Restaurants and stuff

I'd heard it was "Gymkhana for the north" but evidently not. Good to know.

 

All going on in Horsforth! I enjoyed Forde and should go back, it's just a pain to get to from the bradford/halifax borders.

 

Todmorden, not a million miles away. Enjoyed a visit to latin-american inspired Yakumama a while ago:

https://eatingthenorth.com/

 

Went to Il Pirata Pizzata in Saltaire on Friday.

Kept things simple with a Diavola, and chucked in a curveball option too (something about pistachios and lemon zest).

An italian pilsner alongside did the job.

Recommended.

Went for a glass of wine at Cultures afterwards where (the excellent) Nordish used to be. They're doing meats and cheeses which all looked good, and wines to take away which seemed on the pricey side.

 

Just back from a Food and Wine Adventure tour in Sicily. Very nice. Visited Marsala winery, Gambino winery at Etna, olive oil farm, cheese dairy and Palermo street food, with some cultural sites, a cookery course and beach thrown in.
If you find yourself in Palermo I can recommend the Osteria Sciapo. Full of locals. I had busiate pasta with aubergine and salted ricotta. OH had pasta con le sarde. All very nice.

 

My other half has a big birthday coming up in a couple of years and I'm making tentative plans for a trip away.

I'll be shortlisting destinations to start with and Sicily will probably be on it, so this is a handy post (and a reminder that I need to start saving).

Sounds like a good mix of stuff.

 

Nice to be able to promote summat good happening in the vicinity.

Il Pirata Pizzata, Saltaire review

 

Sicily is fabarooni. Wife and I did an anticlockwise circuit of the island in 2018, starting in Palermo, taking in Erice, Agrigento, Noto, Syracusa, Taormina and Cefalu. I can't remember many details of the food but it was universally decent. And many good bottles of Nero d'Avola were consumed in the process.

 

They all look very thick and doughy. I like my pizzas thin, in the traditional Italian manner. Are there thin & crispy options?

 

Just back from a nights stay at the Blue Lion in East Witton, Lower Wensleydale. This is a place that our current monarch apparently rates as a fave place to eat. It's very country set - there was a large shooting party staying there this weekend

The place was pleasant and relaxing. Good ambience - big open fire, decent (if somewhat stiff & starchy) service etc. Room was ok but nothing special for £137 b&b.

The food is good but, expensive for what it is. £13 for 6 queen scallops. I had the twice baked cheese souffle starter, which was actually very nice indeed.
Other half had a rosti for main, which she enjoyed but didn't rave about. My main was whole roast grouse which, with a side of (excellent) crispy kale came to about £40. I enjoyed it, but probably not enough to justify forty sheets.
We were both pretty full though, so didn't have puds or cheese.
£32 Malbec was good.
Breakfast was decent but the choice was limited compared with, say, Shibden Mill Inn.
The whole bill came to £280 for stay and scoff. We had a nice time, but I think I want a bit more than nice for that money, so I doubt we'll go back.

 

I've always liked it here (didn't know that Charlie boy was also a fan), but thought it was a bit tired when we last stayed so what you say rings true.

Some countryside boozers have really upped their game whereas others seem a little stuck in the past.

Lovely bar area though, especially when the fires are crackling.

 

These are traditional in the Neapolitan sense - I think the thin bases are more a Rome thing. I understand he's looking at extending the menu to include lunch options (Detroit-style rectangles of pizza) so maybe something to watch out for.

 

Certainly have seen it but thanks for the steer! Makes my egg on toast tea look very dull...

 

The neapolitan ones look thick and doughy but the crust is quite light and airy. The rest is quite thin . When done right

 

I live there. So, everything is going on.

 

Just seen the weirdest thing driving down the verge in Cookridge. All the cars were slowing down to look. Looked like a little pram with lights. Apparently it was a Deliveroo robot that had got itselfa bit confused trying to cross the road!!! I'm guessing it was some sort of trial

Must have been heading down to Horsforth with a Maccie D.

 

Turns out its the Coop....
https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/business/consumer/starship-grocery-delivery-robots-go-live-in-leeds-today-with-20000-people-within-radius-and-two-co-op-stores-taking-part-3935523?fbclid=IwAR15L2wHsPoy0mhs1tDfb4TppvhSn_8HULZHPoPmTDpkXJSvV5pZCY4QSsY

 

Went out for a Christmas dinner with OH'S beekeeping club. Last year was the Aagrah. This year the organiser chose Napoleon's casino. Dear oh dear. What a depressing place, full of people getting rid of their money at a rapid rate.
The food was just about passable for mass catering. People reported their turkey was a bit dry. My belly pork was OK but a bit on the very fatty side. Plain cooked veg not overdone. Pudding obviously bought in and underwhelming although the accompanying ice cream was very nice.
You couldn't hear yourself think in the dining room due to the "background" music. When they got on to music requests we fell about laughing when 1 table asked for Andy Stewart singing Donald where's yer troozers.
At least I was positioned so that I could see the TV and watch Argentina v Netherlands. Surprised everyone when we let out a yell when the Dutch equalised.
You get given a £5 voucher for a bet, but not allowed to use it on the tables, only the slot machines, so didn't bother.
All in all not recommended.