Big on flavour, perfect for Instagram and inspired by globetrotter's travels, the new menu from Banyan is offering a true taste of summer.
The Leeds-born group of bars is known for its mouth-watering menu and cocktail offerings and now that the sun has finally decided to make an extended appearance across the city, the light bites and sharer plates are perfect for summertime brunches, lunches, evening meals and post-work snacks alike.
The new menu prides itself as being a locally-crafted, globally-inspired delight, so expect bold flavours aplenty.
Goat’s Cheese and Spinach Arancini Balls. / Image: The Hoot Leeds
For those looking for a grazing option or to share with mates using the new three small plates for £19.50, or four for just £25.50 offer, look no further than the crispy Goat’s Cheese and Spinach Arancini Balls. Served with three balls on a bed of salad, expect steaming arancini balls filled with fried rice, red pepper and garlic sauce.
The Creamy Burrata served with red and yellow tomatoes and fresh zesty pesto also comes highly recommended as a light starter or sharer plate.
Elsewhere on the menu, you'll find Banyan's famous Brie Wedges, brand-new Avocado and Sumac Houmous and the Middle Eastern style Baharat Prawn Tacos all served up as part of the Banyan platter.
Main menu seekers will adore the plentiful options that fuse flavour with hearty portions. New to the menu this summer is the Korean Fried Chicken Burger: a spicy cajun chicken burger, served with gem lettuce, tomato caesar mayonnaise, crispy slaw and a huge chicken gravy dripping pot for that added saucy serving.
Korean Fried Chicken Burger. / Image: The Hoot Leeds
Love it or hate it, Marmite has also made it on to the menu.
The summer-inspired Mac n’ Cheese is ideal as a starter, main or sharer depending on your preferences and comes with a crunchy crumb of Marmite- though this is mild enough to keep even the Marmite-hater at bay.
Summer calls for copious amounts of seafood and both the Smoked Salmon and Prawn Flatbread and Teriyaki Salmon are perfect light servings.
The flatbread comes as an open wrap, topped with avocado hummus, gem lettuce, cucumber and tomatoes, complimented by Marie Rose sauce, pomegranate and lemon oil whilst the teriyaki is a low-cal stir-fried vegetables and fragrant rice, topped with teriyaki sauce, coming in at under 550 calories with plenty of protein.
Smoked Salmon and Prawn Flatbread. / Image: The Hoot Leeds
You can find the new Banyan menu available alongside their new cocktail menu, where you can still grab 2-for-1 aplenty and more at any of their Leeds' locations in the heart of the city centre at City Square or slightly further afield in Horsforth, Roundhay and Ilkley and Harrogate.
For more information, including how to book your seat at the table and test out these flavours for yourself, visit the Banyan website.
A Leeds pizza takeaway has received a glowing review from popular review duo.
Edges Pizza opened up their first permanent spot in Leeds back in June this year, after making a name for themselves slinging out pizzas at multiple pop-ups across the city.
Owners Grace and Edge from Harrogate opened Edges Pizza two years ago, taking inspiration from trips to New York over the years.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Their pizzas are a love letter to the class New York slice, think thin and crispy rather than chewy and floppy. But above all else, think absolutely delicious.
And now, they've caught the attention of a major review page, with Bite Twice Food Reviews (a page with almost 300k followers) paying Edges a visit.
The food review duo of Gerry del Guercio and Paul Delany popped up in Holbeck beneath the arches to get their hands on a pizza, and the outcome is brilliant.
In the video, Bite Twice said that the pizza is 'f**cking exceptional' and up there with 'one of the best pizzas in the UK'.
Before even taking a bite, they said: "On aesthetic, I don't think anywhere in the UK is doing pizza like this".
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Then after the first bite, they go on to say: "There are very few pizzas in the UK that create this, I’m a little bit blown away".
As Londoners themselves, they go on to say that Edges is 'easily hitting with the best that we’ve got down south'.
And if that's not high praise enough, they sign off the video saying: "Leeds has got an absolute gem. I give this a stamp so hard my foot went through the pizza. Edges. Don Level."
The 42-year-old Kirkgate Market stall serving freshly shucked oysters for £1.90 a pop
Clementine Hall
Tucked away in Leeds Kirkgate Market you'll find a wonderful seafood stall selling freshly shucked oysters for £1.90 each.
It's places like these that remind us why we love Leeds so much.
Established in 1880, Hayes Seafood is widely regarded as the oldest trader within the historic Kirkgate Market.
For the past 42 years, it has been run by Cliff and Michelle, the loveliest couple who welcome every customer with open arms.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
The menu here is small but perfectly formed, focusing on fresh, ready-to-eat seafood that you can enjoy with a squeeze of lemon and a dollop of mayonnaise at most.
Delivered fresh every morning, there's pre-cracked crab shells, brown and white crab meat, cockles, crawfish tails - all perfectly prepared for you to eat at their bar or high tables opposite.
But, it's the oysters that you'll see people queueing for. And rightly so.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Everything here is prepared to order right in front of you, and for no extra fee. You can choose from two types of oysters: super salty Lindisfarne oysters or the slightly sweeter English Loch Fyne.
We recommend having a couple of each, pulling up a stool right by the counter and getting stuck in. If you ask Cliff nicely, he might tell you a bit about the history of the place - but you may have to order a couple more oysters for that.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
You're left to dress them yourself, whether you prefer dash of fiery tabasco or a few pickled shallots. But to be honest, they're delicious just as they come.
This spot is a real piece of Leeds history, and the queues at lunchtime as well as the repeat regular customers proves just how special it is.
All it's missing is a champagne stall next to it...now wouldn't that be perfect?
Sophie Smith -
30th June 2022 
