Eats

Inside the new Trinity Kitchen food trucks: July / August 2022

Sophie Smith Sophie Smith - 25th July 2022

The next nine weeks are looking extremely tasty.

It's that time of the month again: Trinity Kitchen is changing hands once more to make way for some brand new foodie talent- and we can't wait to check out the new vendours.

This time, there's five new trucks to taste-test from Trinity's infamous converted VW Camper Van, a Citroen H van, a horse trailer, shipping container, and a J7 van, which were installed at Trinity Kitchen earlier this year.

Josie Towning, Food and Beverage Manager at Trinity Leeds, said: “There’s something for everyone at Trinity Kitchen this summer – whether you’re popping in to grab a sweet treat and cool off with an ice cream, or looking for some top street food to enjoy for a delicious lunch.”

Keep reading to find out which food truck you'll be sampling.

The Little Pasta Company

Image: The Hoot Leeds

The Little Pasta Company’s pastel green food van and irresistible carb-filled menu makes them the perfect contender for a lunchtime treat up at Trinity. The N’duja ragu with burrata is a particular delight that deserves a special mention- expect perfectly cooked pasta piled high on a base of thick, tomatoey sauce with spicy n’duja, topped with a full-sized burrata and parmesan.

There’s also a white truffle butter pasta on the menu as well as your classic tomato, garlic and basil sauce option. If pasta isn’t your carb of choice but you still want an authentic Italian dish to fuel your afternoon, The Little Pasty Company also offers an antipasti dish with a selection of cooked meats, burrata and spicy olives.

We were tempted by The Little Pasta Company’s pastel green food van and irresistible carb-filled menu. The N’duja ragu with burrata is a particular delight that deserves a special mention. Expect perfectly cooked pasta piled high on a base of thick, tomatoey sauce with spicy n’duja, topped with a full-sized burrata and parmesan.

Yoi Fried Chicken

Image: Yoi Fried Chicken

If you've been spending your summer under the sun-soaked terraces at Chow Down, there's a good chance that you've already sampled the Pan-Asian fried goodness from Yoi Fried Chicken. Taking over the black shipping container for the next nine weeks, expect everything from the classic fried chicken baos and burgers to creamy peanut satay and Katsu curry mayo.

Dog Almighty

Another favourite to return to Trinity for another stint in the kitchen, Dog Almighty is bringing a drool-worthy selection of artisan hot dogs and vegan not dogs to the third floor of the shopping centre. Entirely handmade in Yorkshire with home-smoked toppings and plenty of dirty fries to keep you going, this is going to be a go-to for so many city centre workers.

Read More: New opening: Batch’d is opening its first store in Leeds

The Waffle Cone

Image: The Waffle Cone

Providing the sweet treat Leeds needs this summer, The Waffle Cone will be a go-to stop on a hot summer's day. Serving up a host of ice cream options by the scoop, there's opportunity here to personalise your dish with a choice of waffles and toppings.

Yard Burger

Taking over another of the refurbished food truck containers, Yard Bird has a menu full of mouth-watering dishes inspired by the US with a homegrown twist. Expect the likes of Philly cheesesteaks alongside burgers and grilled cheese sandwiches, served up using locally-sourced ingredients.

Feature Image- Waffle Cone / The Hoot Leeds / Yoi Fried Chicken

Eats

Big name restaurant closes Leeds city centre site after seven years

Clementine Hall Clementine Hall

A popular restaurant chain has closed permanently in Leeds city centre.

Popular pizzeria Franco Manca has closed its Leeds restaurant.

The chain was famed for its relaxed atmosphere, quick service and affordable sourdough Neapolitan pizzas that were on offer for as little as a fiver.

The chain occupied the site on the outskirts of Trinity Shopping Centre on Trinity Street, next door to Itsu and overlooking the back entrance of Marks and Spencer.

Hoardings have now gone up, signifying the site is now empty and Franco Manca has permanently closed.

Image: The Hoot Leeds

This can also be seen on Google when searching for the restaurant branch.

It was announced earlier this year that a number of Franco Manca's restaurants would be closing across the country.

This was down to a reconstructing plan approved by creditors for the chain. The brand said it had been knocked by “disproportionately high” UK taxes and a lack of business rates relief for hospitality.

Marcel Khan, chief executive of parent firm Fulham Shore, said at the time: “We are grateful for the support shown by our creditors today.

“Franco Manca is a fantastic brand with a strong heritage and loyal customer base. With this agreement in place, we will put the business back on a firm footing and press ahead with strengthening our customer offer and performance.”

The Leeds brand was not included in the initial list of restaurant closing, but it seems further closures were made.

Read more from The Hoot Leeds:

Featured image - The Hoot Leeds



Eats

Miami-inspired Leeds bodega to open second site in Horsforth following huge success of first

Clementine Hall Clementine Hall

A sandwich shop in Leeds is expanding to the suburbs.

Famed for it’s toasted Cuban sandwiches, stacked subs and loaded breakfast bagels - Alfonsos Deli has made a name for itself for serving some of the best sandwiches around the city.

Such a good reputation in fact, that they’ve just announced a second location over in the leafy suburb of Horsforth. Get in. 

Currently, you'll find Alfonso's in the Grand Arcade where their light-filled and airy space is slinging out sandwiches non-stop until sell-out.

Images: The Hoot Leeds

It's not just sandwiches, though. They're also serving up fantastic Cuban coffee, beer and even Cuban cigars.

Basically, it's everything you'd expect to find in a deli in Miami.

The team shared the news of the expansion on social media, confirming that a brand-new Horsforth site is on the way.

While an official opening date is yet to be revealed, the announcement has already sparked plenty of excitement among loyal customers, many of whom have been calling for a second location since the deli first opened.

Alfonso's has built a devoted following in Leeds, with its signature Cubano sandwich becoming a firm favourite, while its breakfast bagels draw queues of hungover punters through the doors.

The move to Horsforth marks the next chapter for the independent business, bringing its popular menu to a whole new neighbourhood. And they're in fantastic company too, in a suburb that is flourishing with independent local businesses.

If the success of the Grand Arcade site is anything to go by, the new deli is likely to be just as busy from day one. More details, including an opening date and the full menu, are expected to be announced in the coming weeks.

Good luck to the team, we can't wait to check it out.

Read more:

Featured image - The Hoot Leeds

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