wall has ingeniously been collaged with the lids from wooden champagne boxes.
We were impressed to note that even though we’d ordered our dinner from the bar, the waiting staff in the dining room knew exactly who had ordered which meal and our plates were placed confidently in front of us, no questions asked.
To start, I had grilled Rowley round goat’s cheese, beetroot relish, wild rocket and pesto (£7.95), followed by slow cooked plum pudding breed belly pork, braised red cabbage, bramley apple sauce and mustard mash (£16.95). The goat’s cheese was delicious, warm and caramelised on top. The pork was sublime, beautifully tender, melting in the mouth. Both dishes were extraordinary.
Dan’s potted pork with apricot chutney and roasted sour dough (£7.95) starter was equally delicious and he described it as ‘the best starter he’d ever had’ – this is far more significant than you realise. Usually a lot less enthralled by food then me, I rarely get any feedback, especially of the enthusiastic nature. This was followed by seared salmon, white wine, chive veloute, buttery mash and green vegetables (£17.95). Based on the scraped clean plate and the sighs of appreciation, I’m guessing this too was a big hit. I was slightly nervous at one point that he was about to lick the plate clean.
In our struggle to pick a dessert from the list, a helpful waitress recommended the trio of desserts; strawberries with mascarpone cream, glazed lemon tart and sticky toffee pudding (£11.95) and it was nice to be able to sample a mixture of tastes. My favourite was the lemon tart which had been caramelised on top to add a crunchy texture.
Breakfast was equally spectacular. After we had tucked into helpings of cereal from the breakfast buffet table, we both tackled a Yorkshire breakfast of bacon, egg, sausage, black
Trio of desserts… I have half eaten the lemon tart and tried to disguise it with raspberries.
pudding and toast. Coming from a girl who isn’t a great fan of sausages, the sausages were amazing. All meat, except feathered or with antlers, comes from the Ginger Pig, the prestigious chain of London butchers whose farms are in North Yorkshire only seven miles away from the White Swan Inn. If I can offer you any advice, do not, whatever you do, live a life having not sampled one of these sausages.
We both agreed that it was the most perfect dinner and overnight stay we’ve had. Although the majority of other guests appeared to be around the 40+ age group, I’d certainly recommend the White Swan Inn to couples my age. Although it’s family-friendly, I’d say it is more suited to couples looking for a romantic retreat. The only disappointment of the stay was having to leave the next day – I’d have quite happily stayed forever. That, and the fact that I had to return home to my boring shower after experiencing the delights of a double shower – I don’t think showering will ever be the same again.
It’s rare that you come across a city that you could happily visit time and time again and still feel there’s more to see – I believe Barcelona is one of those places. It has everything from high-end designer fashion to quaint antique shops and boutiques. It has the historic buildings and streets of the Gothic Quarter to the impressive architecture of Gaudi and other renowned Spanish architects. It has all the delights of a city break right next to a white sandy beach.
I flew to Barcelona in June with my mum for a girly break for three days and two nights. It’s a really easy city to get around with buses going from the airport to the two main plazas every 10 minutes. The metro is absolutely fantastic, really efficient, clean and modern. We bought 10 journeys for 9 Euros making it a really cheap and quick way to travel across the city.
Barcelona is probably the most notorious European city for pickpockets and its allegedly absent-minded tourists who are the main target. However, I saw no trouble at all during our stay and believe that if you are fairly street-wise and have a good awareness of people and suspicious behaviour, you’ll have a safe and friendly visit. My mother, who had gone to extremes of purchasing a “security shirt” with a zip pocket sewn into the inside to deter thieves, was genuinely quite disappointed to have not seen an ounce of trouble.
We stayed at the HCC Open Hotel in the L’Eixample area between the Urgell and Rockfort metro stations. I’d found a deal on Groupon for two nights bed and breakfast for two people for £145 which is very reasonable for Barcelona so took the plunge and booked it – I was a bit reluctant having never booked anything holiday related using a voucher site before and also (trivial comment follow), I was really put off by the name – “Open Hotel” – I had all kinds of visions about what an open hotel might welcome. However, the apprehension wasn’t necessary, the hotel was perfect for what we wanted, exceptionally clean and spacious, friendly staff and an excellent breakfast buffet (it’s always about the food).
As it should be, the three days comprised of food, wine and more food. On day one, we went to Poble Espanyol, a walled village built with different types of Spanish architecture. You have to pay to go inside (as with everything in Barcelona) but it is beautiful and filled with windy streets, plazas and nice restaurants. All the restaurants seemed much the same, offering a set menu and a tapas menu. Since we’d been travelling since 3am and were ravenous, it seemed only appropriate to have a big jug of delicious sangria and the set menu.
A starter of “peasant’s bread” comprised of toast, a tomato and a full garlic clove. Slightly confused about the correct approach to this, I had to peer across at my Spanish neighbours to determine the protocol – after mastering the art of peasant’s bread, I actually thoroughly enjoyed it. Pan con tomate, as its most commonly referred to, is a staple on most Spanish menus and is usually already made – I preferred the option to ‘do it yourself’ as many restaurants smear the grilled bread in a tomato and garlic puree which makes the bread soggy. This was followed by THE most delicious mussels I’ve ever eaten. Being by the sea, seafood is a staple on every menu and rightly so because it’s fantastic. Another popular dish is spicy Catalan sausage which my mum ordered and really enjoyed. I’d definitely recommend a visit to Poble Espanyol for a meal as you won’t be stuck for choice.
It was during this visit that I realised my love for the Spanish cuisine of tapas. The concept of ordering several small dishes between friends is perfect for the young socialites of Barcelona who eat late and snack over conversation. We majored on tapas, taking pleasure in the opportunity to sample various Spanish delicacies in one sitting. We also found a light lunch of a couple of tapas dishes accompanied by a glass of sangria was sufficient to keep us going until dinner. On the second evening, we ate at Taller de Tapas, a chain of tapas restaurants in Barcelona and whilst we had a very enjoyable evening, we could have found a better restaurant. We found the food to be good and particular enjoyed the prawns in garlic, mackerel and the scallops. My only criticisms would be that the food came almost immediately suggesting that it wasn’t prepared freshly and the potatoes were COVERED in sauces. They seem to do this in most restaurants in Barcelona so if you’re not a big sauce fan, make sure you mention beforehand.
We also found that the quality of the sangria was very up and down. We didn’t find any as nice as the jug we had over lunch at Poble Espanyol on the first day. Many contain far too much lemonade and not enough red wine or fruit to produce them cheaply so if you aren’t sure, I’d recommend opting for wine – there is more rioja than you can shake a stick at.
Having well and truly eaten our way through Barcelona’s tapas restaurants, there was only one thing for it – paella on the beach. To end a fantastic trip, we spent our last afternoon sat in a seafood restaurant beside the beach tucking into paella and watching the world go by. This was undoubtedly the most memorable meal I’ve had for a long time. The waiters presented us with a tray full of fresh seafood, showing us exactly what would go into the paella, explaining that it would take between 20-30 minutes to freshly prepare. They give you the option to have the seafood in its shells or already shelled by them and there are a variety of different types of paella to choose from. We went for seafood paella, without the shells. It was served directly onto our plates out of the pan it was cooked in and was absolutely sensational. The seafood was cooked perfectly and the rice was moist and succulent. What a perfect end to the holiday! Again, much sangria was consumed.
In between eating our body weight in Spanish cuisine, we did a lot of sightseeing and there is so much to see. We strolled through the charming streets of the gothic quarter taking in the architecture and visited the Cathedral and a number of plazas. However, the most spectacular sight of all was unquestionably The Sagrada Familia. No photograph can possibly portray the immensity and magnificence of this masterpiece – an absolute must see! We also ventured into cheesy tourist territory by taking the open top bus tour of the city – whilst not our usual style, we found this to be the perfect way to see the city and get to grips with its layout. The tour stops off at all the major sights, including the Olympic Stadium, the port (which was filled with cruise ships), the football stadium and the Gaudi House – perfect for those who are visiting for a short time.
Whilst three days was plenty to enjoy Barcelona, I feel that we barely scraped the surface and I will certainly visit again. If you’re planning on visiting Barcelona and would like any advice (it doesn’t need to be food related), just leave me a comment and I’ll happily help where I can.
I found out on Monday that I’ve gained a 1st class degree from university and to celebrate, I chose… food (as always). My lovely friend Ali and I had purchased a voucher off Living Social Deals for two courses at Thai Edge in Leeds for £10 and it seemed the perfect opportunity to use it.
Situated right next to Millennium Square in the city centre, it’s somewhere I’ve often walked by and thought looked very nicely decorated – and it really is. The decor is superb and stylish, very authentic with Thai wall hangings and bamboo. It is set higher than the road giving the perfect opportunity to look down at passersby (I love to people watch). It is open, light and spacious with lots of glass, velvet chairs and glistening lights and chandeliers hanging from the ceiling.
Since we were celebrating, we ordered a bottle of prosecco (the name escapes me) for £19.95 and it was absolutely superb, one of the nicest I’ve had.
As Ali is a vegetarian, she often finds that when eating out there is a limited number of nice veggie options available and was pleased with the range at Thai Edge. We chose to order a vegetarian hot platter to start, which included spring rolls, golden bags, corn cakes, deep-fried vegetables and samosas (two of each). The deep-fried vegetables were fantastic, however I soon realised that everything on the platter had been fried and there was far too much batter for me. This was probably no fault of the restaurants but of my own as I ought to have realised from the menu what the platter would consist of and looking across at the table next to me, who had ordered the meat platter, there was a lot less batter in sight. I was a little disappointed with the spring rolls which were definitely not among the best I’ve tasted.
However, it’s safe to say the main courses came up trumps. I ordered Goong Yai Pad Kra Thiem which is fried king prawns sautéed with celery, ginger and spring onion (£12). Ali ordered Gaeng Ped Pak (£7.80) which is mixed vegetables cooked in coconut milk, with bamboo shoots, aubergines, lime, basil and red curry paste, garnished with fresh chilli. We added an egg fried rice to share. When it arrived it was presented beautifully on the plates and looked delicious – and it was!
My king prawns were cooked perfectly, still moist and meaty and in their shells, and the taste of the sauce was divine. The vegetables were chunky which added a different crunchy consistency to the dish, although I’d personally have preferred that the celery be sliced smaller.
Ali really enjoyed her curry which I sampled and agree was delicious. The addition of coconut milk gave the curry a creamy flavour and reduced the power of the chilli slightly – great for a wuss like me who can’t handle anything too spicy.
Overall, it was a wonderful evening with good service and good food made more special by the decor and environment of the restaurant.
I’m not afraid to admit that when it comes to selecting eateries, I’m pretty shallow. I often judge a place based on my first instincts – how beautiful it is, the decor, the appearance of the staff and the clientele and most of the time, my instincts are right (for me). However, sometimes my superficial selection technique leads me to overlook the hidden gems – the unconventional secret treasures – and I’ll miss out on a superb culinary experience because the aesthetics didn’t meet my great expectations.
So I’ve had a change of strategy. It’s all about word of mouth recommendations now. I’m listening. When I’m dining out with friends, I’ve adopted the phrase ‘you choose’ which I’m fairly certain has never passed my lips in relation to food ever. I’ve decided it’s the only way I’ll ever stray off path. With my taste buds leading me towards the same Italian restaurants and French bistros, I’ll never find myself eating dishes I’d never normally pick and I’ll never be blown away by the avant-garde.
So when I met with a Leeds friend, Lois, this week, I let her make the dinner decision. It led us in the direction of Red Chilli, a restaurant serving authentic Beijing and Sichuan dishes. This isn’t a restaurant I’d have chosen for myself because, as I just mentioned, my taste buds are typically French or Italian. From the outside, it isn’t anything to look at – a good step towards less shallow restaurant selection.
On entering the building, there is a flight of stairs which takes you to the restaurant underground. It is much larger than I had first thought from the outside and beautifully decorated to a high standard. Divisions placed throughout the restaurant split the room into more intimate sections of five or six tables to give its diners some privacy. The majority of diners were from the local Chinese community / Chinese students which struck me as a sign of the authenticity of the cuisine and its origins and recipe.
We ordered crispy duck and pancakes as this is a favourite of mine and it was absolutely superb – lots of very tender meat, crisped to perfection. The waiter brought the meat on the bone and shredded it in front of us so that we could see that it had been cooked as a whole piece of meat. A quarter came with six pancakes which we shared and it was just sufficient to put us on.
Slightly intimidated by the very large menu of dishes I’ve never eaten before, I let Lois order the second course. She picked crispy shredded steak with Cantonese sauce (£8.50) and egg fried rice – we shared the two dishes and it was more than enough. In fact, the portions were so large we weren’t able to finish it. Again, it was very tasty and I was impressed I’d managed to eat the whole meal using chopsticks with only a few spills.
Overall, the service was excellent, the prices were reasonable and the dishes were very tasty. I would be happy to return and would certainly recommend this restaurant to friends.
I recently visited a restaurant based on a recommendation from a friend at university (who also loves his food). The restaurant was Gusto in Cookridge and although it is a chain of nine restaurants, it doesn’t look it.
I found myself pulling up to an Italian haven of fairy lights and prettiness – very romantic and welcoming. It has a real Italian ristorante / bistro feel to it and they haven’t overlooked those little things that add value to the experience – the fairy lights, the candles, the hostess greeting you on entrance.
Gusto is a restaurant and bar and as we arrived early for our table, we were able to sit in the bar area and have a drink whilst we waited. I ordered a white wine (Pinot Grigio, Veneto) whilst my boyfriend, designated driver, went wild with some kind of fresh fruit juice (I guess we know who drew the short straw there). The wine was absolutely superb – apparently “honeydew and watermelon with a little minerality”, although I’m fairly sure I couldn’t have picked out those flavours without the description. At £6.80 for a 250ml glass of wine, it’s slightly higher than the average in Leeds, but definitely worth it.
The large restaurant was absolutely packed. I don’t think there was an empty table all night. I had expected it to be busy as I’ve tried to get in before and been told that the earliest table was 11pm! It’s clearly a popular place. Other diners were couples and friends of around the 40s and 50s age group – Dan and I were easily the youngest customers which is unusual for Leeds.
To start, I chose mussels steamed in a white wine, garlic and cream sauce with ciabatta (£6.95). The mussels were cooked very well and were delicious, however, I was disappointed with the sauce. It was watery and didn’t taste of a great deal. I imagine this was due to water coming out of the shells and diluting the sauce. However, the portion size was very generous and I still managed to clear the plate.
Dan had roasted garlic mushrooms in a cream sauce with prosciutto and grilled ciabatta (£5.75) and it was beautiful. If you aren’t a dairy lover like I am, you may have found it to be too rich but I thought it was just perfect. The prosciutto contributed intense, smokey flavours to the dish after I’d gobbled up my mussels, I proceeded to mop up Dan’s sauce with my ciabatta (fatty) – he definitely made a better choice than me.
The service was very attentive. I noticed out of the corner of my eye when our main courses were heading towards the table – the vigilant waiter, seeing that our cutlery hadn’t been replaced since our starter, hid around the corner with our dishes as a fellow waiter rushed over to replace our cutlery. True to form, our meals then emerged from behind the corner and arrived at the table.
For main course, I ordered romesco chicken salad with goat’s cheese, rocket and aged balsamic (£9.95). Now, I know what you’re thinking – “Oh. She’s one of those women who go out and eat salads”. Well for any of you who read my blog regularly, you’ll be picking yourself up and shaking off the shock to hear I ordered a salad – it’s never happened before. I really don’t know what came over me. But whatever instincts drew me to order the salad paid over because I thoroughly enjoyed it. It wasn’t anything groundbreaking – just what it said on the tin – but it was very nice all the same.
Dan chose roast fillet of sea trout on a fennel and blood orange salad (£14.75). The trout was cooked beautifully and was very moist. I have to say (Dan agreed with me), as nice as the blood orange salad was, I felt that it overpowered the dish and took away from the fish. Now, I’m no chef, so this is purely my own opinion but… all I could taste was orange (a minor criticism from the fastidious). However, the side dish of baked rosemary and garlic roast potatoes was superb (£2.95).
By the time we’d got this far, and glass of wine number two was flowing nicely, it seemed rude not to at least attempt a dessert (I had just eaten a salad after all). So we shared a very nice hot chocolate brownie served with pistachio ice cream and chocolate sauce (£5.95).
All in all, it was a lovely evening, in a beautiful restaurant with excellent service. I would definitely return. Thank you Gusto.
I’ve finally had my Jamie’s Italian dining experience. I’ve been meaning to visit Jamie Oliver’s Italian in Leeds for a while now and haven’t got around to it. Mum and I had been shopping in Leeds city centre and it seemed like the perfect opportunity to pop in for lunch.
The restaurant is situated near Greek Street in a building which used to be a bank and so has a grand, corporate feel to it. It hasn’t been altered a great deal so it looks traditional and the grand, old ceiling is intact. Although, I do hope the tiles are supposed to look like they might fall off the ceiling at any minute and aren’t actually about to fall at any minute!
There isn’t a specific lunch menu but there is an option to order a smaller portion of pasta dishes which I presume are starter portion sizes. As we were still recovering from an enormous dinner the night before and breakfast in Harvey Nichols, a smaller portion sounded perfect. I opted for prawn linguine, a friend, Abbey, had wild rabbit tagliolini and mum chose seaside risotto. We also ordered a selection of breads with olive oil and balsamic vinegar to nibble on to start.
The bread was a disappointment. It was dry and came crammed into what looked like a metal cutlery holder and plonked on the table in a canteen-style manner. However, saying that, I do appreciate that there’s not a great deal you can do to sex up bread but it could have been arranged and served in a more pleasant way.
Our mains were superb and just sufficient to put us on. If you have a big appetite, I would recommend getting the normal size portion but if you’re being greedy like we were and it’s your third meal out in row, a smaller portion is plenty enough to satisfy.
The atmosphere was great. As it was mid-week, there were lots of business people and friends meeting for lunch and there was a real buzz of chatter and laughter. We had to wait twenty minutes for a table so it must be a popular place for lunch. The barman was serving up some very nice looking cocktails too – the Bellini in particular looked lovely (it was a shame I was driving).
I was interested to hear on the grapevine that Jamie has CCTV cameras fitted in his restaurant kitchens so he can keep a watchful eye over his chefs and ensure they are preparing the recipes properly. I did tweet him once to ask if this was true but he never got back to me. In fact, I’ve tweeted him a few times without getting a response – not very good at all but I adore him that much, I’ll let it slide!
I noticed that many (if not all) of the dishes on the menu are out of the Jamie’s Italy recipe book. If you haven’t already got it, I certainly recommend buying it. Italian cuisine is absolutely my favourite (I would happily give up all other cuisines) and there’s a selection of amazing recipes in this book – my favourite is the chicken tetrazzini (chicken and mushroom pasta bake). It’s to die for! There’s also a few good risotto recipes but I always find making risotto really hard work – it needs a lot of time, love and attention.
I had a flick through the recipe book once I’d got home and also found the recipe in there for the prawn linguine I ate so I’m going to have a go myself. It’s a really simple recipe actually and calls for ingredients I already have in the kitchen (ones people tend to have lying around) so is a great recipe for a student like me. I’ll let you know how it goes.
Food For Thought 