The Food Academy, Leeds
68-78 Vicar Lane, Leeds LS1 7JH
0113 2434898
http://www.foodacademyleeds.co.uk/
Food Academy at Flannels
In March 2012 we decided to head down to the much talked about “Food Academy” occupying the fabulous, open space above Flannels, a gorgeous independent luxury retailer in Leeds City Centre. The Food Academy is a project in association with Flannels and Leeds City College, headed up by the talented and acclaimed chef Peter Higginson. Launched in November 2011, the restaurant has taken Leeds by storm; the interesting enterprise seems to be the talking point of many foodies in Leeds.
Fragrant Thai Beef Salad
The Food Academy as the name dictates is exactly that; a training academy for Yorkshire brightest developing stars in the restaurant world. Leeds City College students train at the Academy, in order to develop skills and work experience, within the food industry. The Academy students are exemplary, and man the forte whilst begin mentored and guided by Peter’s careful hand. Continue reading » «The Food Academy, Leeds»
Dough Bistro, Leeds: Review
The Cooking Fairy always pays for her meals. This way she can be sure that you receive an honest, impartial, frank and fair review.
I had just discovered a fantastic Supper Club in Chapel Allerton, and headed into work one Wednesday morning. I simply couldn’t wait to gush about my new discovery to my lovely colleague Sarah. Sarah insisted that I should try out this fabulous eatery, it was very similar, in the middle of a rundown area on the outskirts of Leeds, it had simply popped up a year or so ago, and was now renowned for the exquisite food it was producing.
Sarah confirmed that the restaurant had won a number of awards for being the best “new suburban restaurant” in Leeds…… It was simply a place I had to check out.
Cooking Fairy Supper Club
Sorry I haven’t blogged for a while, I have been very busy running my Super Underground Supper Club. Can I just say it was a fantastic success!
The Supper Club Lounge
I was approached by a fantastically interesting company Approachpr, who fancied doing something a little different for their team night out. Verity, the lovely Account team manager is really into cooking, (very good at it too) and decided to bring the troops along to my scrumptious supper club.
For this Mexican themed supper club, as it was a team building exercise we decided to tailor the supper club to meet her requirements.
An appropriate way of doing this was to incorporate cooking lessons into the underground dinner party. That was the concept anyway! It’s was quite quirky, unusual, but fun fun fun.
I don’t know if you have ever been to one, (or seen some on T.V.) but it basically involves a group of like-minded individuals getting together, making food, sharing recipes and sitting down together and munching away.
The Menu Included:-
Guacamole
Tomato Salsa
Watermelon Salad
Chicken Nachos
Home Made Tortilla Chips
“7 times” Slow Cooked Pork Burritos
Secret Salad
Key Lime Cheesecake
South American Coffee
All was swilled down with Mexican Beers and Margaritas’.
The supper club was hard work; I started on the Wednesday evening by baking the Key Lime cheesecake and leaving it to cool.
I recruited my beautiful friend Jenna to assist me on the evening and I really must say, I simply couldn’t have done it without her!!! Love and respect to you Jenna! Hahaha!!!
I then embarked on a trip to my local organic grocers; based on New Roadside Horsforth. They are fantastic, good quality fruit and veg. They do a price promise to be cheaper than Morrisons, so local folk, check them out. I then swung by to see my friend and fantastic local butchers Neil Goodall @ Alan Morton Butchers 54-56a, Town St LS18 4AP Main phone 0113 258 4702, be sure to buy some meat from these guys. It is great.
I have many people would be delighted to second that, and they will bend over backward to help you, in terms of slecting the right piece of meat, trimming, and sometimes even give me cooking tips!!
I then in the morning begin preparing the house for the party, making sure we had comfortable lighting, cool music I chose some Arcade Fire, Zero 7 and old school Kings of Leon, I made sure the guests had enough comfortable seeing.
I then prepared the salsa and guacamole and tortilla chips, and made sure the slow cooked pork was in the oven. It should be slowly cooked for 7 hours as the title suggests. The guys were turning up from work so would have been very tired and very hungry. I made sure they all had Mexican beers as their “welcome” drink. I then seated them upstairs and left them to natter. We then lead them downstairs to commence cooking lessons. We would start by learning to cook Salsa, guacamole and tortilla chips, and split the group up in to 3 teams of 2. Team Guacamole, Team Salsa and Team Tortilla. All teams were very good…… I then instructed on how to make the Nachos, and lead them back upstairs for drinks, and a bit of relax time when they could enjoy their starters. After the nachos were served, we commenced lessons to make the scrumptious watermelon salad.
The teams worked together to prepare. I then guided them through how to make the pork burritos, and sent them upstairs.
We then served them with the beautiful (if I do say so myself pork burritos) secret salad and watermelon salad. We left them to enjoy and then moved to dessert. The Key lime cheesecake and Mexican coffees.
The night was a glowing success. The team seemed to have really enjoyed themselves, had been fed and watered, had cooking lessons and a good gossip all in the space of the evening. The supper club was a real pleasure to put on. I couldn’t have asked for nicer guests! Thank you Approach PR.
Cooking Fairy Dinner, San Carlo, Leeds
We went along to San Carlo Leeds, which recently opened to check out what everyone is raving about. The San Carlo restaurant group has Italian restaurants across the UK and the Middle East and is ever so popular with footballers and WAG’s alike.
So, does it churn out fabulous authentic Italian food, as per their 13 awards for 2010, or is it over priced fodder?
So the décor was beautiful, the restaurant had been furnished fantastically to an extremely high spec. The ambiance was great, it was a Tuesday night, and the restaurant was full. The menu was extensive, to be completely frank, I was over faced with the amount of menus presented to me. They even had a specials menu. Spoilt for choice some would say! Continue reading » «Cooking Fairy Dinner, San Carlo, Leeds»
An evening at Anthony’s Leeds
www.anthonysrestaurant.co.uk/restaurant/
We strutted on down for a gastronomic treat, Anthony’s restaurant, Boar Lane, Leeds. Anthony’s boar lane is a fine dining restaurant in the heart of Leeds. Opened in 2004 the restaurant is renowned as one of the best dining experiences in Yorkshire. Anthony’s won the Best Restaurant 2005 award from the Observer food monthly awards with a judging panel that included Gordon Ramsey and Rick Stein.
When we arrived at Anthony’s it was a Friday night. It was bonfire night and therefore seemed a bit quiet. Maybe everyone was tucking into toffee apples and steak and ale pie? Anthony’s had a lovely pre dinner bar where we could enjoy cocktails, prior to dinner. I ordered a gin fizz. The gin fizz was great. One of the best gin fizz cocktails I have ever had. Seriously! I was impressed.
Gin Fizz
It was just a bit of a shame, that there was no real atmosphere in the restaurant bar. There was literally myself, my pal, and the bar tender………. (The bar tender provided the correct level of attentiveness.)
We then made our way to the dinning room; we hadn’t actually finished our cocktails, however it felt that we should be sat with some other diners- more atmosphere etc.
We then ordered some beautiful red wine, the Malbec. The wine selection was great and was then presented with an aperitif. This was a soup, served in a borble like container, which you drank with a straw. Interesting flavours, however this was slightly avant garde for the Cooking Fairy!
We then received our Starters. Don’t they look great!
Sea Mermaid
Scallops, Hmmmmmmm
Both were absolutely sublime. Beautifully presented. I don’t know how they do it. It just exudes talent doesn’t it. Also tasted amazing. Really interesting, new, inspiring flavours. I especially enjoyed the scallops which just tasted great!
For my main course I ordered pork five ways. We also ordered Venison with chocolate. Also great.
Pork 5 ways
Venison and Chocolate
They are absolutely beautiful. Like tiny little pieces of art top pop in your mouth. Amazing.
Check out the desserts, and cheeses.All amazing. The cheese and port was my favourite part of the dinner. Then with coffee, we has chilli chocolate fudge, white chocolate fudge….. hmmmmm!!
Peppermint Cheesecake
Orange and butternut squash
Hmmmm Cheese
Chocolate Fudge- go buy the White one.....
I must say dinner at Anthony’s restaurant really was an experience. Continue reading » «An evening at Anthony’s Leeds»
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