Artisan doughnut maker Project Doughnut is recruiting for an official doughnut tester.
A popular bakery has launched a nationwide search to find the country's biggest doughnut lover to take on the "sweetest job in Britain", reports The Manc.
Artisan doughnut maker Planet Doughnut - which has several stores in the North West and the Midlands, as well as offering delivery all across the UK - has become known and loved for its inventiveness and quirky flavour combinations since launching in the founder's family garage over six years ago, and now has an ever-changing menu of over 100 varieties.
But with a menu that vast and constantly evolving, it can be hard for the company to keep track of which flavours work best and which are the most popular with customers.
Founder Duncan McGregor admits that feedback from customers is one of the biggest drivers behind the brand's research and development process, and this is why the company is now on the look-out for a massive doughnut enthusiast to lend a hand.
Planet Doughnut has launched a nationwide search to recruit an official taster - and is even calling it "the best job in Britain".
Bakery looking for nation’s biggest doughnut lover to take on 'sweetest job in Britain' / Credit: Planet Doughnut
Doughnut lovers who reckon they've got what it takes for the role are asked to fill in a short application form on the Planet Doughnut website, and explain why they believe they’d be the ideal person for the highly-coveted job.
The chosen Planet Doughnut fan will receive a free box of the bakery’s latest creations every month for six months, and all they’ll need to do is make notes about each sweet treat and feed this back to the team.
Not only that, but as well as getting to be one of the first people in the UK to try the newest flavours before they reach the bakery shelves, the lucky applicant chosen as the new official doughnut will also be able to get involved with helping decide on a quirky name for them.Â
Planet Doughtnut is recruiting for an official doughnut tester / Credit: Planet Doughnut
Speaking on the launch of the job search, founder Duncan McGregor said: "We’re passionate about coming up with unique flavour combinations to make sure that what we’re offering is not only new and exciting but that our menu reflects what our customers really want to see in our stores - and that starts with customer feedback.
"That’s why we’re after someone with a sophisticated palette to help us take our doughnuts to the next level and even help us come up with some new ones.
"So if you fancy yourself as a bit of a doughnut connoisseur and think you could give Homer Simpson a run for his money, we want to hear from you."
Fancy it then? Applications are now open, and you'll just need to head on over to the Planet Doughnut website and apply before the closing date on Monday 31 July.
Food critic Camilla Long visited Leeds for her latest review for The Times with her sights set on Horsforth's finest - Bavette Bistro.
Ever since opening back in 2024, Bavette Bistro nestled in the leafy suburb of Horsforth has made waves across the country for its sheer brilliance.
It's pretty much received five star reviews across the board and been handed awards from left, right and centre. And rightly so.
The Good Food Guide crowned Bavette the best local restaurant of 2024, and Michelin handed them a well deserved Bib Gourmand - so it's safe to say it's not just us who think it's really something special.
So it was only a matter of time until The Times popped in for a review, and this one is truly glowing.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
The review labels Bavette as "warm, unmannered and unpretentious" as well as "authentically French".
Long describes the food as "gorgeous, confident, surprising" with a menu that "isn’t too long" and "filled with sturdy, noble dishes, whiffing mightily of the sea and the soil."
It continues: "All of it made with generosity and cheer, served fast by nimble waiters, with a long, if slightly eccentric, wine list. To bang out French dishes with this much fiddly detail and to do it to a full room is not easy. Yet all four courses came in under two hours, for about £75 a head, which in London terms is nothing.
"It’s not that this place was perfect, it’s that it was decidedly not perfect. A bit too much chat about the menus; the oeufs in the meurette not quite runny enough. But the point is: it didn’t matter. All of it came charmingly together. It felt relaxed, just right."
The review is then wrapped up with a pleasing five stars, the cherry on top of the cake.
It's a review only restaurants can dream of, and we can't think of a more deserving team - congratulations Bavette.
Team behind Headrow House and Belgrave to take over and reopen Woodside just one year after opening
Clementine Hall
The foodie-favourite restaurant and bar is now under new management.
The eagle-eyed amongst you may have noticed that Woodside has sadly been closed for a few months.
We certainly have, and ever since December we've had a Woodside Sunday roast-shaped hole in our hearts that's been gasping for one of their glorious Marmite glazed parsnips.
But luckily, it has now been confirmed that Woodside isn't going anywhere as Superfriendz, the team behind Headrow House, Belgrave and many other top Leeds spots will be taking over. Hallelujah.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Woodside opened at the end of 2024 from the owners of The Brunswick and The Melbourne.
Labelling itself as a 'neighbourhood eatery and bar', Woodside quickly became a favourite amongst Leeds foodies and was known for its smoked meats, great cocktails and stellar Sunday roasts (do I need to talk about the parsnips again).
The menu was fresh and innovative, with oysters topped with kiwi granita and an incredibly garish banana split standing out as highlights.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
We hope that the new management continues to maintain Woodside's brilliance, but mainly we're just so glad that it's sticking around.
Superfriendz take care of a whole host of spots in the city, including proper Leeds favourites Headrow House, Belgrave Music Hall and Waterlane Boathouse.
Announcing the news to Instagram, Woodside said: "After a longer-than-expected winter break, Woodside is back and will reopen on Thursday 19th March!
"Your favourite neighbourhood bar and eatery returns with the same warm welcome, but an all new management team.
"We can’t wait to see you so keep your eyes on our socials for news on great food and drinks, big screen sports, quizzes and more.
"We’d also like to thank Sam and the original team for all the hard work that went into setting-up the venue. We hope we can do it justice."
The Hoot -
26th June 2023 
