It's pronounced 'shaar-koo-tr-ee', and it's a feast of all things cheese and meat.
If there's one thing we love more than cheese in our dishes, it's a standalone block with some crackers, fruits and meats to tuck into.
Charcuterie boards, mainly made up of cheese and meats, have been around since the 1400s- so a very long time, but it's their 'Instagrammability' that's supposedly the reason for they've been hyped up so much over the past few years.
We just think they're delish, but we're not complaining when a plate of all our favourite flavours looks aesthetic enough for the 'gram. Turns out if you look hard enough, you'll find so many menus in Leeds that now incorporate the sharing platter as a staple dish.
Here's our favourite places to grab one.
Friends of Ham
Image: The Hoot Leeds
We can't go any further without mentioning our friends at Friends of Ham. Here at The Hoot, we can't get very far from the train station without thinking about, and subsequently drooling over the seasonal selection of cured meats and smelly cheeses they have to offer. Even their toasties are made from pickles, different types of mouthwatering cheddars and seasonal meat selections- inspired by the sharing boards on offer. This is certainly a top choice for any charcuterie connoisseur- and if you don't fancy sitting upstairs, grab a seat at the Underbelly, the speakeasy beneath Friends of Ham with the same incredible menu.
Read More: A new underground cocktail speakeasy has opened in Leeds
Available from pop-ups around Leeds- but from coming to a permanent location this year sometime soon (fingers crossed), The Cheesy Living Co. is by far one of our favourite lockdown success stories from the wholesome Jake Fischer, the ‘big cheese’ and Soph Branowsky, Creative Director. The company create bespoke boxes of cheese, cured meats and accompaniments, as well as selling limited edition stock such as Spanish cheese, sweet rocky road salami and more- they're the one to watch this year, we're telling you.
Bottle Chop hasn't been open for long in Far Headingley, but it's constantly packed out with cheese and wine lovers all desperate to get a spot at the table. Every evening between the hours of 6pm and 9pm, grab a charcuterie board and do your bit for the planet at the same time by bringing a reusable wine and beer bottle. The company are sell their house wines and IPAs at £5 each and it can be refilled it as many times as you like- just make sure you leave space for the cheese.
Better Days is the only bar that offers mental wellbeing support completely for free, the fact that they sell a huge range of charcuterie, waffles and pancakes is just a bonus. If you manage to get over on a Thursday evening, they host a live open mic night with a host of different singers, poets and musicians taking turns on the mic. Open Wednesday - Sunday, you'll find this hidden gem inside the Merrion Street Grand Arcade.
Decanter is an independent wine bar set in the heart of Leeds and they have a six page menu to show off their expertise. On the food menu, there's meat platters, cheese and charcuterie or a combo plate for four or more people to share. Some of our top picks on these include the scratchings, Yorkshire Lomo, red onion chutney and 18-month-cured Jamón Serrano.
The Watermark is locally known for its outlandish nights out, including their blanket fort birthday party and, more recently, Cinderella-style search to return a Croc with it's owner- but it's their food and drink that will have you through the door and refusing to leave until 4am. Turns out, the popular Leeds bar offer meat and cheese boards, as well as hummus and crumpets until 4am. At £15 per board, end the night by sharing your treats with your nearest and dearest whilst keeping the party alive with cocktails and some of the most eclectic tunes in Leeds.
Found on a huge twelve page menu, hidden amongst a selection of other nibbles are Charcuterie Jars: a selection of deli meats and cheeses, served (you guessed it) in a small jar- perfect for snacking on. Canal Club is open day and night to serve up your cheese and meat needs, as well as plenty of other delicious snacks, inspired by a fusion of faraway places, and is sure to become a daytime favourite for many as well as a midnight snack for party-goers.
Read More: This new cafe-bar-club in Leeds is serving charcuterie jars
New York-style pizza pop-up, Edges Pizza, is set to open in Leeds.
Last summer you may have had the privilege to enjoy a slice of Edges Pizza at one of their many pop-up residences across the city.
Their longest stint was at the sun-drenched roof terrace of Green Room, and it's safe to say their pizza went down an absolute treat.
Since then they've been a little quiet, but all for good reason it seems.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Edges will be opening their doors in Leeds city centre on Thursday 18 June in a vacant railway arch at Fourth Court on Bridge Road in Leeds' Holbeck area.
It won't be your average pizza shop though, you'll have to preorder for now but trust us - it's worth it.
Announcing the very exciting news to Instagram, Edges said: "WE FINALLY HAVE an opening date, Thursday 18th June! All pizzas are pre-ordered like we have always done, and are slightly limited for now (still looking for helping hands!!!). The pre-orders will open the day before at 12pm via our Storekit link.
"We’ll be then opening Wednesday to Friday, 4-9pm and Saturday & Sunday 3-9pm. If there are still remaining slots left on the day, you can order up to an hour before the collection time. We have limited seating, for those who travel and would like to eat in. There is plenty of car parking space, to pick up your pizza, too.
"We can’t wait to see you all soon & more importantly, we can’t wait to start making some good food for you again."
We can't wait to get our hands on a coveted Edges pizza slice again, so you best believe we'll be there at the opening with bells on.
The 80-year-old Wakefield butchers that won Jane McDonald’s heart
Declan Kelly
When Wakefield's queen of the cruise ships recommends a pork pie in Yorkshire, you listen.
TV presenter, singer and national treasure Jane McDonald has never hidden her love for her hometown. While her career has taken her around the world, from luxury ocean liners to sold-out theatre tours, Wakefield has always remained close to her heart. And among the many things she proudly champions from her hometown, one local institution receives more praise than most: Allums Butchers.
In fact, Jane has often joked that one of the reasons she still lives in Yorkshire is because of their famous pork pies. Most recently, Jane was once again singing their praises during her album launch at HMV when we interviewed her. She has also recently spoken fondly about the butcher's legendary pies on Alan Carr's podcast.
Hearing her enthusiasm sparked our curiosity, so we decided to make the trip to Wakefield and discover for ourselves what makes these pork pies so special.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Located on Brook Street, Allums Butchers is more than just a place to pick up your Sunday roast. It's a business woven into the fabric of Wakefield's history, with a story stretching back more than 80 years.
The journey began in 1945 when Albert Allum started trading from Wakefield Market.
At a time when local communities depended on independent traders, Albert Allum built a reputation for quality produce, expert craftsmanship and exceptional customer service. Those values helped establish a loyal customer base and laid the foundations for a business that would stand the test of time.
More than eight decades later, the same principles continue to guide the company.
Today, Allums remains proudly family-owned and is run by third-generation butcher Jonathan Allum. While much has changed since Albert's early days on the market stall, the commitment to quality remains exactly the same. The business has grown into one of Yorkshire's most respected independent butchers, yet it continues to place traditional butchery, carefully sourced produce and customer service at the heart of everything it does.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Speaking to us about his relationship with Jane McDonald, Jonathan shared memories that stretch back decades. The pair first met as teenagers when Jane would visit the market alongside her mother. Like many local families, they regularly stopped by the Allum stall and, more often than not, left with one of the butcher's famous pork pies.
Jonathan remembers chatting with Jane as she collected her order.
"I'd often say, 'See you next week,'" he recalled. "And every so often she'd reply, 'No, you won't - I’m off cruising.'"
Jane has gone on to become one of Britain's most recognisable entertainers, known by millions for her television programmes and her successful career at sea and most recently her iconic Mighty Hoopla performance . Yet despite the fame, she never forgot her Wakefield roots. To this day, she remains one of Allums' most loyal supporters and regularly speaks about the business with genuine affection.
Allums' pork pies have become something of a Yorkshire institution in their own right. Handmade using a traditional recipe that has been refined over generations, each pie is crafted using seasoned pork, rich savoury jelly and a perfectly baked hot-water crust pastry. There are no modern gimmicks, just a commitment to making a classic product exceptionally well.
Naturally, we couldn't leave without trying the pork pies ourselves.
Sometimes the best food stories aren't about reinvention or chasing the latest trend. They're about preserving traditions, maintaining standards and doing one thing exceptionally well for generations.
More than 80 years after Albert Allum first opened for business in Wakefield Market, Allums Butchers continues to embody exactly that philosophy. And after finally experiencing their famous pork pies for ourselves, we can confidently say that Jane McDonald might just be right.
Sophie Smith -
6th May 2022 
