The new restaurant has got some of Leeds, and indeed the nation's most notable names in the hospitality scene talking.
Bavette plans to open next Wednesday 21 February 2023, just outside Leeds City Centre in nearby suburb, Horsforth.
The owners, we are told, come from 'very well respected London restaurants', and the bar has been set extremely high for ex-Culpeper Group MD and Head Chef Sandy Jarvis and husband, Restaurant Manager and sommelier Clément Cousin.
Combining their previous experience at the likes of Brawn and The Buxton and Eat Your Greens here in Leeds, the duo plan to serve up a seasonal menu with wines from Clément’s family vineyard in France.
To us, we're imagining that cosy intimate feel that Horsforth does so effortlessly with long wooden accents and a food menu that focuses on seasonality and quality, all with tried-and-tested ingredients inspired by French bistro menus throughout.
There's a handful of choices for each course. Beginning with Comté croquettes; Cantabrian anchovies with shallots, butter and toast, Cevella de Canut, a speciality cheese dip from Lyon, with Crudité and walnut oil; and baguette and house butter (of course), make up the snacks on offer.
The starters sound just as delightful. Choose from Shellfish Bisque with Rouille Crostini; braised squid with saffron aïoli and Gremolata; pork belly rillons with Frisée Salad and ravigot sauce, or opt for a French classics with a Yorkshire twist: Paté en croûte with Earl Grey jelly.
Images: Bavette via Instagram
Vegetarians will also be delighted to see Caramelised onion tartlette, with radicchio and Berkswell for starters and a thoughtful nod to its European influences, with a pan-fried gnocchi with squash, Cavolo Nero, hazelnuts and ricotta as your main menu dish.
Bavette promises to source its ingredients ‘from the very best small-time growers and sustainable suppliers to serving wines that excite the most novice and well-heeled wine-lovers, Bavette will offer a warm, guest-centred approach to dining, creating a community restaurant for locals and visitors alike to return to again and again.’
Elsewhere on the menu, you'll find Skrei Cod with a Vin Jaune sauce, served with brown shrimps, buttered leeks and fondant potatoes; glazed lamb shoulder, purple broccoli, celeriac purée, salsa verde and the signature Bavette a l'échalote, served with frites, Béarnaise sauce and baby gem salad.
There will also be a 800g Cote de Boeuf in red wine jus added to the menu as a sharing option. Priced at £80, this is recommended for a table between two and four people and is served with dauphinoise potatoes and Hispi cabbage.
The desserts are also wonderful French neighbourhood patisserie favourites, but hinting at its Yorkshire home. Think Crème Brúlée with Yorkshire rhubarb and shortbread; Paris-Brest; chocolate sabayon tart with fromage blanc sorbet and a cheese board offering with St Maure de Touraine, 24 month Comté, Bleu d'Auvergne and chutney.
Now one of the most important features of Bavette, is that the wine pairings ensure that food and drink is of equal importance: and with a seven-page menu spanning through non-vintage Champagne and labels from 2015-2024 to, quite literally, family favourites, with a selection of wines from Clément's family vineyard in France.
Now that really does sound like a feast for the senses.
Earlier this year we caught up with Sam Pullan, owner of The Empire Cafe, an intimate restaurant hailed by Jay Rayner (and the rest of us) after bringing a 120-year-old cafe site back to life with small plates, flame-grill rotisserie and beautiful breakfasts through available to takeaway from its little hatch.
Sam told us that Bavette was going to be something 'really exciting' and was his recommendation for anyone looking to try somewhere new in 2024.
So it looks like you'll see us and Sam inside Bavette soon!
In case you missed it, a bakery in Bramley has received lots of attention recently after people have sampled some of its impressive bread and pastries before raving about it online.
Since then, Ruth, the mastermind behind it all, has generated queues from her summer house-turned bakehouse with people coming from far and wide to sample her flaky favourites and doughy delights.
Baking for more than 10 years and opening The Fat Pigeon just outside of Leeds city centre three years ago, there's no denying that the pastries and more produced here are some of the best.
This micro-bakery has a mighty menu and although Ruth's personal tastes might lean more savoury, the menu heavily favours sugary baked goods.
Anyone who loves a good sweet treat will be glad to know there's croissants, traybakes, cinnamon buns and the star-studded kouign-amann, a French-originating buttery pastry that covers all bases as it's sugary, sweet and slightly salty - heaven in baked form.
Ruth posing with a pigeon statue alongside some of her delicious golden creations / Image Credits: The Hoot Leeds / The Fat Pigeon
There's plenty more dough-based delights that cater to the savoury palate too. Think sourdough loaves, baguettes and focaccia that's oozing with perfectly paired herbs and generous amounts of oil.
What makes this place even more special is the fact that not only the products being created and consumed made by a Leeds local, most if not all of the offerings are made using Yorkshire produce.
Ruth has made sure to keep local produce at the heart of all her bakes with Met's in Farsley who providing cheese, Whiteley's contributing fresh vegetables like parsley and rhubarb, flour from East Yorkshire's own Stringers and The Organic Dales for any dairy items - it really doesn't get more Yorkshire than this.
Enough from us, social media user's are singing this bakery's praises too as one commented "Delicious. Delicious. Delicious" and another going as far to say, "Beats every pastry I had in Copenhagen".
The sourdough loaves and bloomers at The Fat Pigeon are homemade and look as good as they taste / Image Credits: The Hoot Leeds / The Fat Pigeon
Hopefully you're reading this on a Friday or early Saturday morning, otherwise all I can do is apologise for tempting you with all this bakery's homemade golden goodness so far in advance.
The Fat Pigeon is open from 9am to 12pm every Saturday meaning you can stock up on some of Leeds' best bread and pastries to tie you over until the next weekend, depending on your will power.
Five of the best new openings in Leeds recently – from ice bath cafes to listening bars
Clementine Hall
It's been a brilliant couple of months for new openings in Leeds.
We don't know about you, but we think our city is really thriving with all it has to offer at the moment.
There's been a flurry of new spots opening up, and if you haven't visited them then we urge you to check them out.
But first, allow us to tell you all about them...
Domo
Tower works, 2 Globe Rd, Holbeck, LS11 5QG
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Introducing Domo, an independent restaurant 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 that aren't often seen outside the island, all made entirely in-house.
Located right on the water's edge, we've got a feeling this is going to be our go-to spot this summer for long lunches fuelled by spritzes.
Also born in Sheffield, this one's for the matcha lovers and we know there's a lot of you. Think iced banana bread matcha, superfood smoothies and refreshing acai bowls served in a super cool setting.
Kontrast
84-86 Railway Street, Saxton Gardens, LS9 8HB
Images: The Hoot Leeds
After already making a big name for themselves over in Manchester, Kontrast has brought its popular sauna and ice bath cafe concept over to Leeds. Located under the railway arches, Kontrast features two traditional saunas, one infrared sauna, and four ice baths, each varying in temperature between three and 13 degrees. It's the perfect space to enjoy solo or with a group of like-minded wellness-loving people.
Scott and his partner have opened the coolest, 70's inspired record bar that is full of his massive record collection alongside a carefully curated cocktail menu with a twist. With the best view of Sunny Bank Mills, Pardon Me is just the most chilled out place to watch the world go by whilst sipping on a coffee or a glass of wine whilst hearing everything from hip hop and soul to deep house, and disco. We loved our visit and we know you will too.
We all know and bloody love Silver's Deli over in Bramley, but now they’ve branched out to Farsley and opened the wonderful their very own bakery which is already a sell-out.
The all-new neighbourhood bakehouse is slinging out the likes of homemade focaccia, buttermilk brownies, sausage rolls, cookies, tiramisu and, of course, the ever-so-famous sandos but this time in homemade, fluffy focaccia.
Sophie Smith -
16th February 2024 
