Donuts, Percy Pigs and rainbow coloured bagels and coffee... are we dreaming?
If there's one thing we love in Britain, it's those pink gooey sweets from M&S, so we're all ears when someone finds an imaginative way to incorporate them into a new tasty dish that honours Percy and his farmyard friends.
Doe Bakehouse has plenty of donuts stops near Leeds, with two store in York and one in Harrogate (though this is temporarily closed due to vandalism) and more, the further you head north- but this donut has got us thinking we're willing to travel hundreds of miles just for a single bite.
The Percy P*g, as it's known on the company's social media page (we love some forward thinking ways to avoid copyright problems) is a pink donut with our favourite sweet pig stuck on the top.
But that's not all the rainbow bakery has to offer. Inside each store is an Instagrammable hideaway with every every possible neon colour imaginable plastered on the walls.
You can also get coffees in every possible colour too, and bagels and more.
The Doe Bakehouse reckon they're one of the more colourful bakeries in Yorkshire- and they're definitely right about that. On their website, Doe state that they "have three bright and colourful shops in Yorkshire. One is hidden in the back streets of Harrogate and the two are in the city of York. Come and visit, absorb the surroundings: The rainbow walls, the glitter tassels, the multi-coloured chairs and the eye-catching murals. Escape from reality, oh and enjoy a doe-nut whilst you're there."
You can find usually their Harrogate store on Bower Street (no. 4) and on Church Street in York city centre. If you're in Layerthorpe, you can also grab a donut from Unit 1, 43 Layerthorpe- you'll spot the exterior a mile off.
Unfortunately, the Harrogate store has been subject to antisocial behaviour that has left the store too damaged to open. The bakehouse have stated that "thanks to all of those who told me that claiming “antisocial behaviour” was abusive & stereotypical and that I “knew nothing” as tensions rise surrounding the damage. However, donuts are still available from other stores.
"Our other shops remain open, we’ve had to cancel our Harrogate pre-orders today & have sent all the stock to York, Layerthorpe & Clitheroe. This means they are rammed with donuts. If you’re nearby. We’ve got your sugar fix."
"Harrogate customers: We’ve set up a pre-order for next Saturday - Our only option with this shop is to operate on a “preorder” basis until we work out a plan✨ www.doefoods.com 🎈
York locals, we’ve set Deliveroo to 25% off just because….. Well we now have mass donuts."
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 -
17th January 2022 
