HERE at Confidential we spend much of our free time eatin'. And much of our work time eatin'. Needless to say, we do like eatin'. Here's five of the best things we ate this past month. We think you'll love them too...

 

Maureen’s - Jerk Chicken

 

Thousands of people lined the streets from Potternewton Park into town this Bank Holiday, taking in the sights, sounds and smells of the carnival, as well as a taste of the West Indies’ most famous dish, Jerk Chicken. Leeds’ ultimate version comes from Maureen’s on Roundhay Road - the only way our reviewer could envision it being better is by combining it with “Ox Club’s firepower” - come on guys, take a hint…

105 Roundhay Road, Leeds LS8 5AJ

 

Ox Club - Smoked Grouse

 

Speaking of Ox Club’s firepower - it’s responsible for a fair amount of smoke, as well. Grouse season started on the ‘Glorious Twelfth’ of August, but anybody who’s tried keeping game in their fridge for longer than fourteen minutes will have a fair idea what Hannibal Lecter's fridge smelt like. So most places have gone very safe with their grouse dishes to get them sold as quickly as possible. Not Ox Club. They’ve smoked their birds, pairing them with beetroot puree and pickled blackberries. Game, set, and match?

Bramleys Yard, 19 The Headrow, Leeds LS1 6PU

 

Horto - Tasting Menu

 

People are starting to realise that fine dining in Leeds needn’t be a one-man show - especially not one you have to book ten months in advance. With Luke Downing’s Vice & Virtue and D&D’s Victoria Gate restaurants both imminent, the city centre has got plenty to whet their appetite. Right now though, Horto, a pop up by ex-Norse head chef Murray Wilson at the Rudding Park Hotel, - is making a lot of noise among foodies in the know.

Snacks and five-courses - with Yorkshire-reared meat, Whitby seafood, and produce from the hotel's own kitchen garden - for just £55. Our review will be up next week, but book a table now while you still can.

Rudding Lane, Follifoot, Harrogate HG3 1JH

 

Shoot The Bull - Mac & Cheese

 

The weather’s so indecisive this month that it’ll be freezing your 99 solid one minute, and melting it the next. Visit Shoot The Bull in the shelter of Trinity Kitchens until mid-September and you can get a more savoury Mr Whippy by ordering their Mac & Cheese topped with a massive squirt of bacon-infused whipped cream. A drizzle of spiced tomato syrup completes the illusion - totally daft, but good fun.

Trinity Leeds, 27 Albion St, Leeds LS1 5ER

 

KerbEdge - Head of Steam

 

It's been a long time since a new burger restaurant opening in the city has been considered cause for celebration - or was even newsworthy - but Hull's KerbEdge have built up a strong fanbase around Leeds through their appearances at Trinity Kitchen, Magic Rock Taproom, and every other food festival worth its salt.

Thanks to the means of a proper kitchen, they've now expanded their menu beyond the familiar favourites served out of their vans 'Ruby' and (the original) 'Cyril' - so there's brunch, sandwiches and pancakes as well as non-burger lunch options like smoked mackerel and gin-pickled cucumber, or caramelised pear, warm goat's cheese and walnut praline.

The main event here is still the burgers though. If you're feeling brave then "The Double Double Double" has double patties, double cheese, and double bacon, and for a real taste of their native land, go for fully loaded fat chips; "The 'ull Way" - dusted with plenty of classic American Chip Spice.

12 Mill Hill, City Centre, Leeds LS1 5DQ

 

And to drink...

Pintura - Red Snapper

 

We declared this to be the best brunch cocktail in Leeds a couple of weeks ago, and having slept on it, as well as giving other brunch-tails a fair chance, we’re standing by our word. A splash of Rioja is a master-stroke and blood orange and lemon make it deceptively refreshing. Trying to drink one without crunching into that moreish chilli salt is the new “eat a donut without licking your lips” challenge. Yes, they’re expensive at £10.95, but go for the £25 bottomless brunch and you’ll actually be making money whilst drinking three of these. Trust us, you will want to drink at least three of them…

1 Trinity St, Leeds LS1 6AP