Given the scorching weather this week, we're on the lookout for some foodie options to temporarily relieve the heat- and we've found some seriously cool options.
Roberto Authentic Italian Gelato is a true hidden gem, described by TripAdvisor users as "the best gelato"- and that includes tourists of Rome, Bologna, Pisa, Florence and Paris.
There's plenty of flavours to choose from. / Image: Roberto Gelato
Best of all, there's no need to travel to the motherland, or even the Yorkshire coast, to get a cone to battle the heatwave, this sweet treat spot is located right in the heart of the city centre.
Freshly churned and an abundance of flavours, there you can grab gelato by the scoop, fresh cannoli, coffees and other sweet treats from the Kirkgate Market stall, in Driffield, York or at a local pop up.
Recently spotted at Chow Down combining the highest quality ingredients from Italy and Yorkshire, you're unlikely to find flavours like Roberto's anywhere else.
There's flavours like Guinness Sorbet available. / Image: Roberto Gelato
In addition to your usual, but nonetheless exciting, pistachio cream, salted caramel and hazelnut, you'll find unique combos like passionfruit cheesecake and Guinness stout sorbet.
If that's not enough, there's even a "Bownana" made specially for your four-legged friend to cool off during the summer heatwave.
The latest addition to the menu is enough to get you into the markets on its own. The Robertone is a sweet pastry roll with a crunchy yet soft exterior that you can fill with a gelato, fruit and syrup of your choosing.
Roberto's Gelato isn't the only gelato store in Leeds that'll keep you going through this unprecedented heat wave, you can find The Hoot's guide to the best ice cream and gelatos in and around the city centre here.
Feature Image- Robertos Gelato
Eats
Leeds pizza shop hailed ‘exceptional’ and ‘best in the UK’ by major reviewer
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 -
13th July 2022 
