The verdict: fake meat never did taste so good, even to non-vegans.
Vegetarians and vegans in Leeds are likely to be aware of the culinary masterminds at Bundobust. Widely regarded as a game changing and critically acclaimed enterprise within the independent food and drink industry, Bundobust has forged itself as a beacon of successful casual dining in the North since opening its doors in Leeds back in 2014.
Now, in an era where meat substitutes taste just as good as their vegan alternatives, the Indian Street Food company have collaborated with Meatless Farm to inject meaty-tasting dishes to their plant-based menu.
Image: The Hoot Leeds
Inspired by its Gujarati roots, the Bundobust offering has always been 100% vegetarian, with around two thirds of the menu completely plant-based but this partnership marks the restaurant’s first venture into meat substitutes with Meatless Farm’s plant-based chicken and meatless mince allowing the Bundo team to explore more traditionally meat-focused Indian dishes.
The only way to try the full menu is the Bundo Does Meat Combo for Two, available for just £31. As meat-eaters and vegetarians, The Hoot Leeds' team took on the sharing platter to give our two pence to see if we could tell which meat was being replicated by each dish.
The Keema Matar was a standout favourite. The iconic mince and pea combination is a plant-based deeply flavoured spiced curry, cooked in a classic, dry-fry Karai style with cinnamon, bay leaf, onion, and chilli- delicious wrapped in Puri.
The plant-based butter chicken was also well received. The vegan spin on the decadent, creamy classic with Meatless Farm’s new chicken has all the rich, tomatoey goodness of traditional butter chicken with plant-based kick of chilli and fenugreek, just without any real meat.
Image: The Hoot Leeds
We'd like to take this space to shoutout the onion bhajis at Bundobust- they're crispy on the outside, soft on the inside and every crumb tastes of an incredible fusion of spices. Dare we say they're the best we've found in Leeds so far?
Paired with Mushroom Pilau Rice, a simple dish of mushrooms, cumin, and lemon with classic basmati rice and Puri, we'd happily taste any of the Bundos Does Meat combo instead of our classic meat or cheese fuelled curry orders. There's not the same food coma feel- you're still left full, but refreshingly so rather than making you feel tired.
Image: The Hoot Leeds
Although refreshing post-meal feeling might have something to do with the Brut Luxe, a special vegan 0.5% brew made with Nelson Sauvin hops and white oak on a lager base, and that upon sampling didn't make us feel like we were missing out on actual booze.
If you want a completely soft drink to wash down your Bundo's meat, there's plenty of those to choose from too. Including the Cloudwater Soda’s Spiced Fruit Chaat, a low-cal adult soft drink made with mango, pineapple, passion fruit, and Mosaic hops or Bundo’s Vegan Chai, a comforting blend of oat milk, massala and sugar – plant-based, gluten-free and delicious.
When speaking about the new menu, Mayur Patel, Co-Founder at Bundobust, said: "These specials are something we’ve been working on for months. We experimented with a selection of meat substitutes, and Meatless Farm products lent themselves best to Indian food. Both Bundobust and Meatless Farm are Leeds born businesses focusing on meat-free offerings, so it made sense to work together on these new limited edition specials.”
Meanwhile, Co-Founder Marko Husak, said: “These dishes are different to our usual Gujarati influenced menu. It was so much fun working with our Chef’s using their regional expertise and heritage to create some more traditional curry house dishes.”
Image: The Hoot Leeds
The menu is available for a limited time only, so make sure you make the most of Veganuary and use it as an excuse to taste the famous Bundo flavours in a whole new way. For more information, including how to book at their Leeds restaurant, you can find more information on their website.
A new family-run Italian deli and coffee house has opened in Ben Rhydding, bringing a little taste of Italy to the outskirts of Ilkley.
Rizia's Bottega, on Bolling Road, officially opened at the end of August following a soft launch, serving authentic schiacciata sandwiches, colourful salads, and light Sicilian breakfasts.
The new neighbourhood spot comes from the team behind Ilkley favourite Emporio Italia and has been created as somewhere locals can pop in for their morning coffee, sit down for a bite to eat, or pick up some high-quality Italian treats to enjoy at home.
The idea for the bottega was inspired by founder Fabrizia Wagstaff-Pignanelli's own childhood memories of Italy and the role her local bottega played in everyday life.
She said: "The idea for Rizia's Bottega was brought to life whilst me and my family were watching our family videos and sharing memories of how we would spend our days in our local bottega in San Giovanni.
Inside Rizia's BottegaThe menu at Rizia’s BottegaRizia’s Bottega is now open in Ben RhyddingCredit: The Hoot Leeds
"The Bottega was the heart of our little town, where you would pop in for a quick coffee but unknowingly spend hours catching up with old friends and leave with freshly baked bread, pasta and all the weekly essentials."
That sense of community is central to Rizia's Bottega, which aims to recreate the friendliness and relaxed pace of a traditional Italian neighbourhood shop.
Rather than simply being a deli or coffee shop, the idea is to create a space where people can meet friends, enjoy good food and coffee, and take their time.
Schiacciata sandwichesBreakfast and coffeeCredit: The Hoot Leeds
Fabrizia said: "Rizia's Bottega is a reflection of the values that have shaped me growing up in the world of hospitality and what I have been taught in the many years I have worked in my family's restaurant.
"Furthermore the ideals ingrained in me through my Italian upbringing, such as the art of experiencing life at a slower pace, the importance of community and making sure everyone is well fed."
Inside, visitors can expect a deli-style offering packed with Italian products and ingredients, alongside freshly prepared food and bakes.
There are sandwiches and other bites to eat, including a spicy La Calabrese sandwich with both spicy and fennel sausage, plus sweet Romano peppers and nduja lemon butter.
Italian provisions at Rizia's Bottega. Credit: The Hoot Leeds
Other fillings you'll find on the menu include burratta and black pepper porchetta, avocado and olive tapenade, and mortadella with pistachio cream.
The shelves are also stocked with Italian provisions and goodies to take home, from olives and oils to pasta and cookbooks.
The family hopes the bottega will become a familiar part of life in the local community, reflecting the welcoming atmosphere they remember from Italy.
"You can think of the Bottega as your neighbourhood space to meet up with friends, enjoy a great coffee, share a bite to eat or pop in to pick up some high-quality Italian provisions," Fabrizia said.
Rizia's Bottega is now open on Bolling Road in Ben Rhydding, offering a relaxed slice of Italian life just outside Ilkley.
It's open Tuesday to Friday, 7.45am–4pm; Saturday, 8.30am–4pm; and Sunday, 10am–2pm.
The independent Leeds cafe speaking up after massive coffee chain opens opposite
Daisy Jackson
An independent bakery and coffee shop in Leeds has spoken out after a huge chain opened its doors opposite her cafe.
Savannah Roqaa, owner of The Savvy Baker, has said that she's on a mission to overtake the sales of Blank Street, the massive matcha chain that opened just metres away within weeks of her new site.
She said that while her brand is best-known for its baked goods, they also specialise in high-quality matcha - something Sav says wasn't in good supply in Leeds at the time she opened.
And now she's publicly spoken out about her mission to tempt people away from the big chain and into her independent business.
In a video shared online, Sav has been inviting customers leaving Blank Street to swap their matcha for one of hers, free of charge.
She then remakes the white chocolate matcha herself, but using quality Callebaut white chocolate, melting real chocolate into the drink.
The customer in the video says: "You can tell, it's way sweeter and like actually white chocolate tasting. And the matcha is greener, which is better."
Sav from The Savvy Baker has spoken of her mission to overtake Blank StreetMatcha from The Savvy Baker in Leeds
Sav said: "So when we signed the lease on literally the biggest risk ever, which is this huge shop in Leeds city centre, we had absolutely no idea that Blank Street were opening their biggest store in the entire world across the road.
"They are a global brand that is obviously very very popular, and we just wanted to try and at least match their sales."
She said that she's heard Blank Street sells 5,000 drinks every single week and is hoping to increase sales at The Savvy Baker enough to match.
Sav said: "Last week we sold 890 drinks. We've converted one, so that is 4,109 more people to convert...
"But we have a lot more tricks up our sleeve, so follow along to see if we can do it. And we would massively appreciate any support that you can give us."
Sophie Smith -
14th January 2022 
