From farm to table, and by table we mean your lap in the car.
Blacker Hall Farm is the first Yorkshire farm shop to offer a drive-thru system and we're so excited about the idea.
The family farm has been owned by the Garthwaite Family since 1901, but the farm itself has been active for the past four centuries. Evolving into a gastronomic destination, the farm has since become a stopping point for locals and tourists to taste some true farm to table goodness.
On the menu, there's plenty to choose from- and it's all proper Yorkshire food. There's sausage rolls, steak sandwiches made with beef reared on the farm, award-winning pork pies and breakfast sarnies to choose from but the best of the drive-thru farm menu comes in a case of soft, but crunchy batter.
The Yorkshire pudding pots are essentially a giant Yorkshire pud filled with all your favourite meat and veggies. Think hearty beef stew, homemade on site; caramelised sausage buttery mash and gravy or pulled beed and pork with stuffing and sauce if you need any ideas to get you drooling over these incredible inventions.
Image: Blacker Hall Farm
All the Yorkshire puddings come in at under a fiver, priced at £4.95, making them one of the cheapest eat-out lunch options around- the fact it's made from all our favourite meats and locally produced is just a bonus.
On a Sunday, you can get an entire roast dinner inside a Yorkshire pudding for less than £7 per portion. Choose from either pulled beef or pulled pork with roast potatoes, seasonal veg, gooey cauliflower cheese and gravy, all encased within a giant Yorkie.
To quench your thirst, there's milkshakes, smoothies and hot drinks all prepared on site and available to purchase through the drive-thru too.
"As a family-run, independent business, the Drive Thru at Blacker Hall Farm brings you the speed and convenience of the big name coffee shop chains, our menu focuses on great fresh local ingredients quality, freshness and local provenance.
"The food is truly local with 80% of the meat used originating from the family farm, the milk in your latte is from within 15 miles and even the coffee is blended in Yorkshire."
The drive-thru is open everyday, from 7.30 am on weekdays and 9am at the weekend, before closing at 4.30pm every day of the week. You can also have a look inside their farm shop or take a seat in the barn restaurant upon your visit.
Blacker Hall Farm is around a 20 minute drive from Leeds city centre, located just outside of Wakefield, making it an accessible drive-thru option for city commuters every day of the week.
Feature Image- Blacker Hall Farm
Eats
Dishoom announces official opening date for new Leeds restaurant
It's the moment we've all been waiting for, Dishoom is coming to Leeds.
The whispers of Dishoom's arrival in Leeds city centre have been going on for a while now, but over the past few weeks it has started to feel very real.
Taking over the beautiful old Flannel's site on the coveted Vicar Lane, signs started to pop up for Dishoom and work was cracking on fast.
Well now, we have an opening date - and we don't have long to wait.
Dishoom Leeds will open on Monday 3 August, with guests being able to enjoy 50% off food during an initial soft-opening period, ahead of the official opening on Friday 14 August.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
As with every Dishoom café, the Leeds restaurant begins with a story. This one takes inspiration from the extraordinary true events surrounding the explosion of the SS Fort Stikine in Bombay Dock in April 1944, a wartime disaster that sent gold bars flying across the city.
Legend has it that some of the missing gold was never recovered. Some was discovered embedded in walls and rooftops across Bombay. Other pieces quietly disappeared into the hands of lucky citizens, melted into bangles or hidden away in drawers.
Dishoom Leeds reimagines the fortune made from the gold bars and guests will discover subtle references to the glamorous mid-century details through the interiors and artwork, giving playful nods to Bombay’s golden age.
With all day dining available, guests can dine on the beloved breakfast right through to late evening feasting, with the café will serve a lovingly curated menu of Bombay comfort food inspired by the city’s cafés, grills, street stalls and family kitchens.
Shamil Thakrar, co-founder, also known as Head Babu, at Dishoom, said: “Leeds is a city with tremendous warmth, creativity and character, full of people who know the value of gathering together over good food and drinks. Bringing Dishoom here has long been a dream for us.”
"The story behind this café is rooted in one of Bombay’s most extraordinary moments – the day gold bars fell from the sky after the explosion of Fort Stikine in 1944. Amidst the tragedy and chaos, there were also tales of unexpected fortune, human resilience and hopeful reinvention. We were captivated by this, and we cannot wait to welcome Leeds into the café that pays homage to the heritage of Bombay.”
A cafe dedicated entirely to matcha gelato has just opened in Leeds
Clementine Hall
Matcha is well and truly taking Leeds (and the country) by storm.
You're probably bored of hearing us talk about matcha, and to be honest we're getting a little bit bored writing about it.
But, this time it's different.
This is M Plus Matcha, a brand-new matcha store that's just opened near Leeds University who not only serve your classic matcha lattes but also bucket loads of freshly-churned gelato.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
And to make things even better, they've got four on offer all at different percentages to suit your taste.
Soft and grassy, smooth and creamy, full and velvety…or deep and bold (they said it, not us) - this spot is truly a matcha lover’s summer paradise.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
If you're not sure what flavour you fancy, the lovely staff are on hand to help and can offer tasters of each percentage before you commit to a cone or a tub so you're not left disappointed.
The space is gorgeously light and airy, complete with matcha-coloured walls and plenty of matcha-coloured seating for you to perch and enjoy your treats.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Right opposite the Parkinson Building, we can see M Plus Matcha becoming a fantastic hub for students to whack their laptops out for a couple of hours whilst getting their caffeine fix.
The drinks menu includes iced matcha lattes, hot matcha, matcha lemonades and loads more. Basically, if you're of the opinion that matcha tastes like grass then we do not recommend you going.
But if you love it like us, then you're in for a treat.
Sophie Smith -
24th February 2022 
