A intriguing looking street food van selling ‘low & slow’ smoked BBQ meats has appeared outside Trinity shopping center in Leeds.
For the next few weeks, it'll be home to Jimmy Mack's street food kitchen selling wraps filled with 12-hour hickory-smoked beef brisket, 6-hour Birria lamb leg, and 14-hour maple-smoked pork collar.
These come topped with a selection of homemade salsas, pickles and sauces, plus extras and sides like loaded fries and Southern-fried boneless chicken thighs.
Converted from an old Peugeot J7, the street food van is a new part of Trinity's food lineup, joining permanent offerings Archie’s, Pho, Rola Wala, Tortilla, Pizzaluxe, Absurd Bird and Doner Shack.
The van's food offering will change every six to eight weeks, with the likes of poutine heroes Spuds n Bros, Thai kitchen Sri Non and burger bad boys Wagyu Lookin’ At? also lined up fpr a stint there this summer.
Chef James with friend pictured outside the newly-installed food van / Image: Jimmy Mack's
For the month of June, though, it's all about BBQ here wit York-based chef James Mackenzie in situ for the next few weeks.
Wraps here are dipped in meat juices, crisped up and then topped with melted cheese and house sauces and sides. All come served with a pot of special 'pit gravy' for dipping, too.
There's also a pulled BBQ oyster mushroom for vegans, served with deep-fried crispy onion, charred corn salsa and chipotle mayo.
Jimmy Mack’s is a relatively new concept, devised by chef James based on his own experiences of travelling and cooking for clients around the world.
He's previously worked as a chef to the rich and famous, at chalets in the Alps and on luxury yachts in France, Italy, and Croatia.
Speaking on the new project, he said: “After years of working in kitchens, it was time to do my own thing! I want to create tasty food that I love and bring something a little different to the street food scene.
“The street food van is such a great opportunity for chefs like myself, one that is original and isn’t offered anywhere else. I am looking forward to joining Trinity Kitchen and serving up some great food.”
Find Jimmy Mack's at Trinity from 1st-20th June. Find out more and view the menu on their website.
Eats
Salon Madre – a new tequila bar and pool hall is opening in Leeds this month
Manchester's favourite Mexican bar is about to become your newest nightlife destination in Leeds.
It's been a long time coming, but Salon Madre is officially ready to open in Leeds.
Although we may have to wait a little bit longer for Madre, the day-to-night eatery that has made waves over in Manchester and Liverpool, Salon Madre, its lively tequila bar and pool hall sibling, is officially opening on Friday 20 February.
Salon Madre, which will be located just around the corner from Madre at 114 Wellington Street, is where the party really gets started.
Image: The Manc Group
Expect tequila-fuelled nights, pool tables, lively DJs and Lucha Libre on the big screens.
There will also be plenty of tacos being flung out the kitchen to keep you going until the early hours.
If you’ve ever visited one of their venues in Manchester or Liverpool, you’ll know it’s an absolute riot and we can’t wait to welcome them to the city.
Images: The Manc Group
Co-founder Sam Grainger, inspired by countless trips to Mexico, says: “Mexico is alive with passionate artisans and cooks, mastering everything from street tacos to regional delicacies. It’s a world where traditions blend and evolve and we’ve built that ethos into the heart of both Madre and Salon Madre.”
Madre Leeds will open soon and you can even grab yourself a free margarita by signing up to their newsletter here.
We’ll keep you up to date with their opening times but for now, we'll see you at Salon Madre for a boogie, margarita and game of pool next week.
Award-winning Leeds restaurant announces shock closure just months after opening
Clementine Hall
Emba in Leeds will be closing its doors with the owner blaming rising costs and pressure on the hospitality sector.
Back in April last year, one of Leeds' top restaurants The Owl closed its doors.
Run by renowned Chef Liz Cottam, The Owl was reimagine into Emba - a trendy restaurant tat bridged 'the gap between cosy bar and vibrant dining room'.
To open Emba, Cottam opened a Crowdfunder where supporters would be awarded with prizes such as VIP dinners and merch depending on how much they donated.
But sadly just months after opening, Emba is to close permanently.
Cottam confirmed the sad news with a statement shared with customers over the weekend, saying she was completely "heartbroken".
She said: “This is no longer the right time to own independent restaurants like Emba,” she said. “Under the current conditions they cannot survive and the recent budget confirmed what so many of us already knew: no meaningful help is coming for hospitality.
"The experience of being here and the harsh financial reality of running a business here no longer stack up.
"Being award winning, popular, admired and loved no longer means profitable and as an industry if we’re honest most of us have not truly been okay since Covid."
She signed off the statement promising to return to the restaurant world, she said: “What I do know is this, I am not done. I will keep cooking, keep creating and keep finding ways to do the thing I love.”
Georgina Pellant -
2nd June 2021 
