Over on Park Row in Leeds sits Argentinian steakhouse Gaucho, home to one of the very best bottomless brunch deals in the city.
Every Saturday, the restaurant serves a ninety-minute Electro Brunch deal giving you unlimited drinks and food - and yes, it's not exactly new but it's still one of the most indulgent offers we've seen to date.
For £57.50. you'll be treated to endless, free-flowing cocktails and as many of their 'brunch feast' dishes as you can muster - including several indulgent pudding options to finish, which put an Argentine twist on British favourites like banana bread and Eton mess.
Image: Gaucho
Of course, there's steak and eggs on the menu here and at somewhere like Gaucho that is a must. Known for its wet-aged beef, the cuts of steak are so supple and soft here you could cut through them with a butter knife.
Advised to be enjoyed no more well-cooked than medium-rare, if you're a big steak lover then this dish alone - served simply with chimichurri and a fried egg - is worth coming to the brunch for (and that's before we even get into the electro beats, the excellent drinks choices, and all the other menu options).
Promising 'a fusion of cool beats, melodic tunes and bassy rhythms', throughout your brunch session you can expect the best, curated house music from a selection of the hottest local DJs.
Image: Gaucho
As for drinks, think endless cocktails like Aperol spritz, pornstar martinis, Elder spritz, and bloody marys, plus staples like bottled lager, Ketel One peach and orange vodka with soda, Jack Daniels no.7 and lemonade or the house Domaine Chandon (Argentinian sparkling wine).
Other dishes to feast on here include the likes of stuffed burrata with a truffle-infused tomato salad, or the Choripan sandwich (chorizo sausage, chimichurri mayo, crispy shallots, brioche roll).
Elsewhere, you'll find smashed avocado on toasted rye bread served with a poached egg and salsa criolla, creamed chilli mushrooms on toast, eggs royale, and a maple bacon sandwich served with tomato jam on fresh crusty bread.
Image: Gaucho
Even better, there's also pudding - just so you can finish on a sweet note.
Choose (or don't choose, it's all bottomless after all) between everyone's lockdown favourite, banana bread, served here with passionfruit and a dulce mousse, or opt for the dulce Eton mess, laden with berry compote, dulce mousse, meringue.
Image: Gaucho
Usually, Gaucho's Electro brunch is held between 11am and 4pm every Saturday, but during January 2022 things are starting a little later at 12pm.
Priced at £57.50 per person for unlimited food and cocktails, there's no party booking limit- but if your party is 8 or more you may end up seated on separate tables.
To find out more and book, visit the Gaucho Electro Brunch website here. View the full menu here.
Feature image - Gaucho
Leeds
Fences at Leeds Playhouse – walls, wounds and what we leave behind | Review
Leeds Playhouse delivers a powerful story about the walls we build.
August Wilson’s Fences is a powerful and deeply personal family drama, exploring race, fatherhood, ambition and the emotional scars that can be passed from one generation to the next.
At Leeds Playhouse, the strength of the production lies largely with its cast. Ray Fearon gives Troy Maxson a commanding presence, balancing humour and charm with a growing sense of anger and resentment. It is an uncomfortable performance at times, but one that keeps you invested in Troy even when his actions become increasingly difficult to accept.
Madeline Appiah brings real warmth and emotional depth to Rose, while Josh Tedeku captures Cory’s frustration as a young man determined to make his own way rather than inherit his father’s limitations.
Image: Supplied
For me, though, Act 2 is where the production really comes alive.
The first half feels comparatively restrained. That isn't necessarily a criticism of the performances or Wilson's writing, but having experienced previous Headlong productions, I went in expecting a little more theatrical imagination from the staging. There were moments where I felt the production could have pushed the material further visually.
Act 2 begins to deliver that.
The rotating set adds movement and energy, while the bright LED lighting works particularly well with the live music, creating a more heightened atmosphere as the family's tensions reach breaking point. The production suddenly feels more visually ambitious, and the design starts to work hand-in-hand with the emotional journey of the characters.
Images: Supplied
The fence itself is an effective recurring image, initially a practical task, but gradually becoming a representation of Troy's need for control, protection and separation. The more the story unfolds, the more the fence feels like a barrier between Troy and the people he loves.
There is a lot to admire here, particularly in the performances, and Wilson's writing remains as relevant and affecting as ever. However, I couldn't help feeling that some of the theatrical ambition found in Act 2 could have been introduced earlier.
Ultimately, Fences is a moving and thought-provoking evening, with a particularly strong second half. For me, it was Act 2 that turned a solid production into a genuinely memorable one.
Running until 23 September at Leeds Playhouse, get your tickets here.
A new açai cafe promising to be Leeds’ ‘neighbourhood social club’ is opening soon
Clementine Hall
An independent açai bowl pop-up is opening a permanent cafe in Leeds city centre.
It seems the açai bowl trend isn't over just yet, and we're absolutely not mad about it.
The aesthetically purple frozen treat isn't just delicious, but is also known to have numerous health benefits making it guilt-free and the perfect post-workout pick me up.
You may remember Açai Social Club that opened as a pop-up in the Victoria Quarter last year, and now they're moving into a permanent spot in the city centre.
Run by a lovely husband and wife duo who have spent the last 15 months exploring cafes around the world, it's safe to say they know exactly what they're talking about.
Their açai is made with the very best ingredients, topped with the freshest fruit and sprinkled with their homemade granola - it doesn't get much better then that does it?
Announcing the very exciting news to Instagram, they said: "Açai Social Club is getting a home. Our very first store is officially on the way! We’ve been working behind the scenes to create a space that’s more about than just açai.
"What started as an idea is finally becoming something you can walk into…There’s still a lot we’re keeping under wraps for now, but we’re so excited to finally share the beginning of what’s to come.
"We can’t wait to open our doors and welcome you in. Your new neighbourhood social club, coming soon."
The exact location of the cafe and its opening date is still under wraps, but we'll of course keep you updated as and when we find out.
The Hoot -
14th January 2022 
