We've all heard references to 'the secret menu' - an exclusive, under-the-counter selection of dishes only available to those in the know.
Commonly, it's big fast food chains that get the attention for this, but from what we hear there are a few Leeds indies offering similar stylings to their favourite regulars across the city.
But today we're talking about one secret menu in particular, and it happens to come from Leeds' Instagram-famous baking sensation Savannah Roqaa, aka The Savvy Baker.
Image: The Savvy Baker
From lockdown baking in her flat to announcing the opening of not one but two cafes this year, it really has been an exciting few years for the West Yorkshire brownie and brookie magnate.
Her first cafe in Roundhay opened in March, serving all the usual brownies, brookies, cookies, flapjacks, cakes, tarts and 'sticky stuff' alongside Leeds’ famous North Star coffee.
But this week, the cult baker has revealed she also offers a 'secret menu' of hot drinks to guests that know to ask for them.
Packed full of dreamy-sounding winter warmers, it features autumnal treats like orange hot chocolates, pumpkin spiced lattes, gingerbread lattes and honeycomb hot chocolates.
And that's not all, there's also maple spiced oat lattes and a 'Hot Bakewell', which Savannah assures us tastes just "like a Bakewell tart in a drink". It sounds pretty divine to us.
Image: The Savvy Baker
With even more secret menu items said to be pending, to get your hands on one of these under-the-counter treats all you need to do ask for them at the Roundhay cafe, which opens every Tuesday – Sunday from 8.30am-4pm.
Digging into Biscoff brookies, Boost bar brownies, Mini Egg cookies, Freddo brookies, Cornflake brownies, milk choc cookies and more just got even better, thanks to these new hot drinks. We're very much ready for autumn now, thank you.
Feature image - The Savvy Baker
Leeds
A massive food and drink festival is coming to Temple Newsam this weekend
We hope you're hungry Leeds, because a big festival dedicated to all things food is coming to Temple Newsam.
The Temple Newsam Food Festival is now in its second year after a resounding first edition, aiming to celebrate cultural diversity, independent businesses, and global cuisine.
It will take place this weekend on Saturday 15 and Sunday 16 August 2026, with the beautiful and historic Temple Newsam providing the perfectly picturesque location.
The festival will celebrate local talent, independent businesses, world cultures and international flavours.
The Street Food Arena will feature an array of global cuisines, cultural delicacies, and irresistible desserts whilst the event's bustling Artisan Markets will showcase a plethora of small businesses and local entrepreneurs offering freshly-baked goods, quality produce. hand-made crafts, unique experiences, vibrant art, and much more.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
And it doesn't stop there as festival-goers can enjoy a selection of independent bars serving cocktails, specialty spirits, fresh cider, wine and beer.
This year there will be a huge focus on live cookery demos, with ten demonstrations from a whole range of talented chefs including Leeds' own Josh Whitehead of Finer Pleasures, Bobby Geetha of Kerala Canteen and stars from Masterchef and The Great British Bake Off.
And it's not just about food and drink, as new for this year there will be a dog show, plenty of live music and lots of fun activities such as inflatable jousting and target paintball.
Tickets are on sale now, and you can grab yours here.
The hidden Leeds bakery serving giant cheese twists, pickle sausage rolls and chocolate focaccia
Clementine Hall
This spot in the city is baking up some weird and wonderful creations.
But you'll have to act fast if you want to get your hands on them, as it's only open one day a week for all your doughy desires.
Introducing Fold, a focaccia-focused bakery by the talented team behind The Cheesy Living Co.
Rewind to this time last year and with three restaurants flourishing across Leeds, the team needed a space to bake all their bread and sweet treats in-house to supply to sites.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
And this is where Fold came in, located underneath the arches of Brussels Street on the outskirts of the city centre - it may take a while to find this spot but once you have, it'll be worth it.
And they're making some of the most inventive bakes that we've seen.
Of course there'll always be a focaccia on offer, with flavours ranging from crispy chilli oil, sesame and spring onion to kimchi, cheese and pistachio.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
And it's not just savoury focaccia, you'll even find gooey chocolate and banana focaccia as well as Biscoff waffle focaccia....yep, seriously.
Elsewhere they specialise in gigantic footlong cheese twists with more crispy bits than soft, as well as chorizo and cheese stuffed sausage rolls and a range of freshly baked bagels for you to go home and smear in your cream cheese of choice.
Image: The Hoot Leeds
Some seriously spectacular specials have been the gochujang cookies and the 'pickle roll', basically like a sausage roll but with...pickles.
It seems there's really no boundaries for where these bakes will go, and you can guarantee that every visit will be different than the rest.
Only open on Saturdays from 10am - 1pm, Fold are changing the baking game. Pop in and say hello, you won't be disappointed.
Georgina Pellant -
14th September 2022 
