Nobody will ever complain about you posting your dinner online when it looks like this.
Hot dogs are currently undergoing a bit of a transformation. Long gone are the days of dry, meat from, undetermined animals that taste of rubber and disappointment. These days, you'll find all the flavour in vegan and veggie dogs, with the likes of Fat Annie's at Kirkgate Market and Knaves paving the way to a new hot dog season.
Leading the new era of hot dogs over in Sheffield is Pom's Kitchen. Now stay with us, the short journey over the Pennines is more than worth it for some of the most Instagrammable food around.
These hot dogs are also something that Leeds can't offer you: they're neon and come with edible flowers.
Behold, the Chippy D. Inspired by a British traditional chippy and the warm colours of the Australian coastline, this hot dog features mushy peas, crispy scraps, tartare sauce and seasoned with salt and vinegar.
Best eaten straight out of the papers, the neon coloured hot dog bun alone will have you transported Down Under despite the freezing temperatures here in England.
Pom's Kitchen is a bakery that knows what people need: making their menu effortless, but ever-changing, with plenty of specials. This means that all their menu is not always available, so even if you can't get your hands on a Chippy D in December, there's no reason you won't see it reappear on the menu sometime soon.
Rainbow bagels are filled with Biscoff spread and banana at Pom's. / Image: Pom's Kitchen
As you'd imagine, the hot and cold drinks carry the same finesse and include freakshakes and smoothies with inspiring names like Sydney Sunset, with raspberry, pineapple and orange, or Sun Salute, made from mango, orange, ginger and turmeric.
Inspired by Australian cuisine and bold colours, Pom’s Kitchen is a bright, fun-filled cafe where even the bagels are treated with the utmost precision. Since we won’t be travelling to Australia any time soon, the laid-back vibes inside Pom’s Kitchen are the closest you’ll get to Byron Bay this year.
To get your neon hot dog, you'll have to get on the train to Sheffield and head over to Pom's Kitchen, but for more information in advance of your trip, you can always visit their Instagram page.
It's the moment we've all been waiting for, Dishoom is coming to Leeds.
The whispers of Dishoom's arrival in Leeds city centre have been going on for a while now, but over the past few weeks it has started to feel very real.
Taking over the beautiful old Flannel's site on the coveted Vicar Lane, signs started to pop up for Dishoom and work was cracking on fast.
Well now, we have an opening date - and we don't have long to wait.
Dishoom Leeds will open on Monday 3 August, with guests being able to enjoy 50% off food during an initial soft-opening period, ahead of the official opening on Friday 14 August.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
As with every Dishoom café, the Leeds restaurant begins with a story. This one takes inspiration from the extraordinary true events surrounding the explosion of the SS Fort Stikine in Bombay Dock in April 1944, a wartime disaster that sent gold bars flying across the city.
Legend has it that some of the missing gold was never recovered. Some was discovered embedded in walls and rooftops across Bombay. Other pieces quietly disappeared into the hands of lucky citizens, melted into bangles or hidden away in drawers.
Dishoom Leeds reimagines the fortune made from the gold bars and guests will discover subtle references to the glamorous mid-century details through the interiors and artwork, giving playful nods to Bombay’s golden age.
With all day dining available, guests can dine on the beloved breakfast right through to late evening feasting, with the café will serve a lovingly curated menu of Bombay comfort food inspired by the city’s cafés, grills, street stalls and family kitchens.
Shamil Thakrar, co-founder, also known as Head Babu, at Dishoom, said: “Leeds is a city with tremendous warmth, creativity and character, full of people who know the value of gathering together over good food and drinks. Bringing Dishoom here has long been a dream for us.”
"The story behind this café is rooted in one of Bombay’s most extraordinary moments – the day gold bars fell from the sky after the explosion of Fort Stikine in 1944. Amidst the tragedy and chaos, there were also tales of unexpected fortune, human resilience and hopeful reinvention. We were captivated by this, and we cannot wait to welcome Leeds into the café that pays homage to the heritage of Bombay.”
A cafe dedicated entirely to matcha gelato has just opened in Leeds
Clementine Hall
Matcha is well and truly taking Leeds (and the country) by storm.
You're probably bored of hearing us talk about matcha, and to be honest we're getting a little bit bored writing about it.
But, this time it's different.
This is M Plus Matcha, a brand-new matcha store that's just opened near Leeds University who not only serve your classic matcha lattes but also bucket loads of freshly-churned gelato.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
And to make things even better, they've got four on offer all at different percentages to suit your taste.
Soft and grassy, smooth and creamy, full and velvety…or deep and bold (they said it, not us) - this spot is truly a matcha lover’s summer paradise.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
If you're not sure what flavour you fancy, the lovely staff are on hand to help and can offer tasters of each percentage before you commit to a cone or a tub so you're not left disappointed.
The space is gorgeously light and airy, complete with matcha-coloured walls and plenty of matcha-coloured seating for you to perch and enjoy your treats.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Right opposite the Parkinson Building, we can see M Plus Matcha becoming a fantastic hub for students to whack their laptops out for a couple of hours whilst getting their caffeine fix.
The drinks menu includes iced matcha lattes, hot matcha, matcha lemonades and loads more. Basically, if you're of the opinion that matcha tastes like grass then we do not recommend you going.
But if you love it like us, then you're in for a treat.
Sophie Smith -
27th December 2021 
