I didn't always like mince pies. But one year, a family member splashed out on Heston Blumenthal ones from Waitrose, along with alcohol-spiked cream. We warmed them up in the oven, dolloped the cream, scuttled off to the nearest chair, wrapped ourselves up in a blanket and sat in silence as we devoured. Once we'd …
When lockdown was announced in March 2020, I remember the first thought that entered my head when we popped into Tesco to find the shelves already sparse. I was craving a Müller Crunch Corner. I probably hadn’t had one in about 10 years. But it was all I wanted in that moment. The world threw …
January 2021 New Year's Resolutions These are the things I decided I would do this year. Get dressed and actually leave the houseCut down on current cheese intake Try Veganuary Friday 1 January Never the best day to start Veganuary. It definitely makes you think about eating. Sitting on the sofa feeling fragile and sorry …
When I think about casually eating pasta, it's usually me cuddling a big bowl of it on the sofa, in my pyjamas. There's melted cheese involved and sometimes fish fingers. Perhaps less casual and more embarrassing to be honest. But eating it on a Saturday evening in what is usually a doughnut shop by day …
Continue reading Casual Pasta at doh’hut: ‘Soothed by butter and cradled in pasta’.
Some might be surprised to know, confused perhaps, that I didn’t grow up in a house of tea drinkers. In fact, it was a complete caffeine-free zone, not even a coffee in sight. To this day, I still haven’t seen my parents drink the stuff. The first time I got into tea was at university. …
I couldn't believe it. My final morning in Rotterdam. As I marched down the long road with the magnificent and imposing, diagonally sloped roof of Rotterdam Centraal getting closer and closer, I was smiling as though I had finally reached the finish line of a marathon - I'd done it! I celebrated this momentous occasion …
Today was my first full day in Rotterdam and I had a lot of things I wanted to tick off the list. Firstly, I had to tip toe my way up and down from my top bunk bed several times, around a dorm of people all waking up one by one, as we each waited …
It was the day after Valentine’s Day, when I first walked through the door I came in search of pies and pints But was too late. Timings didn’t match up and I had to catch a train We chose to stay anyway for toasted Leeds Bread Co-op sourdough drizzled in olive oil, butter pats sinking …
It was the depth of winter. February 2018. Fu-Schnikens, renowned for their steamed buns, hosted a ramen night as a prerequisite for what was to come. The teaser we all wanted. A new restaurant was on the horizon for Leeds. Over three years, the name House of Fu was born, with more taster nights, anticipiation …
Continue reading House of Fu, Leeds: ‘I dip my spoon in, slowly sinking into this hot bath’.
School Diner, Leeds I remove a slice to unveil the shape of Pac-Man. Studded with gems of ruby red pepper, a smothering of blistered halloumi and slugs of muddy green pesto. My pizza sits on a paper plate it’s already outgrown and as each fragile slice is airlifted towards my mouth, rings of translucent grease …
food with mood 