One of Leeds' most popular and beautiful restaurants has unveiled a new look for winter, with Tattu also launching a seasonal menu to go with it.
Thestunning restaurant specialises in contemporary Chinese fusion cuisine and is famed for the huge cherry blossom tree that stands in its dining room.
But for the colder months, it has transformed into an icy paradise, its tree turned into a crystalline blue, taking inspiration from China’s most northernmost provinces, where snow-capped mountains and bright stars scatter the horizon.
Tattu’s The Great Snow concept also includes new sharing menus with snow-scaped dishes, where signature menus of small and large plates encourage social dining.
The restaurant’s legendary Frozen Cherry Blossom dessert, a festive fusion of cherry, spiced apple and chocolate, is back for the winter season only. It's joined by the Snow Leopard, a unique dessert featuring honeycomb, white chocolate and meringue, in a leopard-print casing.
£1 from the sale of every Snow Leopard dessert will be donated to the David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation (DSWF), a wildlife conservation charity operating across Africa and Asia to end wildlife crime and protect endangered species - including the Snow Leopard.
On Sundays, the Far East will collide with a great British institution when Tattu hosts its Imperial Sunday Roast.
The Cherry Blossom dessert at Tattu. Credit: Lateef PhotographyThe Great Snow cocktail is part of Tattu's winter menu. Credit: Lateef PhotographyTattu is one of Leeds' leading restaurants. Credit: Lateef Photography
Meat options include Chinese BBQ chicken, aromatic roast duck, and char siu pork, with mock caramel soy beef fillet and satay cauliflower for vegetarians. Trimmings will include steamed bao, pickles and crispy shallots, pak choi, beansprout noodles, and duck egg and sausage rice, with an Asian pear sticky toffee pudding for dessert.
Limited-edition cocktails, including The Great Snow (an effervescent mix of Grey Goose vodka, elderflower, lemon and prosecco) and Zhanshi (a rich and fruity expression of Patrón Tequila, coffee, blackcurrant and oat milk) will be behind Tattu’s award-winning bar.
Image: Lateef Photography
To complete The Great Snow’s atmosphere there’ll be DJs playing deep house soundtracks, and bespoke visuals.
The Great Snow will run at Tattu from 1 November to 31 December - you can find out more and book a table here.
Emba in Leeds will be closing its doors with the owner blaming rising costs and pressure on the hospitality sector.
Back in April last year, one of Leeds' top restaurants The Owl closed its doors.
Run by renowned Chef Liz Cottam, The Owl was reimagine into Emba - a trendy restaurant tat bridged 'the gap between cosy bar and vibrant dining room'.
To open Emba, Cottam opened a Crowdfunder where supporters would be awarded with prizes such as VIP dinners and merch depending on how much they donated.
But sadly just months after opening, Emba is to close permanently.
Cottam confirmed the sad news with a statement shared with customers over the weekend, saying she was completely "heartbroken".
She said: “This is no longer the right time to own independent restaurants like Emba,” she said. “Under the current conditions they cannot survive and the recent budget confirmed what so many of us already knew: no meaningful help is coming for hospitality.
"The experience of being here and the harsh financial reality of running a business here no longer stack up.
"Being award winning, popular, admired and loved no longer means profitable and as an industry if we’re honest most of us have not truly been okay since Covid."
She signed off the statement promising to return to the restaurant world, she said: “What I do know is this, I am not done. I will keep cooking, keep creating and keep finding ways to do the thing I love.”
Historic family-run Leeds restaurant that’s been open for half a century is forced to close
Clementine Hall
Beloved Leeds restaurant Salvo's has closed suddenly due to 'unexpected dispute' with landlord.
Salvo's over on Otley Road in Headingley is a real Leeds institution.
Having first opened in 1976, it has been serving generations of families for fifty years with its authentic Italian menu.
The much loved restaurant announced the heartbreaking news to their social media today stating that the unexpected closure is down to an 'unexpected dispute' with their landlord.
The post read: "To our dearest customers, friends, and supporters,
"It is with profound sadness and heavy hearts that we must share some devastating news. Due to an unexpected dispute with our landlord, we have been forced to close our doors effective immediately.
"This morning, the landlord changed the locks and denied our team access to the premises. This means we are, with immediate effect, unable to honor any existing bookings, provide table service, or welcome you for the dining experience we love to create.
"We want to be unequivocally clear: We have always met our obligations, including rent and all bills. Our dedicated team has worked tirelessly, not just to serve exceptional food, but to build a community within our walls. Through the immense challenges of the hospitality economy, we fought to stay afloat, committed to our staff, our suppliers, and most of all, to you.
"Our hope now is to resolve this matter as quickly as possible. We remain committed to our dream and to serving you again."
The post continued: "From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for your incredible support, your laughter that filled our dining room, and your loyalty. It has been our greatest honor to serve you.
"We will update you here as soon as we have more information. Please keep our team in your thoughts."
Daisy Jackson -
14th November 2023 
