Like Western Australia, Leeds is a utopia for damn good produce. Showcased regularly at markets and fairs across the city, I never fail to become overcome with giddiness as I absorb the bounty of treats before me. The most perfect form of art, I find nothing more beautiful than stall after stall laden with a rainbow of vegetables, cheese, olives and a plethora of other foodie delights. Pair this with pop-up carts using the freshest local ingredients to cook up an exciting meal you can devour there and then, and you’ve got my idea of HEAVEN.
I chose Kirkstall Deli Market to indulge this passion on the advice of the lovely Lianne from Everything Goes with Toast and was NOT disappointed. Set in the beautiful ruins of Kirkstall Abbey, a diverse selection of Leeds’ producers set out their stalls to feed the good people of Leeds an eclectic array of tasty treats. With excellent cuisine, relaxing acoustic music and gorgeous surroundings, I can think of few better ways to spend a Saturday afternoon. The only problem? Choosing between the vast amount of mouth-watering morsels on offer!
To conquer this impossible task, I put myself in an Aussie frame of mind and made a beeline for two stalls in particular – The Hop Box and Fish&.
Blessed with 1000s of miles of pristine coastal waters and gorgeous inland waters, Western Australia is a haven for seafood lovers. With this in mind I headed straight for Fish& to sample the BEST fish and chips this side of Australia. I’ve loved Fish& ever since I first tasted their fish and chip tapas at their launch event years ago, and they just get better and better. Andrew Critchett crafts tapas size chunks of perfectly cooked, succulent fish encased in an airy, light batter that comes in two distinct flavours – cracked black pepper and sea salt or lemon, lime and chilli. Topped with a dollop of freshly made tartare sauce or aioli (or both if you’re greedy like me!) and you’ve got a seriously imaginative portion of fish and chips that you won’t forget in a hurry.
Meet Andrew to hear more about Fish& and why he thinks Leeds is so special for food and drink.
Aussies also love their beer and Western Australia in particular is a haven for very fine beer indeed, with the state boasting more than 30 boutique breweries. If you’ve not already tried it, get hold of a bottle of Little Creatures – it’s pretty special. As such, it would have been rude not to grab an afternoon tipple from The Hop Box, a re-purposed horse cart box serving craft beer from local breweries. With several options on tap, I opted for Freedom – an aromatic, refreshing lager that was the perfect accompaniment to Andrew’s fish and chips.
Meet The Hop Box’s Ben Smith to hear more about his philosophy and passion for beer.
Andrew’s and Ben’s were just two of the many excellent stalls selling their delicious wares at Kirkstall Deli Market. It takes place on the last weekend of every month, so pop the date in your diary and make sure you’re there for some tasty treats at the next!