This month we want to introduce you to two new members of the Yorkshire Appetite Team.   With all of our Food Ambassadors being busy people with their fingers in a lot of pies (not literally!) and the tours being ever popular we welcome Marieanne and Alastair to the team.   Both residents of North Yorkshire they have a great amount of experience in customer facing roles and of course a great interest in good food.   You can check out their bios on the about us section of our website and we hope they will be very happy meeting our lovely customers.

As you know, York has what seems like a squillion good places to eat and so we wanted to introduce you to five more   We have a new tour starting with five brand new venues for you to try and we are calling it the Tasty Treats of York Tour.   We have, of course, researched all the venues, tried all the food and we can guarantee another flavour fest for your taste buds to enjoy.     At present we are trialling it on certain dates, including some Saturdays so do not hesitate to book on and come back and see us again.  

This month you may have noticed from our Instagram, Yorkshire Appetite and Yorkshire Appetite’s offspring are visiting Japan and I have to say it really is a culinary adventure.   Despite a couple of months of Duo Lingo ‘learning’ Japanese, we are really just having to guess a lot of the time what we are eating so of course we are embarking on some food tours to help.   Just recently we experienced the Taste of Kanazawa tour, a town which is famous for its seafood being on the coast of the Sea of Japan.   A whole plate of sashimi (raw fish) was consumed and thoroughly enjoyed and a rather unusual potato salad among other things.     Plum wine I have really taken a shine to.     The local style of eating is called Izakaya which means ‘stay-drink-place’.    Basically a spot to grab a drink, settle in for the evening, get comfortable and eat some small dishes and enjoy yourself with friends. According to our companion for the evening, Kanazawan native Tokoma, things can get pretty lively.

We then moved on to Hiroshima where we experienced the local dish of Okonomiyaki. This is a savoury pancake which they begin by cooking the mix on a hotplate in front of you, spreading the batter into shape similar to making a crepe.   Yet that is just the start.   On goes a whole selection of items, eggs, noodles, cabbage and any other topping you ordered. Oysters and crab seemed very popular where we ate.   There was a whole bench of us sat watching the chefs prepare our dish and when it was served, while it looked an unusual, for us, mixture of ingredients, I can confirm it was very, very tasty.

Our host for the Flavours of Osaka Tour was Megumi who took us to three restaurants in the Temma area of the city which was a warren of small narrow streets lined with bars and restaurants.   She told us these were hugely popular with the young crowd as they were somewhat vintage places, popular in the old days of the 70s and 80s as standing bars where people went to drink and now were the place to be seen. I’m pleased to say, not being part of the young crowd, she has reserved us seats!   We tried the Kushikatsu which are fried foods on a stick!   Rather like fried lollies – you can have all sorts, I tried some quails eggs and sweet potato, as you do.   Plenty of tempura as it is very popular here, I can honestly say I have never had, until now, a tempura-ed avocado!

You will be pleased to hear we are embracing this food adventure and are willing to try many foods which are new to us.   We do spend rather a lot of time saying ‘I’m not sure what it is, but it’s very nice”.     Also a fair amount of time with confused taste buds trying to make sense of these unfamiliar tastes and textures.     It all feels healthy and light – even despite the frying – in fact the fried oysters I tried in Hiroshima were so tasty I shall remember them fondly for many years!       Do follow us on Instagram and Facebook to see some of our posts from Japan and we’ll see you back in Blighty soon.

I hope you all had a lovely Mother’s Day and are now having a little R&R before Easter kicks in! We are looking ahead to the spring and summer season and hoping we will see you for another tour soon. The food on the Indian Food Tour in Leeds is going down a storm, full of aromatic flavours and we are offering a Spring Tour  in Otley.   Otley’s Tasting Tour is a little different to our other tours. As those of you who have visited this historic market town will know, it is small but beautifully proportioned!   While it may not have the same breadth of eateries as our other destinations, what it does have is a tradition and plethora of artisans – from gin makers and bakers to brewers and butchers – so the tour allows you to get into the heart of what Otley is about and learn about its market heritage. You will go on a journey of discovery around the town, trying tasty morsels then ending with a fantastic spread at one of the local independent brewers where you will see the brewing and be able to wash down the feast with something cold. Just one date at the moment so book th’ssen in here!

In early March we had a very exciting visit to The Grand Cookery School in York. The Grand is a wonderful hotel in York where they always make their guests feel like royalty. In 2019, they invested millions into creating a state-of-the-art teaching kitchen and opened up The Grand Cookery School. They have all sorts of courses ranging from two-hour express events to full day experiences and you can choose between a wide range of topics, including the more popular cuisines such as Italian and Indian, the newer trends such as street food and the techniques involved in bread making and patisserie.

I decided to try out a course and found myself with seven others in the kitchen on the Dim Sum making course. It is a half day course which means it lasts three hours. I have to say time flies by when you are having fun! Before I knew it, I was eating the results of the class with a nice glass of wine with my fellow cooks. Luke was our tutor for the day, and he was fantastic. He brought us up to the demonstration kitchen at the front and talked us through a demonstration of each step in the cooking process. He answered every question we had and kept the course in easy-to-follow sections, so we did not get overwhelmed with information. We would then go back to our stations and everything we needed was there to help us perform the cooking challenge. In total we made three dishes; bao buns filled them with nai wong bao custard as a sweet treat, sui mai parcels using wonton pastry and pork, and dim sum, of course - little dumplings similar to the Japanese gyoza or Nepalese momo   Mine looked splendid (though I say so myself).  

I would definitely say there was a range of cooking abilities on the course, but not once did anyone feel out of their depth. Luke was very encouraging, and we were all delighted by what we achieved by the end of the class. I discovered I am quite a messy cook (as my workstation and apron attested at the end of the class). We all sat down together and ate some of the Asian delights but there was plenty to take home as well for all the family to enjoy/laugh at.   See my results here.

We are delighted to collaborate with the Grand Cookery School so if you book through us you can get 10% off their courses.  Contact us with the link below to get your code.  Why not have a foodie trip to York and take in a course AND a tour. There’s a great adventure right there!  

I am interested in a course at The Grand Cookery School and would like my 10% code

We are looking for someone to join our team of Food Ambassadors taking tours around the fair city of York. It is flexible, part time and thoroughly enjoyable.   The requirements: to be good with people, reliable and able to think on your feet. We are able to offer hours to fit around other responsibilities and it is great fun. If you are interested, send me an email at kay@yorkshireappetite.com

Remember Mother’s Day is coming up and wouldn’t your mother love a tasty food experience!  She might even take you along. Not long to book – it’s coming up soon on 10th March – gift vouchers are available here.

For our food experience in January, we travelled a bit closer to home than the Canary Islands, just up t’road to Durham.   We have experienced Triple A Food Tours before in Newcastle so we knew we would be in for a treat.   We were lucky enough to have not one, but two guides to show us around this beautiful old city – Julie and her trainee.  Starting in the ancient market square, the first stop was a great community style café Northern Stores and Deli which combined the experiences of eating and socialising with shopping - can’t be bad. The café was very friendly and relaxed and you had the opportunity to browse their selection of housewares and if you liked the handmade wooden furniture we sat on, you could buy it. I chose a throne-like chair as fits my status (ha!) at the top of the table and our food was a tasty pattie of pork and black pudding in a bun. With a hot drink of our choice, it was a great start to the tour.

Our next port of call was the old market hall which has been there since 1851. Full of stalls with a variety of traders, we met the charismatic owner of Market Hall Wines.   Packed with every sort of drink you might want to try, our host treated us to some Percy Special Whisky and Cherry Brandy from the Alnwick Rum Company. I’m not a big lover of whisky (I know, hard to believe) but the cherry just took the edge off it and so the wee dram was very much appreciated.  This was followed by a glass of red wine chosen specially for us and lots of joyousness from the welcoming Mark.

Walking down into the lower part of the city, we crossed the River Wear with a good view of the unusual and quirky University Students Union building. Thousands of students grace this city every year and there are plenty of good value eateries to feed them. We were treated to Barro Comida.   We enjoyed Mexican sides and two types of tacos. The food was very tasty, and really quite spicy: luckily it was cooled by  the choice of a margarita or a refreshing hibiscus drink.

The Fusion Restaurant was next. The atmosphere couldn’t have been more different -  dark, elegant, and subdued lighting with flowers in the ceiling, it suited the experience well and the food here was really top quality. We were served a selection of tempura, stir fried veg, dumplings and a glass of wine.

Feeling really quite full and a little tipsy, we finished the tour at Marco Pierre White’s restaurant in the Indigo hotel – an elegant room in the historic Shire Hall. Of course, there was still room for dessert, as we all know that is a separate stomach for dessert (1).   A trio of little cakes; sponge with fruit, chocolate and little cheesecakes were superb and we washed them down with a delicate cup of tea.

Durham is not that far to go and it’s a lovely day out – plenty of food and definitely one of the booziest food tours I have been on (and it’s all included in the price so good value) and you get to wander around a charming old city. Thank you Amy.

You can see some images of our experience on our Instagram here.

1.                  There isn’t.

Happy New Year.   We hope you are all well after the festive season and ready to continue your food journey this year. There is a food experience for every month of the year so we will be sharing our experience of those we have experienced ourselves over the last year to give you inspiration.

It’s Valentine’s Day coming up so what better way to show your love than take your other half on a food tour – the way to the heart is through the stomach after all.   A little cheeky offer – 10% off all tours booked until end of March with the code LOVE24. Love IS a many splendored thing.

Our food experience over Christmas was very non traditional as we visited the island of Tenerife. Not really known as a gastronomic destination, we were pleasantly surprised to discover several Canarian specialities. The two I remember from my previous trips to these volcanic isles are the Papas Arrugadas (wrinkled potatoes) and Mojo , which comes in red or green varieties. New potatoes are boiled in salt water until it evaporates leaving them lovely and soft with a wrinkled appearance.  They are often eaten with the mojo - a sauce made with peppers and cilantro (coriander). You can try the green or the red or the ‘picante’ - the spicy variety!  

Unsurprisingly being an island in the Atlantic ocean, seafood is order of the day in the Canaries. Their Christmas is celebrated European style on the 24th December with a feast of great proportions and a huge array of seafood - lobster, langoustines, mussels and scallops were all on offer. Cooked simply but well with the addition of garlic, herbs and olive oil, all were so tender and fresh in their taste.   Bacalao encebollado (fresh cod with peppers, onions, garlic, oregano, thyme, smoked paprika, and white wine) epitomises the local cuisine and is really the Canarian perfect dish: with papas arrugadas and mojo of course.  

The islands have always acted as a link between Spain and the Americas and many islanders have emigrated to the New World over the last few hundred years.   Over recent years, however, many of their descendants have returned and you will find a South American influence very apparent in the cuisine.   A particular dish I was fond of was Conejo en salmorejo – rabbit marinated in herbs and spices - having long been a fan of the Spanish dish conejo al ajillo   (rabbit in garlic).

So when you’ve eaten your Canarian feast, what local beverages are on offer? Canarian wine of course.   We visited the Bodega Monje on slopes overlooking the ocean on the north coast of the island with Mount Teide poking up in the distance. The particular microclimate is ideal for the vines to produce a range of grapes including Listán negro and negromoll.   Unlike the windier islands like Lanzarote where the vines are planted individually and protected from the wind by their own tiny curved walls, these are grown more traditionally on the hillside. The wine heritage of the Monje family started in 1750 and followed them from Cuba to Tenerife. Now it’s an ideal place to have a tour around their cellars, discovering the techniques used over the centuries and how they have changed. Then, of course, you get to taste the wine on their terrace overlooking the wines and the ocean below. I wanted to try a wine pairing I had not tasted before so chose the rather unusual; two dessert wines paired with chocolates.   My two favourites food groups: wine and chocolate. The chocolates were their own product too being made with vinegar.  I was slightly worried when they told me that but I have to say, I tasted them and they did not taste like vinegar, thankfully.

If you go to the Canaries, try out these great dishes, embrace the seafood experience or try them yourself at home.   The recipes are easy to find online and you can see a video of our Christmas Eve feast on Instagram at Canarian Feast and our bodega visit at Bodega Monje

Of course, our Christmas newsletter should include a teensy reminder to get those food tour vouchers and goodie boxes bought or ordered sharpish but we thought we would treat you to some interesting facts about Christmas dinner you can throw into the conversation around the table at your own dinner.

A little bit of history…….What do you think of when you hear the words ‘christmas dinner’? Turkey? Mince Pies? Well, the make-up of the traditional Christmas Dinner has changed a little over time. Of course, back in medieval times, what you ate was very much determined by your class. The rich would have eaten goose and, with the king’s permission, swan.  The poor on occasion could get a goose from the church but it would cost about 7 pence, a day’s wages! Venison was also popular and this would occasionally mean the poor got the chance to feast on the leftover parts: the heart, liver, tongue, ears and brain – known as the ‘umbles.  A cook could mix these with whatever else they could get and make them into an ‘umble pie’. For pudding, people could have ‘frumenty’ made from thick porridge, currants, dried fruit, egg yolk and spices.

An addition to the festive dinner during Elizabethan times was sugar, and whilst it was mostly for the better off due to its expense, it led to an extra sweetmeat course being added.  Dishes included ‘collops of bacon’ made from ground almonds and sugar and ‘leech’ - a milk based sweet made from sugar and rosewater.   To drink was ‘lambswool’, made from hot cider, spices and apples which exploded when hot and created a white woolly top, hence the name!

During Georgian times, a Twelfth Night celebration became popular.  January 5th would see Twelfth Night parties where the main centrepiece was ‘Twelfth Cake’, the forerunner of today’s Christmas pud which contained a dried pea or bean, Whoever found this pea/bean in their slice would become king or queen for the night!

Still no turkeys as yet. In Northern England during Victorian times, roast beef was the most common Christmas meal while those in the south liked goose. If this was out of your means, rabbit was a good alternative. Turkey only became popular towards the end of the 19th century but was in rather short supply come the second world war, so chicken would be the next choice, followed by, yes, you got it- rabbit!

Next, when you’re debating whether or not Yorkshire Puddings should be eaten with Christmas Dinner (there’s a split decision in Yorkshire Appetite camp – my personal view; any excuse for a Yorkshire Pud!), spare a thought for the weird and wonderful things eaten at this festive time around the world.

You may have heard about the tradition in Japan of a big bucket of KFC on Christmas Day.  This came from a marketing campaign in the 1970s that popularized KFC as the go-to food for Christmas. In China, Christmas is not a public holiday as a western Christian festival, however celebrating it has become more and more popular especially among young people.  One tradition is to share decorative apples on Christmas Eve with your loved ones. They are carved with an encouraging message and wrapped in colourful paper. Known as ‘peace apples, they are a way to show you care about someone.

Something rather different in Norway now. ‘Smalahove’ used to be traditionally served the Sunday before Christmas and was considered an indulgent meal for the poor.  It was, wait for it, a sheep’s head served with potato and rutabaga (like a turnip). The head was split in two and the brain removed and soaked in water for 2 days then salted, dried and smoked before being boiled or steamed to be eaten.  Nowadays, however, this dish is reserved more for tourists and left off the average Norwegian’s Christmas table (a relief for them I suspect).

One traditional Christmas food that is still served today is ‘mattak’ and ‘kiviak’ in Greenland. Mattak is a strip of skin taken from the narwhal or white whale with blubber still attached, it is carved into bite-sized chunks and is said to taste like fresh coconut. Kiviak is the flesh of a small arctic bird called auk which is then stuffed inside a sealskin.  This is buried for several months to ferment then it’s ready – lovely (gulp).

So, I for one, will not be trying that this year – unfortunately I forgot to bury my kiviak in good time, will just have to settle for Yorkshire puddings and chocolates (not together). You all enjoy your festive fare!

Browns.

This fine dining restaurant in a historic banking hall is our guide Jasvinder’s favourite place to eat in Leeds as it always feels like a special occasion.   Located on the edge of the Light complex on the Headrow, it is perfect for city centre dining and you can get a visit to the Leeds Art Gallery in there beforehand too.   The Christmas Day menu is going for £92 per person for four courses and they have the traditional offerings plus special dishes besides such as the Pan Roasted Halibut with Clams and Browns Butter.     If you already have plans for the day itself round your nan’s house, then they still have a festive menu you can enjoy either side of the 25th. This is a more affordable £38 per person for three courses and my pick on this menu is the Potato Gnocchi and Browns Butter and Basil Pesto.

Browns, 70-72 The Headrow, Leeds LS1 8EQ

Malmaison Bar and Grill

If you have visited this stylish contemporary eaterie you will know it never fails to deliver. A calm and elegant space that you can even combine with an overnight stay for a reasonable price right in the centre of Leeds. They have their celebrations menu from £35 to savour, I personally have my eye on the Mulled Wine Berry Pavlova.   If you want a treat after your Christmas shopping, then they offer a rather classy Festive Afternoon Tea for £35-39, depending on whether you’re going to upgrade to a Prosecco or one of their rather naughty Festive Cocktails.   Sundays throughout December they are offering their classic Sunday roast with a seasonal twist which may tempt you out of the house.

Malmaison Bar and Grill, 1 Swinegate, Leeds LS1 4AG

Tharavadu

We know this one well with it being on our Leeds food tour and it really deserves the accolades it has received including its Michelin recommendations!   Always welcoming with a great atmosphere and phenomenal service, it makes a fantastic alternative to the traditional lunch. Their Christmas menu has a choice of menus, either 2 courses or 4 courses, for under £40 and the great thing about here is that half of their menu is vegetarian with great vegan dishes so the whole family can eat together whatever their dietary preferences! The staff are always happy to give recommendations and make sure your experience is the best it can be. Love it.

Tharavadu, 7-8 Mill Hill, Leeds LS1 5DQ

Fazenda

Another non traditional choice, Fazenda down in Granary Wharf is popular among meat lovers.  If you fancy a South American flavour to your festive culinary treats then this Argentinian/Brazilian restaurant delivers the succulent meat their countries are famous for. The ambience is stylish and is a mix of traditional and contemporary, you don’t have to sit around a campfire for an authentic gaucho experience. They have a festive menu which has four different levels – from standard (£29-£49) to platinum (£56- £77) which includes some special drinks and a selection of five Brazilian sweet treats. The latter particularly caught my eye, and my sweet tooth’s attention.

Fazenda, Granary Wharf, Leeds LS1 4GL

Adelphi hotel

Those of you who have visited this popular venue just over the bridge from the city centre, will know how its friendly alternative vibe lures the visitors in. An historic building with a Victorian character it has the feel of going back in time. They are offering a very reasonable three course festive menu for only £28.50 which has some cracking dishes on the menu. My choice would be the Panko Coated Normandy Camembert – to take me back to our road trip in France earlier in the year. A familiar and welcoming environment.

The Adelphi Hotel, 1-3 Hunslet Road, Leeds LS10 1JQ

Whitelocks

Another familiar and popular Leeds venue which is everybody’s best kept secret is Whitelocks. If you don’t know it’s there you might miss the small alleyway off Briggate which takes you to the oldest pub in Leeds, established in 1715 and a firm favourite with locals.   It is another place that welcomes you and with cheerful staff and a great atmosphere, it is like a comfy pair of slippers. Their Christmas offering is either 2 courses at £31 or 3 at £36 which is tempting me and when I saw they had a Beetroot Wellington on the menu, I’m there.

Whitelock’s , Turk’s Head Yard, Leeds LS1 6HB

Riva Blu

If you can’t get away this Christmas, how about pretending you are in Southern Italy for one night. This authentic Italian restaurant with its relaxing teal surroundings makes you want to talk Italian and I would love to be eating the Branzino (pan fried sea bass) whilst sipping an Aperol Spritz and imagining looking out at the Amalfi coast. Their festive menu has some very tantalizing dishes and at £48 per person offers a great dining experience. (£34 for vegetarian and vegan options).   Buon Appetito (fluent, me)

Riva Blu, 11-12 Park Row, Leeds LS1 5HD

Blackhouse

This is a nice place, just back from Park Row and nestled in a little square. With its glass walls and twinkly lights, it has a really relaxing ambience and feels very stylish but without pretension. Their Christmas menu is reasonable at £37.50 and with some traditional well loved dishes and if you like Christmas Pudding then what is better to accompany it than some rum custard. Most desserts in my opinion benefit from little tipple.

Blackhouse Grill on the Square, 31-33 E Parade, Leeds LS1 5PS

You’ll never be short of a good restaurant in Harrogate but if you’re used to eating at home, you may want to treat yourself this festive season. Whether it’s the actual Christmas Day to save you on cooking or the rest of the season when you’re fed up of turkey leftovers, there is no other time better to celebrate with some good food and drink. Here we have highlighted 8 places worthy of a visit.

1.     Pickled Sprout

This lively venue is a firm favourite with its opulent surroundings and creative menu. Chef Richard Ferebee presents a varied menu full of delicious dishes. There are the classics along with enriching superfoods all in a botanically inspired surroundings. It is a great place for cocktails too so just the place for a festive celebration.

The Pickled Sprout, 1 John Street, HG1 1JZ

2.     Pine Marten

A classy and relaxed atmosphere, this pub on the edge of Harrogate is renowned for its classic menu. The fig and dolcelatte roast is personal favourite of Yorkshire Appetite. They have a great selection of hand crafted cocktails to accompany the food and on Christmas Day have a rather splendid menu at £89.95 per head including said roast! Good selection of wine too

The Pine Marten, Otley Road, Harrogate HG3 1UE

3.     Tannin Level

This restaurant has been serving excellent high quality food for nearly 38 years and does never disappoint. The ethos behind the menu is ‘Yorkshire on a plate’ keeping food miles as low as possible. They have a fabulous Christmas Party menu at £42.50 a head and great lunch and midweek menus too.   We think the white onion and cider soup sounds one to try.

The Tannin Level, 5 Raglan Street, Harrogate HG1 1LE

4.     Taverna

This welcoming Greek restaurant offers a great alternative to traditional Christmas Fare. They serve the best moussaka I have tasted and are known for great Greek giros. Their Christmas Day menu is a very reasonable £49.95 per head and includes their fantastic sea bass too. You are always made to feel like a special customer and has a cozy and relaxed atmosphere.

Taverna, 23 Cheltenham Crescent, Harrogate, HG1 1DH

5.     Essenza

Also very welcoming with great food is this little gem hidden away above a shop on Oxford Street. The food never disappoints and they have a great menu of Spanish tapas with a global flair. Their lunch menu at £14.95 for 3 tapas is excellent value for money and this festive season they have a great selection at a great price - £28.95 for 2 courses and £31.95 for 3.

Essenza, 34a Oxford Street, Harrogate HG1 1PP

6.     Domo

If you want fresh, authentic Japanese cuisine then try out this popular restaurant in Montpelier Street. The service is excellent and they are always happy to give recommendations from the menu. Their sushi is absolutely incredible and you can treat yourself to something a little special with a Sushi bridge or Super Combo.

Domo, 8 Montpelier Street, Harrogate HG1 2TQ

7.     Orchid

When people want a top notch restaurant in Harrogate, The Orchid at the Studley Hotel is highly recommended. They are well known for their innovative pan-asian menu where the dishes are absolutely divine. The stylish wood décor provides an elegant ambiance to enjoy something a little different.

The Orchid, 28 Swan Road, Harrogate HG1 2SE

8.     Fat Badger

Known for its fabulous Sunday roast and a love of Badger themed decorations, this AA rosette restaurant provides a great dining experience. With elegant surroundings and a good wine list, they are also offering a superb Paired Wine Dinner in December at £65 per head. They are a popular spot on Christmas day when their £100 a head festive dinner is considered a winner.

Fat Badger, Cold Bath Road, Harrogate HG2 0NF

Just a mere 11 miles north of Harrogate is the often overlooked city of Ripon.   An ancient and historic gem with a magnificent cathedral and museums galore attesting to the great stories of its past, it is also home to a varied and rather super independent food scene. Here are our suggestions for somewhere to visit over the Festive season, give yourself a break from the cooking!

1.     The Royal Oak

This refurbished 18th century coaching inn sits right in the historic centre of the city and its food is no ordinary pub grub. You will be delighted by the high quality flavoursome dishes  and its comfortable welcoming ambience.   There is a bottomless brunch throughout December and a great Festive menu which includes a tasty looking belly pork and black pudding. £27.50 for 2 courses and £32.95 for 3.

The Royal Oak, 36 Kirkgate, Ripon HG4 1PB

2.     Realitea

This tea room is a little slice of heaven. Run by Sarita whose love of the ceremony of Afternoon Tea inspired her to offer the fantastic British Raj High Tea – a classic Afternoon Tea with a taste of India. It is something quite special so we highly recommend you treat yourself over the festive period. You will always get a warm welcome.   Great selection of excellent teas too.  

Realitea, 84 North Street, Ripon HG4 1 DP

3.     Manchega Vinos y Tapas

A festive menu with a difference. This atmospheric and cosy restaurant is known for its great dishes fusing Spanish and South American dishes and this season they are offering a rather fabulous and different Festive Tapas menu at £29.95 a head including a welcome drink of Sangria. Your taste buds will definitely thank you.

Manchega Vinos y Tapas,   1 Duck Hill, Ripon HG4 1BL

4.     The Inn at South Stainley

This country pub is conveniently on the road between Ripley and Ripon and is definitely worth a visit. It has relaxed seating with open fires and instantly makes you feel at home. Their dishes, created by chef Shane White and his team, are always delicious and he has created festive menus for both lunch time at £34 a head or £38 at dinner time. The staff always make you feel special and the food is out of this world.

The Inn, South Stainley, HG3 3ND

5.     Valentinos

The first of our suggestions for a little Italian this Christmas. This is a great family favourite with Rick, Danny and Pablo at the helm to ensure you have an authentic Italian experience.   Food produced with passion in a traditional style, it is always worth a visit.

Valentinos, 14 Westgate, Ripon HG4 2AT

6.     Prima

Another great Italian in the heart of Ripon. The Head Chef Pietro finally had his dream come true when he took over ownership from the Fantoni family. Authentic Italian food and great pizzas, they are offering a great menu for the festive season at £25.90 for 2 courses and £29.90 for three. My eye is on the Chocolate, Hazelnut and Orange Tart for dessert.

Prima, 33 Kirkgate, Ripon HG4 1PB

7.     The Water Rat Pub

This great pub is warm and inviting and is perfect for idling away the hours looking out over the picturesque view of the River Alba with the cathedral in the distance. It’s homely atmosphere is perfect to take your time over the Festive Menu at £25 per head or take advantage of their Christmas Eve lunch. They have a range of festivities too including musical treats and a quiz!

The Water Rat, 24 Bondgate Green, Ripon HG4 1QW

8.     So Bar

So Bar offers a menu with a little pizzazz. They offer a Bottomless Brunch throughout December at £30 per head and their menu and ambiance is contemporary and innovative and offers something for everyone.   Always welcoming and really good for accommodating special dietary requirements, they always offer good value for money.

So Bar, 6 Old Market Square, Ripon HG4 1EQ

Over Christmas, it’s nice to visit relatives and all share food and break bread together around the table. But it’s also nice to go out!   The Christmas atmosphere is jolly and everyone is full of festive cheer so make sure you make the most of the specials that many of our favourite restaurants are putting on. Here are our pick of the good ‘uns in York this Christmas.

Fat Badger

A traditional pub set in a charming and characterful historic building, the bar walls.  Warm and welcoming serving traditional ales and an impressive gin list.   The food is high quality A la Carte pub food.   They offer a classic Christmas menu at £90 which features the succulent turkey and Christmas pudding, among other choices. It is very festive with twinkly lights aplenty and there is even an outdoor winter chalet, a cosy hideaway nestled in the courtyard if you would like your group to have a special experience.  

Fat Badger, 2-4 High Petergate YO1 7EH.

Everest Gurkha Nepalese Restaurant

If you want something non traditional and a little bit special, try out this Nepalese restaurant. With influences from India and China, you will try unexplored, unique tastes not experienced before. Their expert chefs have some special dishes for you to try. The service is excellent and you can even sit at the traditional low tables if you want a truly authentic experience (optional!).   You can also try their wonderful Gurkha beer to accompany these wonderful flavours. Their Christmas menu is only £25.99 and includes a welcome drink and three courses.

Everest Gurkha Nepalese restaurant 7 fossgate YO1 9TA.

Thor’s Tipi at the Principal Hotel garden

At Yorkshire Appetite, we are accustomed to the delicious tastes that Yuzu street food deliver and you can know experience the great flavours inspired by Japanese mountain resorts while celebrating in the Grand Alpine Hall decorated with a twinkly fairy light ceiling.   This is something a little bit different for groups of 4 and upwards. You cannot get more festive than this – schnapps, mulled wine, boozy hot chocolate. You will feel as if you’re in the mountain. Now until 24th December.

This Grand Alpine Hall decorated with twinkly fairy lights is something a little different for groups of 4 and upwards. You can experience the great japese flavours provided by Yuzu street food

Principal Hotel, Station Road, York YO24 1AA

Chopping Block

This characterful 17th century alehouse has the most fantastic of restaurants. Selling itself as a British and French restaurant its menu has the best of both worlds including Roasted Cauliflower and Confit Duck Leg.   Their Christmas menu is very reasonably priced at £33 and some items to tempt you – the tartiflette, a speciality of the French Alps, baked cheese over potatoes, onions and bacon. Sounds christmassy to me!  

Chopping Block at Walmgate Ale House, 25 Walmgate YO1 9TX

The other four we are recommending are:

Judges Lodgings

Guy Fawkes Inn

The Old Liquor Store

Rise at The Grand