This has got to be one of the most exciting Sunday roast options around.
Whether you're seeking a new spot to enjoy the best meal of the week and tired of the usual selection of meat and two veg, or a cheese-lover looking for any excuse to dip anything into a gooey pot of fondue- the Cheesy Living Co. has got the ultimate new treat.
Starting this Sunday, you'll be able to grab a seat inside the Corn Exchange eatery at either 12pm or 2pm for a fondue Sunday lunch - and it's unlikely to be anything you've seen, or tasted before.
The Fondue Sunday Lunch is truly a feast for the senses. / Image: The Hoot Leeds
£20 per person gets you a fondue for two (or more) filled in the classic Swiss style with melted cheese, then your table is filled with roast dinner staples like rosemary potatoes dusted in paprika, half roasted garlic and of course, Yorkshire puddings.
Then you can build on your roast selection as you see fit to make up the ultimate roast dinner, adding a board of Lishman's cold cut roast ham and beef; honey roasted carrots and parsnips; stuffing balls or even a DIY cauliflower cheese offering to dip into the Alpine-style fondue pot and cover in as much cheese as possible.
After you've filled up on as much cheese-covered goodness as you can, dessert is served as a sharer warm quadruple chocolate cookie and squirty cream - a classic.
Half roasted garlic and roasted veggies. / Image: The Hoot Leeds
Selection of cold cut Lishman's meats. / Image: The Hoot Leeds
For those that can't get down on a Sunday, there's a much-loved alternative that the Cheesy Living Co. offer a delicious fondue serving Thursday’s at 7pm and then all day Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
The menu varies from the Sunday roast but offers the same gooey melting pot of Swiss cheese- and is a welcomed option for those looking to 'fondue' their dinner a little differently.
The Cheesy Living Co. has made a considerable stamp on the Leeds foodie scene after opening less than a year ago. Whether you met Jake and Soph at their Corn Exchange store or at a pop-up, you're likely to have sampled their selection of carefully-curated cheeses, meats and deli items around the city.
The team of two: Jake Fischer, the ‘big cheese’ and Soph Branowsky, Creative Director, set out to take on the cheese scene after finding a gap on the market for locally sourced products during lockdown, and haven't looked back since.
The Sunday fondue is just one example of the foodie offerings here.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
The pair continue to offer seemingly unlimited foodie options for cheese-lovers and for locals wanting to taste and support the work of Yorkshire independents, this is truly a one-stop-shop.
By night the indie store inside the Corn Exchange turns into a pop-up restaurant, with a host of activities to get involved in. Aside from the signature fondue nights, there's also cheese and clay workshops, fine dining support clubs or BYOW cheese clubs nights- and many of which include one-of-a-kind menus that are cooked up by some of the city's finest.
The 'A Night of Fine Dining' pop-ups with No Fixed Abode come highly recommended.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
To find out more about the brand new fondue Sunday lunch and bag yourself a fun-filled afternoon or evening of cheese-dipping goodness, visit the Corn Exchange eatery or visit book your trip on the Cheesy Living Co. website HERE.
Feature Image- The Hoot Leeds
Feature
The Leeds bakery serving up fresh pastries straight from their backyard
In case you missed it, a bakery in Bramley has received lots of attention recently after people have sampled some of its impressive bread and pastries before raving about it online.
Since then, Ruth, the mastermind behind it all, has generated queues from her summer house-turned bakehouse with people coming from far and wide to sample her flaky favourites and doughy delights.
Baking for more than 10 years and opening The Fat Pigeon just outside of Leeds city centre three years ago, there's no denying that the pastries and more produced here are some of the best.
This micro-bakery has a mighty menu and although Ruth's personal tastes might lean more savoury, the menu heavily favours sugary baked goods.
Anyone who loves a good sweet treat will be glad to know there's croissants, traybakes, cinnamon buns and the star-studded kouign-amann, a French-originating buttery pastry that covers all bases as it's sugary, sweet and slightly salty - heaven in baked form.
Ruth posing with a pigeon statue alongside some of her delicious golden creations / Image Credits: The Hoot Leeds / The Fat Pigeon
There's plenty more dough-based delights that cater to the savoury palate too. Think sourdough loaves, baguettes and focaccia that's oozing with perfectly paired herbs and generous amounts of oil.
What makes this place even more special is the fact that not only the products being created and consumed made by a Leeds local, most if not all of the offerings are made using Yorkshire produce.
Ruth has made sure to keep local produce at the heart of all her bakes with Met's in Farsley who providing cheese, Whiteley's contributing fresh vegetables like parsley and rhubarb, flour from East Yorkshire's own Stringers and The Organic Dales for any dairy items - it really doesn't get more Yorkshire than this.
Enough from us, social media user's are singing this bakery's praises too as one commented "Delicious. Delicious. Delicious" and another going as far to say, "Beats every pastry I had in Copenhagen".
The sourdough loaves and bloomers at The Fat Pigeon are homemade and look as good as they taste / Image Credits: The Hoot Leeds / The Fat Pigeon
Hopefully you're reading this on a Friday or early Saturday morning, otherwise all I can do is apologise for tempting you with all this bakery's homemade golden goodness so far in advance.
The Fat Pigeon is open from 9am to 12pm every Saturday meaning you can stock up on some of Leeds' best bread and pastries to tie you over until the next weekend, depending on your will power.
Pioneering Bradford artist David Hockney has passed away aged 88
Clementine Hall
David Hockney, one of Britain's most influential and recognisable artists, has sadly died.
Born in Bradford in 1937, David Hockney built a career spanning more than six decades and became one of the most influential figures in contemporary art.
He was best known for his vibrant paintings, from the iconic swimming pools of Los Angeles to the sweeping landscapes of Yorkshire and Normandy.
And of course you can't forget the adorable paintings of his sausage dogs Stanley and Boodgie.
This morning on Friday 12 June, it was sadly announced that David Hockney had passed away - just one month prior of his 89th birthday.
Admired by critics and the public alike, Hockney's work was exhibited around the world and attracted record-breaking prices, cementing his place as one of the defining artists of the modern era.
Most recently, his incredibly immersive exhibition 'Bigger & Closer (not smaller & further away)' was a hit across the country, proving his work still resonated with the people of today.
His work at Salts Mill has remained in exhibit for years, including his special digital drawings that he did on his iPad.
His death marks the end of a truly extraordinary career, but his influence on British culture and contemporary art will endure for years to come.
A true West Yorkshire icon that will be missed by many from across the globe. RIP David.
Sophie Smith -
24th February 2023 
