In this edition: vegan supper clubs, ramen options, and beer extravaganzas
The Botanist Puts the Ale in Wensleydale
(05/10) Bored of drinking wine and eating cheese? Well, no, nor are we. There’s nothing wrong with a bit of variety, though. That’s why we’re looking forward to The Botanist’s upcoming beer & cheese pairing night.
During the two-hour session on Wednesday 19 October, The Botanist’s beer-gurus will guide you through the complex and diverse palates of six local and world-famous beer, matching them with six different types of cheese as they go along.
The night kicks off at 6pm, tickets cost £15 per person. For more information or to book a place, call 0113 205 3240 or email trinitybdm@thebotanist.uk.com.
Michelin Nods for City Restaurants
(04/10) The Michelin Guide 2017 was announced in London to much fanfare, and when the dust settled, Leeds was still able to boast about being home to a Michelin-starred restaurant.
Man Behind the Curtain - run by BBC-teatime darling Michael O'Hare - retained the star it was awarded in last year's guide, as Ilkley's Box Tree, which has been a firm fixture in the guide since first being decorated with a star in 1974.
Further field, four other Yorkshire restaurants kept their stars - The Starr Inn in Harome, The Black Swan in Oldstead, The Yorke Arms in Ramsgill-in-Nidderdale, and South Dalton's Pipe and Glass Inn.
Leeds city centre is now home to three restaurants with Michelin Bib Gourmand honours - Indian street food and craft beer bar Bundobust, contemporary grill restaurant Ox Club and city-centre village pub The Cross Keys all picked up the awards for good value and good quality cooking. Bundobust's sibling-restaurant Prashad also held onto the Bib Gourmand it's held since 2014.
2016 Masterchef Hosts Two Vegan Italian Pop-Ups
Hot on the heels of Golden Balls’ Vegetarian Sicilian supper-club at Sheaf Street Cafeteria, a couple of vegan-friendly Italian evenings are taking place this weekend at on of the city’s longest-running and well-adored vegan restaurants.
Roots & Fruits will play host to Chris Hale - the Wakefield native who reached the quarter-finals of BBC’s Masterchef this year, and cooks for events under the name Pop Up North. The events, taking place on Thursday and Sunday, will consist of three courses plus canapes, including dishes like arancini, gnocchi, aubergine caviar, and tiramisu.
Tickets for each evening cost £25, and can be purchased through Eventbrite
A Whole New World: Meet the New Zealand Wine Maker at Pintura
Continuing their “Meet The Maker” series which saw them introduce Leeds to Sipsmith Master Distiller Jared Brown, Pintura are hosting an evening of tapas dishes with New Zealand inspiration, paired with wines from one of the country’s most renowned wine producers.
The ‘Maker’ you’ll be meeting is Hugh Crichton, of Vidal Estate, as he selects and serves wines to match Pintura chef Greg Lewis’ Basque take on Kiwi favourites, including green-lip mussels and bacon and egg pie.
This is a unique opportunity for wine-buffs to discover more about the flavours and process that goes into making some of the world’s best wine, in the exclusive, intimate setting of Pintura’s mezzanine. Tickets are limited to 20 covers and priced at £50 each. Email info@pinturakitchen.co.uk or call 0113 430 0915 to book.
Everybody Loves Ramen: City Centre Gets New Independent Japanese
Prepare yourself for the three most joyous words in the English language (in this writer’s opinion, at least): New. Ramen. Restaurant.
Senbon Sakura, on Great George Street, looks to offer the city’s biggest choice of noodle soup, with options for shoyu, miso or tonkotsu soup bases, udon, soba, and ramen noodles, and meat, seafood and vegetable toppings - music to the ears of any ramen-nerd who’s needs have gone largely uncatered to in Leeds so far.
As well as trendy noodle-soup, Senbon Sakura have all the usual Japanese cafe-standards like katsu curry and teriyaki, plus an impressive range of made-to-order sushi, including maki, sashimi, and nigiri. Look out for a full review very soon.
Omnipollo Extravaganza at Little Leeds Beer House
Little Leeds Beer House is planning a very special event in collaboration with one of Europe’s most interesting breweries later this month.
From Thursday 27 to Saturday 29 October the Corn Exchange bottle shop will be devoting six draught lines to six rare beers from Sweden’s Omnipollo. Thursday will be a ticketed event where £23 will get you a third each of Omnipollo’s Pecan Mudcake Stout, Citra Pale, Imperial IPA, Blueberry Cheesecake Stout, Polenta and Mango DIPA, and Marshmallow & Vanilla Stout, with snacks provided by Bundobust.
Friday and Saturday aren’t ticketed and operate on a first come first serve basis, with free entry.
Tickets for Thursday are available on Eventbrite now
