Good Appetite Wishes

How do you start to wish someone well and enjoyment of their meal. Good appetite or as the French would have us say bon appétit doesn’t cut the mustard (Dijon or other).

I like the plain Yorkshire ‘Tuck in’ but it is seldom heard in posh establishments.

The Americans go for ‘Chow Down’ which seems more appropriate for dog food.

Buon appetito is the formal Italian but this canny restaurant in Otley has shortened it to Buon Apps. Just so long as they don’t cut the portions.

Not that I ever eat in places that speak these languages but ‘god appetitt’ Norwegian, ‘masă bună’ Romanian and ‘hyvä ruokahalu’ in Finnish also wish is well.

To finish (this post not a meal) I like a cross between a wish and grace;
‘Over t’teeth over t’gums look out stomach here it comes’.

Alan Sherman International Food

Bread Bred in Yorkshire Bakery

Posted by brian in Food and Drink - (1 Comments)

I love fresh wholesome artisan bread and a new shop recently opened in our village. It sells a variety of bread from several yorkshire bakeries and is a welcome addition to the range of shops in Menston.
Below are a few Yorkshire bread crumbs but if you wish to feature your favourite bakery send us a comment below.

Craven Bakery Skipton
The bakehouse is situated in Craven Nursery Park on the Snaygill Industrial estate. Here they produce a large variety of freshly baked products including bread, confectionary, large catering sized cakes and fresh cream cakes. All produce is delivered on a daily basis to wholesale customers including the new bakers shop in Menston.

Bread and Patisserie Masterclass
Swinton Park Cookery School runs a training course in Masham that teaches participants the art of different bread from traditional daily loafs to speciality Italian breads. Ever wondered how chefs achieve those stunning pastries.

Thomas The Baker
This Helmsley based baker produces large quatities of bread plus a range of authentic Italian breads called Rustica Classico, the definitive combination of fine Italian flour, extra virgin olive oil and malt flour. Rustica Formaggio made with Italian flour and the added tang of fresh grated cheese.
Rustica Pomodoro or tomato bread contains sun dried tomatoes marinated in white wine vinegar, with a sprinkling of oregano, capers and basil.

Fosters Bakery Barnsley
Fosters has been a family owned business since 1952. They have a unique range of bread rolls of all types, shapes, sizes, flavours and textures. They make English muffins and teacakes as well as hot dog rolls and torpedoes. Baked in Mapplewell where over 200 staff have NVQ’s.

Simple Yorkshire Bread is available in recipe form from deliciously Yorkshire or their food guide available from Amazon.

Links
Read more on Gods Own County
Fosters Bakery

Candlelighters Charity Beer

Posted by brian in Food and Drink | Our Yorkshire - (2 Comments)

Candlelight beer is brewed, by Wold Top Brewery, to help raise funds for the Candlelighter’s charity.

Who and What are Candlelighters

Candlelighters is a charity formed and run by parents of children who have or have had cancer.
Great help is also provided by ex-patients and the medical staff who treat the children.
‘Based in Yorkshire, Candlelighters provides essential services and support to children with cancer and their families.’
Candlelighters charity has operated in Yorkshire since 1976
Candlelighters fund raising provides money for additional medical, nursing and social support staff.

The Wold Top Brewery

Beer is usually packaged in barrels or bottles, large ones for preference.
All credit to Wold brewery for this ‘pack of three’ for transporting my bottles. Good beer packaging of the month award!
Wold Top is on a family farm in Wold Newton near Driffield
Other beers include Wold Gold, Mars Magic and Centenary Way Mild

What about the Candlelight Beer

Despite the power sockets no one can hold a candle to this beer.
Alcohol strength is a sensible 4.3%
It is brewed from Driffield grown malting barley and made from local chalk filtered water.
Maris Otter malt and Wilamette hops give the beer a straw colour and clean crisp finish.

There are many ways to get involved and help with Candlelighters

Wold Top’s suppliers helped them top their dream of raising £10,000 including;

Charles Faram for hops
Croxsons for bottles
Fawcetts for malt
Justinor for gift boxes
Springfield for labels
three60 marketing and pr for publicity
Wicked Poppy Designs for label design
Wellington Inn, Lund for hosting the launch event that raised over £1300.

You can help by drinking the beer as a % goes to the charity. Better still, send them the cash your beer free New Year resolution is saving you.

Top Fish & Chips and Seafood

Posted by brian in Food and Drink - (0 Comments)

Yorkshire is blessed with the finest fish and chip shops. It also boasts the best restaurants and cafes specialising in seafood and fish and chips.

Restaurants to Visit

The Drum and Monkey has been a Harrogate favourite for over 30 years. Not the cheapest but one of the best inland fish restaurants in England. Lobster, Dover sole, oysters, halibut and sea bass and a range of other seafood is delivered daily.
Graveleys also of Harrogate on Cheltenham Parade has been gaining a reputation since new owners took over last year. Great Fish and Chips plus other seafood favourites and a selection of fine wine.
Crab and Lobster at Asenby, Thirsk is open every day but Sunday. Generous portions are promised and there are other dishes available for none seafood eaters.
Livebait Leeds claims to ‘only serve fish that is ethically sourced and we are proud to support sustainable fishing policies in line with the Marine Conservation Society, bringing you the freshest seafood with minimal impact on the environment’. The only disappointment I have had has been the volume of customers but you get to expect that from a chain that has to get in as many covers as possible.
The Magpie Cafe in Whitby doesn’t serve Magpie, unless it have been eaten by one of the ginormous fish they serve. When I talk about a busy seafood emporium at Livebait it is nothing compared with the queues at the Magpie. Still it has always been worth the wait.
The Golden Grid in Scarborough has fine views over Flamborough Head from the upstairs windows. For canny Yorkshire folk there is a 10% off voucher by clicking here.
Loch Fyne is a chain with restaurants in Harrogate, (update the Harrogate branch has disappeared hook line and sinker!)Walmgate York and City Square Leeds Enough said – not one of my favourites.

Eat In Fish & Chip Shops

Harry Ramsden’s the old stand by ‘Chippy’ of the bus trip era. Still has the chandeliers and great grub.

(more…)

Otley Manor House Pub

Posted by brian in Food and Drink | Yorkshire History and Heritage - (0 Comments)

How dare I feature a Lancastrian brewery on these Yorkshire pages. Well I was keen to correct reviews I read about the Manor House near the Maypole in Otley. Absolute none-sense published about Yorkshire hospitality.

Pub Reviews

‘ Beware you feel like trespassing…. however, if you want a taste of traditional Yorkshire, complete with its pitfalls and whatnot, this place might well be perfect to you. A Thwaites pub through and through, they generally serve 3 ales, a dark mild, a bitter and a guest ale.’ (Aniela M)

‘It’s not the most welcoming of pubs, but not many pubs in this town are overly welcoming. Because it’s a Thwaites pub it’s a bit of a favourite with the old gents of Otley, so anyone after anything lively or youthful should probably look elsewhere. Conversely, anyone looking for a traditional Yorkshire pub and some traditional Yorkshire folk should go no further than the Manor. Or anyone after some cheap ale.’ (Alex K) read more on Yelp

Well that is far from my own experience. I enjoy a visit to Otley to tour the pubs or go to the Church organised beer festival. Invariably I try to get into the Manor House, although it is thronged during Folk Festival weekend. One key reason for me is the ‘Mild’ which is a great session beer and I wish more pubs served it based on a heavy barrelage and through put.

I think a pub named after ‘The Manor’ is entitled to some airs and graces but that has never been my experience in this fine hostelry ( I am not looking for a free pint either)

Naming The Manor House

As befits an old town dating from before Roman times, there are stories of several Manor Houses.

Remains of the old Archbishop’s Manor House were found during the construction of St Joseph’s RC Primary School near to the River Wharfe.

Thomas Chippendale, the famous furniture maker, was born in Otley, and his statue stands in the town, next to the old grammar school he once attended in Manor Square.

The site of the ancient Mansion of the Archbishop of York, at the north end of the town, is still denominated the Manor House. More on Genuki

The Manor Club was a Gentleman’s Club until its closure after the end of its 100 years lease in 2002.

Yorkshire’s Own Delicious Kitchen

Posted by brian in Books & Literary Work | Food and Drink - (1 Comments)

Deliciously Yorkshire is not a bad name for the quango that helps to promote the Yorkshire Food Industry. At the Great Yorkshire Show and other events and visitor attractions they often have a stand or a series of stalls for the many niche food producers they support. Now ‘Deliciously Yorkshire’ have produced there own book highlighting more than 470 fabulous producers, restaurants, hotels, cafes and places to visit spread right across the region.
“Buying British, buying locally and buying directly from farmers can all help make a difference in terms of improving our economy, sustainability and food security.” Dr John Sentamu, Archbishop of York”. “Recipes from selected companies are listed in full detail, and there are inserts from some of Yorkshires most famous Chefs, it gives you a sense of how proud the people of Yorkshire are about their region! ” T. Littlewood on Amazon.

Grubs up – so I am off for my Sunday dinner ‘roast beef and guess what.’

For a slice or two about bread bred in Yorkshire read

In case you are clueless about cooking I can’t resist this book offering from amazon.

Camara Pubs With York Heritage and Magnetism

Posted by brian in Food and Drink | Yorkshire History and Heritage - (0 Comments)

Legend had it that there were 365 pubs in York, one for every day of the year. Half the pubs of York have gone since the 1950′s and there have been some historic losses. We need to protect those with special interest interiors and ‘support our pub heritage’. I will drink all I can in helping this cause.

Pubs with Interiors of Historic Interest

Black Swan in Peaseholme Green is a Grade ll* listed building with medieval timber-frame. There has been sensitive remodelling of the interior in the 30′s and 70′s but the original domestic interior survives. The 17th century staircase, doorways, fireplace and oak panelling have created a pub with very distinctive character.

Blue Bell on Fossgate has a slightly gaudy red tiled exterior that is not the most welcoming. For those who venture inside however an Edwardian treat awaits. The rooms are wood-panelled and traditionally furnished throughout, with the bar room only having enough room for 3 or 4 tables. A side lobby has two etched doors accessing a tiny front bar room and a rear ‘former-smoke room’ that is too narrow for some corpulent American visitors. This room and the lobby both have hatch access to the bar.The Blue Bell is a Grade ll* listed building and I hope the pub chains leave the interior alone.

Royal Oak on Goodramgate is a small stylish town pub. There is documentation dating it back to the 15th century. The Royal Oak has both 18th and 19th century extensions to the back. It went through a major restoration project in 1934, a ‘Tudor Revamp’ according to Camra. Now with a gas fire rather than traditional logs it is still a cosy place to drink. Eating and your enjoyment thereof, depends on the landlord and cook at the time you visit.

The Swan on Bishopsgate, just outside York’s Bar Walls, was only the second pub to be designated a Tetleys Heritage Inn in the 1980′s. 30 years on and The Swan Inn has been nominated for “best real ale pub” in The Press Pub Awards 2009/10, and was Camra’s pub of the year. Probably enough said but the interior layout is one of only 3 surviving pubs witha genuine inter-war years layout within York.

York Arms beneath the shadow of the Minster is a homely little pub that escaped the open-plan movementr in the 1970′s. The site was a former Chapter coffee house but a licensed house was build on the site in 1838 and still has two main lounge areas, and a tiny snug at the front of the pub. It is a Samuel Smith pub so you will know it offers value for money in the beer pricing.

Lighthorseman was built in Fulford Road during Queen Victoria’s reign and survives as a multi-roomed public house of some style. There is a wealth of original Victorian features including the only original Victorian bar remaining in the city. Deservedly there is a grade 2 listing. With accommodation available you can check out its own web site.

I am sure I have not covered your favourite alehouse, boozer, hostelry, local, watering-hole or call it what you will. If my omission is unwarranted then I am happy to add further pubs to this page or better still visit them for myself. Please comment below.

Photo by SFB579 CC

beer

On Yer Bike to Farndale Daffodil Valley

Posted by brian in Food and Drink | Yorkshire Dales | Yorkshire Trips and Places - (1 Comments)

Farndale, aka ‘Daffodil Valley’ by virtue of the ‘Lenten Lilies’ which carpet the valley floor in a sea of yellow each spring. The Daffodils, Narcissus pseudonarcissus, were probably brought to the valley and Douthwaitedale by 12th century Monks and got the old name Lenten Lily from the fact they normally bloom around Easter, a little later than most British Daffodils. If you are not worried by crowds then a weekend trip at the end of March or April will repay your perseverance. Because of the cold weather this year you may find a warmer and quieter time to visit will be mid-week mid-to late April.

Walking The Dove and Farndale

If you are not on your bike ‘Walking world’ has a range of interesting walks including Church houses in Farndale on this site. Wikipedia’s entry for Farndale must have been written by a southerner who dislikes moorland as ‘Farndale is surrounded by some of the most inhospitable moorland in England, and is sandwiched between Bransdale and Rosedale. …… Around the north of Farndale, is the track bed of the old Rosedale Ironstone Railway which forms part of two Long Distance Footpaths these being Wainwright’s Coast to Coast Walk and The Lyke Wake Walk’. Well they are right about walking so forgive and forget. There are many fine walks along the banks of the river Dove starting at the small hamlet of Low Mill where a nearby field is used to accommodate the hundreds of cars which arrive during the daffodil season.

Tea Rooms and Refreshments

Refreshments are available at the Daffy Caffy at High Mill and the Feversham Arms Inn at Church Houses. The “Daffy Caffy” cafe tearoom is situated on the well known daffodil walk in beautiful Farndale, North Yorkshire, England. The scenery and walking is quite magnificent, whether it be along the river or climbing up to Rudland Rigg on the North York Moors. In the hamlet of Church Houses, Farndale, the Feversham Arms ‘serves good food and beer for the passing walker’. Just up the road is St Mary’s Church a small moors village church built in 1831 and well worth a visit even when the Daffodils have gone.

Other Village Activities

Alt country bands, renown folk singers and even Yorkshire Countrywomens Associations use the Band Room in Farndale variously described as ‘England’s tiniest major venue,’ ‘The greatest small venue on Earth,’ and ‘a corrugated iron shed in the middle of nowhere.’ There is a big gig no 29th August 2010 the night before the 103rd Farndale Show staring Megafaun ( I will say that a bit louder). Built for the Farndale Silver Band in the 1920s this 100-capacity wooden building adds atmosphere to most performances if you can get a ticket.
Picking Daffodils is not an activity that can be pursued as Farndale is now a protected Nature Reserve. Leave the flowers for others to see and the seeds to reproduce naturally.

churches, tea, walking

Tea Rooms to Visit on the Yorkshire Tea Council Trail

Posted by brian in Food and Drink | Our Yorkshire | Yorkshire Trips and Places - (2 Comments)

In 1919 Frederick Belmont opened his first Bettys Café Tea Rooms in the fashionable spa town of Harrogate. It seems like I was queuing from that date as the people snaked around the corner last weekend. There are six Bettys Café Tea Rooms to explore: the spa town of Harrogate has two branches one in the town centre and a second at the RHS garden at Harlow Carr. York has one in the square opposite St Helen’s and Little Bettys is just around the corner in Stonegate. You can also also find Bettys in the market towns of Northallerton and Ilkley.

The above logo from the Tea Guild has an Afternoon tea group that may interest those who like to pause in welcoming surroundings with a good cup of tea and a bite to eat. The Yorkshire locations include:

De Vere Oulton Hall – West Yorkshire

The George Hotel – Huddersfield

Swinton Park – North Yorkshire

Bagden Hall – West Yorkshire

Grinkle Park – North Yorkshire

Other Tea Council locations include Elizabeth Botham & Sons, plus Bullivant both of York and The Black Swan Hotel, Market Place, Helmsley. The Bridge Tea Rooms in Bradford-on-Avon, Wiltshire has been named as the winner of The Tea Guild’s prestigious Top Tea Place 2009 Award but that is not the Bradford Yorkshire where I have still to discover a true tea room but see Shipley’s earlier story.

The UK Tea Council’s “incognito” Tea Guild inspectors have taken tea in tearooms and country and city hotels across Britain, to find the finest tea experience. The anonymous judges award points in fifteen different categories which include the variety and excellence of the teas offered, efficiency and knowledge of service, décor, hygiene and cleanliness, ambience, presentation skills and most importantly the choice and quality of teas served. That seems like a fine job to have I wonder how much you have to pay them to go eating and drinking Teas?

Just a note on the Tockwith Tea Party where Betty’s of Fat Rascal fame sought to stop Fat Betty’s Cheese Nibbles from being made and sold. I understand the Cheese nibbles won but crumbs what a fuss.

dayout, tea

Yorkshire’s Sweet Tooth

Posted by brian in Food and Drink | Our Yorkshire - (3 Comments)

Liquorice

Pomfret is an early name for Pontefract and as most Yorkshire children know, Pontefract is the heart of Yorkshires liquorice making. Around the time of the Battle of Hastings, French monks arrived in Pontefract with liquorice plants for medicinal and stomach purposes and locals created a cottage industry that led to such treats as ‘Yorkshire Pennies’ ‘Catherine Wheels’, Pomfret cakes, Bootlaces and other sweetmeats made from chewy black liquorice.
Pomfret cakes or Pontefract cakes were first created when sugar was added to the liquorice stock and an image of the Norman castle stamped into the round black sweet that was created. The castle has a morbid history Richard II was imprisoned and probably murdered, in Pontefract Castle in 1400. In 1648 to March 1649 Oliver Cromwells New Model Army was engaged in the successful siege of Pontefract Castle that led to its ruination. ‘Pomfret, Pomfret! O thou bloody prison’ as Shakespeare put it in his play Richard III.

Fast forward to the 1840′s when a Sheffield business Bassett and Lodge started a confectionery business that eventually created ‘Liquorice Allsorts’. The Allsorts mix apocryphally was created by a clumsy salesman who spilt a tray of various liquorice creams and sweets in a pattern that appealed to the customer. In 1918 they started to manufacture jelly products called ‘Peace Babies’ which we all now know and love as Jelly Babies. In the 1920′s as a logo the company created “Bertie Bassett,” a human like figure made up of liquorice allsorts. On the strength of the liquorice products such as Ju-Jubes and the Allsorts, Bassett’s bought other brands that included Victory V Lozenges, Zubes, Sherbet Fountains and Beech Nut. I fondly remember the beech nut chewing gum machines which vended an extra packet every 3rd or 4th purchase, what fun it seemed to be getting something for nothing.
Mint based products from Bassett’s included Mint Imperials, Murray Mints and Clarnico Mint Creams.

Needlers started making boiled sweets in Hull in 1886. One of their key innovations was to start selling sweets in clear glass jars rather than the bottle-green glass that had been used previously. All sweets and chocolates were unwrapped and Needles were producing over 2000 tons a year by the early 1920′s but in 1928 they invested in a wrapping machine.
By the 1970′s the chocolate business was loosing money and unfortunately had to be closed but investment in the sugar based lines led to the introduction of the Sensation’ range of vacuum packed mints and fruit pastilles. Needlers bought Batgers Ltd the makers of Jersey Toffee and moved production to Hull.

Thorntons first Chocolate Kabin opened in Sheffield in 1911 aiming to be the best sweetshop in town. Easter and the production of special and named Easter eggs became an important part of business for Thorntons. Then special toffee was created in 1925 and production required larger premises in Penistone Road Sheffield. The chocolate business developed by focusing on quality and learning from contenetal manufacturers particularly in Holland and Belgium. The business floated on the stock market but unfortunately the business moved downmarket into Derbyshire. There is still likely to be a Thorntons Kabin near you (based on my post code I found 6 shops within 10 miles).

See an earlier report on Maxons boiled sweets. All this and still no mention of Rowntrees, Macintoshes, Terrys, Yorkshire Mixtures or even Farrah’s Original Harrogate Toffee. If you have a favourite Yorkshire sweet that I have missed send us a comment below.
Thanks to Maurice Baren ‘How it All Began in Yorkshire’ and The Oldest Sweet Shop in England at Pateley Bridge.

business, nostalgia