A new restaurant has opened in Leeds selling some seriously dirty burgers filled with the likes of Biscoff, bacon and cheese.
Called Coco's Kitchen, it's taken over the food offering at the Great Northern Hotel in Pudsey - and we'd say it's definitely worth the trek from the looks of the menu.
Founded by Cohen Panayiotis, a talented chef with a turbulent rise to success, his journey hasn't been easy up to this point - but it seems like things are now about to turn around.
Having started his cheffing journey just over three years ago, Cohen began working in a Soho hotel whilst homeless - living out of hostels and trying to save to progress in a new direction.
But at 32, he decided he couldn't hack that anymore and wanted to learn to cook so he wangled his way into a new role that both offered him accommodation and the chance to develop his cheffing skills.
The Great Northern Hotel in Pudsey. image: The Great Northern Hotel
"I ended up getting a job at a high end ski resort in France, I couldn't even whip cream at this point but the head chef took me under his wing," he tells us.
However, by the end of the season, he'd come on leaps and bounds: helping to create menus and sending his own creations out to customers after just a few months.
After the season was over, he started doing 5-course blind taster menus in Chesterfield and Doncaster where he was then approached by Studio Ramsey to take part in a TV show for entrepreneurs in the food and drink industry.
Unfortunately, though, halfway through filming the show got scrapped due to Covid - and at the same time, the kitchen he had taken over in York also closed for the same reason.
From there, he was on the verge of being kicked out of his house after his kitchen at the Printers Apprentice in York closed - claiming that the manager there ripped him off and put him in "loads of debt" - when he managed to land a job running a covid testing station.
From here, he "saved, saved, saved" and started doing chef pop-ups around Leeds. Now, he's finally back on his feet and is launching his new kitchen in Pudsey this weekend - serving up a mixture of dirty burgers and Caribbean classics done well, alongside some special Sunday roasts and afternoon teas.
On the menu, alongside the ultra-diirty Biscoff crunch bacon burger, which comes loaded with red Leicester, cheddar, crispy streaky bacon, smashed patties and more; you'll also find some classic Caribbean options like proper curried goat with tarragon carrots, shallots and rice and peas, and BBQ-smoked and 24-hour marinated jerk chicken legs.
Elsewhere, you'll find the veggie Triple Threat burger loaded with halloumi, grilled cheddar, pickled gherkins and red onion; the vegan, a chickpea and bean falafel burger with vegan cheese; and the brilliant-sounding Sebastian Sandwich made with tempura soft shell crab, kimchi, a house slaw and pink mayo.
Launching from today, Friday 3 September, you can find Coco's Kitchen at the Great Northern Hotel at 213 Richardshaw Ln, Stanningley, Pudsey LS28 6AA.
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The Yorkshire artist who’s put together the official FIFA World Cup scarf collection
A Yorkshire-born and bred artist and his creative team have earned the huge honour of creating the official FIFA scarf collection for this year's World Cup.
Nothing short of massive for anyone from our part of the world.
The local legend in question is Tom Pitts, who was born in Sheffield and is now based just beyond Leeds, leading the campaign right from the helm.
Hand Drawn Pixels is a graphic design and digital studio based in Otley, and while you'll see plenty of folks wearing football shirts and even the odd scarf on the town's famous pub crawl, these lot are venturing on an entirely different kind of run this summer.
In fact, the work has very much already started, with Tom and co. collaborating directly with FIFA and US manufacturers, Global Scarves, to create the World Cup collection.
With this year's tournament obviously taking place across America, Mexico and Canada, they've joined up with a big LLC, but they describe themselves as "a true English custom scarf company with American parents."
In their words, "We knit scarves for clients all over the world", with a presence both near Leeds and over in Seattle, Washington.
The fixtures themselves kick off next month (England's first game coming against Croatia on 17 June), and so Hand Drawn Pixels have been hard at work meeting the briefs for each of the nations taking part.
Here's a quick breakdown of how the opportunity came about, their vision for the project, and how everything starts for them as a whole process.
You can see more of their work HERE, but as the brand name would suggest, it's pretty simple to begin with: nothing more than a pencil.
It's worth noting that the 2026 World Cup also featured the largest number of teams in the competition's history: 48 qualified national squads, to be exact. So, technically, they've had even more designing to do than they theoretically would have in any of the previous years, too.
Tom confessed that winning this bid is obviously a big deal on its own and that seeing his creations being worn in person by supporters at the stadiums will be a "surreal" experience.
Speaking exclusively with The Hoot, he said: "It’s been an amazing creative challenge for us to truly reflect the individuality and diversity of the nations competing in this prestigious tournament on such an iconic product as the football scarf."
He went on to add that "the whole project has been a huge learning experience, gaining deeper cultural insight into every nation involved."
We can't wait to cast eyes upon a sea of colour and finely crafted fabric in unique but somehow universally familiar patterns, all designed right here in 'God's Own Country'.
Award-winning Sardinian restaurant Domo announces Leeds opening date
Clementine Hall
Domo will officially open the doors to its Leeds venue this summer.
Get ready for Domo Leeds, a Sardinian independent born in Sheffield that is loved by many for its delicious food, inviting atmosphere and stellar service.
Run by Raffaele Busceddu and Sarah May Elliott, Domo serves a range of traditional Sardinian specialities from homemade pasta dishes to show-stopping grills.
They've also got a banging cocktail menu full of signature serves and refreshing spritz, perfect for enjoying with friends over some delicious sharing plates.
Images: The Sheff
Domo has confirmed it will officially open the doors to its first Leeds venue on Friday June 5, so we really don't have long to wait.
Located at the iconic Tower Works development, Domo Leeds will offer a vibrant new canal-side destination, perfect for the summer months.
Alongside the main restaurant menu, there’ll be a dedicated bar food menu designed around relaxed dining and carefully crafted small plates designed to pair with the drinks offering creating a more informal way for guests to experience Sardinian flavours.
Domo co-founder, Sarah Elliott-Busceddu, said: “We’re incredibly excited to finally open the doors and welcome people into Domo Leeds. From day one, our vision has been to create a space where everyone feels welcome and somewhere that brings people together in the true spirit of Sardinian hospitality.
“Whether it’s an evening out with friends, a relaxed catch-up over drinks after work, or a big family celebration, we’ve designed Domo to feel warm, inclusive and full of life. We can’t wait for people in Leeds to experience not just the food and drinks, but the atmosphere and sense of community that sits at the heart of everything we do.”
Georgina Pellant -
3rd September 2021 
