Leeds is a city that boomed in the Industrial revolution, becoming a true hub in Yorkshire We've highlighted some of our favourite spots
MUNCH Quorn Foods Culinary Periodical August 2022 • Issue 8 9
LEEDS INSIDE
Leeds became my adopted home having moved north and has so much worth shouting about. It's a city with a great independent hospitality scene from high end fine dining right through to delicious street eats. I've picked a few favourites for you to get out & Try for yourself! Tom MUNCH All design and editorial created in house by the Quorn Culinary Team unless stipulated Please contact culinary@quornfoods com to feature or feedback Quorn Foods Culinary Periodical
EATING LEEDS INNOVATION CHEF TOM BELL TAKES US THROUGH SOME OF THE BEST SPOTS IN THE BUZZING YORKSHIRE HUB STREET EATS Leeds has some great street food offerings, some of which are steeped in historical surroundings, and some are a much newer addition to the scene 4 A LOCAL PINT Leeds has some wicked places both brewing and pouring their own beers in modern surroundings, but that doesn't mean they've forgotten their history 6 THE MAN BEHIND THE CURTAIN Arguably the most famous restaurant in Leeds and the city's only one to bear a michelin star 7 CASUAL EATS It doesn't always have to be fine dining or award winning for food to be worth a trip, as some of these shouts definitely prove! 8 BREWS & BRUNCH The city centre is full of great independent spots serving up great cups of coffee as well as some banging brunch options 10 LOCAL SPOTLIGHT Elizabeth Cottam is Leeds through and through, we take a deeper look at her rise to local fame 12 SPECIAL GUEST RECIPE We were recently joined by Hungry For It contestant Ayala, who's provided us with her Quorn challenge winning recipe for you to be able to try @ home! 14
Tucked away in the shopping centre, you'll find some of the more recognisable chains here for a quick fix But the hidden gem is a selection of local traders cooking up their street food favourites that change every 8 weeks to support local businesses
Here you'll find a multitude of street food choices under one roof, and a large selection of drinks on the bar to pair with whatever takes your fancy whether that be a vegan poke bowl cauliflower wings or one of their plant based burger offerings They also do a weekly quiz, for those with a competitive streak!
STREET EATS
LEEDS HAS A NUMBER OF PLACES THAT ARE ALL CENTRED AROUND OR INSPIRED BY STREET FOOD EATS THAT ARE SURE TO HAVE ENOUGH OPTIONS TO KEEP EVERYONE HAPPY AND GIVE YOU A CHANCE TO TRY MULTIPLE CUSINES IN ONE STOP!
Check out their different themes throughout the year @ Temple Arches just a few minutes walk from the train station Great for big groups to enjoy the sunshine and test out the rotating selection of local street food vendors!
NATION OF SHOPKEEPERS (BELOW RIGHT)
TRINITY KITCHEN (BELOW)
CHOW DOWN(ABOVE)
BELGRAVE MUSIC HALL (RIGHT)
A roof terrace perfect for the summer sunshine (Fingers crossed we get some ;) Home to a multi floored event space and with multiple bars & street food options Check out Dough Boys for banging pizza options
KIRKGATE MARKET
All about vegetarian & vegan Gujarati style cuisine, designed for sharing and getting stuck in! Now with 3 locations across the north and a brewery to boot so they can serve their own beers in house, they're clearly doing something right! Grab a dish or 2, or take a group and try everything in the combo!
POCO (BELOW RIGHT)
Kirkgate Market is one of the largest markets in Europe, and with 800 stalls, you'll be hard pressed to walk out empty handed! It was the home of the original Marks & Spencer's penny bazaar all the way back in 1884, of which there's still a stall today. It's not all about the fresh produce and wares on offer from the stalls, there's some incredible food to be found and eaten here too in the market kitchen, with so many different cuisines to choose from, you might just have to go more than once
BUNDOBUST (BELOW)
If Sicilian street food is calling your name, look no further than Poco, perfect for a lunchtime pick me up, whether that's one of their crispy fried arancini, or a slice of their tray baked pizzas with a selection of fresh toppings!
KIRKSTALL BREWERY
Their project for this year is looking deeper at how other types of fermented drinks are made & how some of those techniques can be applied to an experimental range of beers!
Based in Holbeck, or in their words ' the spiritual heart of the Industrial revolution' They're inspired by their northern surroundings, and committed to creating high quality beers, by taking a progressive approach to both ingredients & techniques but combining that with traditions of old monastic brewing values, being key to the name Their first location is The old flax store a Grade II listed derelict mill that now houses the original brewery, tap room as well as an event space
What started as north bar in Leeds city centre way back in 1997 has grown and evolved ever since, with their own brewery launching in 2015 with the intention of supplying their own network of bars which is currently 9 but watch this space... In 2021 they opened a new brewing site & taproom where they can serve pints under the shadows of the very tanks that brewed them!
A Local Pint or Two
northernmonk.com northbrewing.com kirkstallbrewery.com
LEEDS HAS HAD A HISTORY OF BREWING SINCE WAY BACK IN 1822 WHEN THE TETLEY'S BREWERY WAS FOUNDED. TODAY THERE'S PLENTY OF CHOICE THAT ARE HYPER LOCAL
Going all the way back to 1152 beer was brewed by the Cistercian Monks at Kirkstall Abbey, whose traditions they draw inspiration from Fast forward a few years to 1834 the Kirkstall Brewery company was founded Present day, this iteration of Kirkstall brewing tradition was founded in 2011 with a little helping hand from Sierra Nevada that enables them to connect the legacy of the past into modern, bold & most importantly drinkable beers!
NORTHERN MONK NORTH BREW CO
Everything about the restaurant (In the basement of Flannels) is an outpouring of his personality, and a lot of mirrors and the colour black!
THE MAN BEHIND THE CURTAIN
MENU HIGHLIGHTS AJO BLANCO ICED TOMATO CONSOMMÉ, VANILLA TIRAMISU COLD BREW, EDIBLE WRAPPER CHOCOLATE CROWDIE, BLACK OLIVE
Leeds's only current Michelin starred restaurant, headed up by Michael O'Hare is definitely a place for a special occasion! O'Hare doesn't shy away from doing things his own way and having his own very defined individual style.
Driven by an influence of Asian ingredients, the whole menu is packed full of flavour and feeds into the whole atmosphere he has tried to create with the restaurant, and with a recently launched book 'Violations on good judgement' which he self proclaims as more of a coffee table piece than a book he expects people to cook from!
Every dish is presented in a creative and artful led way think a whole grilled prawn balanced on and old school telephone or his famous take on fish and chips served on a canvas
CASUAL EATS HOUSE OF FU Starting out from humble beginnings as a street food concept within Belgrave music hall back in 2014 they won 'best of the best' at the British street food awards and since then opened up a permanent residence right on The Headrow It now houses karaoke booths as well as a little hidden cocktail bar upstairs that opens in the latter part of the week Check out one of their frozen cocktails, perfect on a summer evening ;) MENU HIGHLIGHTS Spicy Miso Tantamen Ramen Crispy Fried Cauliflower JINO'S THAI They've been open since 2003, with a philosophy that hasn't changed since, simple, authentic Thai flavours cooked the way they are in the street cafés of Thailand It's still family run to this day and they pride themselves on a warm & welcoming atmosphere! MENU HIGHLIGHTS Pad Ga Prao A spicy stir fry flavoured with red chillies & holy basil Satay Hed Marianted Grilled mushrooms served with a peanut dipping sauce LEEDS IS HOME TO SO MANY PLACES DOING DIFFERENT CUISINES & SHOWCASING FOOD IN THEIR OWN CREATIVE WAY, THESE ARE JUST A FEW OF OUR FAVES House of FU Jino's Thai
Both a pub and restaurant all under one roof, but not to be mistaken for just another gastropub, The reliance is all about simple, elegant plates that absolutely sing about local seasonal ingredients, prepped with minimal fuss and maximum flavour The menu is ever changing based on what ingredients they can get their hands on, if you fancy something a littler lighter check out their aperitivo menu, where you'll get a little selection of their favourite snacks MENU HIGHLIGHTS Heirloom tomato panzanella Stuffed pepper, tomato orzo, black olive Beetroot, goats curd, walnuts, tarragon OX CLUB Found within Headrow house, and centred around their grill that does most of their cooking over a live fire They champion local produce across the menu, utilising local small suppliers, and changing the menu based on the best of what's available to them in season Check out the daily specials board for some of the kitchens creative combinations based on the days deliveries MENU HIGHLIGHTS Beetroot and seaweed terrine, smoked curds, pickled walnut sauce Flowering courgette, black garlic & ajo blanco Basque Cheesecake, forced Yorkshire rhubarb THE RELIANCE OX Club The Reliance
From what started as a pop up trailer serving coffee & if you ask me, coffee's best use espresso martini's back in 2016 all across the country, they now have 2 permanent locations in Leeds where you can try their coffee and delicious food menu to boot, aptly named 'rabbit food' but you'll definitely find more than just leafy greens on offer to go along with your coffee choice. Their ethos is undoubtedly simple, ethically sourced coffee, a selection of bakes to showcase local bakers & always service with a smile. If you find yourself admiring the architecture in the Victoria Quarter, stop in & say hello.
A long standing leader of the Leeds brunch since having been open from 2011, Laynes is ever popular and being a stones throw from the train station, it's the perfect place to start the day! Offering up arguably some of the best breakfast & brunch options in the city that you can see & smell as they leave the open kitchen, as well as freshly baked pastries that will definitely catch your eye on the counter as you step in. Their serious about what they've have brewing too, you'll find them using red brick coffee blends across most of the menu, with a regularly changing pour over or filter blend if you feel like sampling something a little different.
LAYNES ESPRESSO
There are some great spots dishing out great coffee and food to boot, all within a stones throw of the city centre, and all beautifully independent in their own way. Who knows, you might find a new favourite!
BREWS & BRUNCH
RABBIT HOLE COFFEE
They get their coffee from a small batch hand roastery in Bradford, so check out what beans they've got pouring when you make a visit. You'll find them open some evenings too, dishing out pizzas that are great for sharing.
Ayala's Favourite spot from her visit!
ARCHIVE
OLIVE & RYE
An independent coffee house that's known for the vegan bake selection and seasonally changing menu of larger brunch options. Check out what they've got on the counter when you visit to accompany a great cup of coffee all within the cosy environment they've created in the cafe. Their house blend is from North star roasters, and is great as an espresso serve or choose a plant milk for no added cost!
UNION COFFEE HOUSE
Tucked away inside the Queens arcade right in the heart of the city centre, their ethos is simple. Locally sourced ingredients, served creatively with something to satisfy even the fussiest of brunch cravings. The French toast with maple roasted peaches is not to be missed if you're more a fan of a sweet start to the day than savoury & don't forget to check out their coffee offering from darkwoods, another local roaster!
Based in the heart of Prime studios & in the site of an old TV archive from where it's name is derived, Archive is an open event space as well as great spot for a coffee or brunch.
Now with three restaurants to her name, and leaving guests happy every night with some of the most imaginative, refined food in Leeds, there's something on offer for any level of foodie!
LIZ COTTAM
LOCALSPOTLIGHT
Leeds born and bred, she rose to fame after being on MasterChef in 2016 and more recently taking part in this years Great British Menu. In her own words, a small food empire in Yorkshire was never the plan before that after some 20 years in the corporate world.
The minute she was challenged with a professional kitchen on MasterChef, she felt like she was at home in the environment and thrived off the buzz. From there, she staged at a number of restaurants in the North, to learn how different places operate, and then set about doing some pop ups of her own, which is where 'Home' was born.
Menu Highlights HOME IS THE FLAGSHIP OF THE THREE, AND A PLACE FOR A SPECIAL OCCASION TO SAMPLE THE REGULARLY CHANGING TASTING MENU ON OFFER. THE OWL, RECENTLY MOVED TO IT'S NEW HOME IN MUSTARD WHARF IS ALL ABOUT CELEBRATING THE BEST OF BRITISH INGREDIENTS THROUGHOUT THE SEASONS IN A SLIGHTLY MORE RELAXED ATMOSPHERE. THEN THERE'S CORA, A RESTAURANT AND BAKEHOUSE THAT HAS A COURSE DEDICATED TO YORKSHIRE PUDDINGS ON A SUNDAY AND AN EXTENSIVE LIST OF BANGING BRUNCH OPTIONS! Cora Home The Owl Roasted Cauliflower, black truffle emulsion & pickled lettuce Heirloom Tomatoes, ricotta & wild garlic Bergamot, Pomegranate, Vanilla, Sichuan & Seville Orange & Muscat Tart Yorkshire pudding, Onion Foam, Horseradish Mousse, Red Wine Gravy Salt baked salsify, fruit and nut pastie, orange and young beetroots Tunworth cheese, rye cake, Yorkshire honey and summer truffle Sand carrot, smoked Mrs Kirkham cheese, seaweed and linseed cracker Hash brown, pear, pickled raisins Isle of Wight tomatoes, wild garlic, goats curd and olives Late Spring carrots Sea - Inspired by Robin Hood's Bay A celebration of peas Baked Fig, wigmore cheese and walnut cheesecake Lavender, carrot & dark chocolate
SPIRALIZED SWEET POTATOGHETTI WITH CHRAIMEH SPICED QUORN PIECES INGREDIENTS (SERVES 4) 5 garlic cloves 2tsp smoked paprika 1tbsp carraway seeds 2 tsp ground cumin 2 tsp cinnamon 1 birds eye chilli (I like 2) 2tsp sugar AYALA'S CHEF TIP If you don't want it quite so spicy, you can always use a milder chilli, or take the seeds out of them You can catch Ayala on BBC Three's 'Hungry For IT' on Iplayer anytime, check out the for the Quorn Challenge Episode for a special guest appearance from one of our own! 3 tbsp tomato paste Juice of 2 limes 10ml vegetable oil Salt to taste 200 300ml water 1 pack of Quorn pieces 400g Sweet potato, peeled & spiralized Small handful of coriander 25g flaked almonds 20g pomegranate seeds To serve GUEST RECIPE - AYALA DALY
Add your sweet potato noodles to salted boiling water and blanch for 5 minutes until just cooked too long and they’ll start to fall apart.
METHOD
Her love of food started at a young age, with a keen interest in her grandma's stews. That only grew after travelling through southeast Asia and becoming fascinated by the cuisine and the idea of a job in food, combined with her passion for videography!
Add to a pan and preheat on a medium heat once hot add your spice paste, sugar, lime, tomato paste and water Once mixed add Quorn pieces and begin to toss.
Ayala is one of the contestants on the first series of BBC Three's Hungry For It and recently spent some time cooking up a storm in the Quorn kitchen and learning a bit about how we get ideas to launch, and helped contribute to this month's munch!
Serve with freshly chopped coriander, flaked almonds, and pomegranate seeds.
1 2. 3 4.
Blitz all the garlic, spices, chilli, and oil to a paste
Check out the recipe video!