Duck Shack

In my recent post on Sushi & Bowl I mused on the opportunity to try out new venues that is afforded by York Restaurant Week, a theme that continued in the week for me with a trip to an intriguing spot called Duck Shack which has sprung up on the edge of St Sampson’s Square.…

Sushi and Bowl

I can scarcely believe that, as I type this, it’s four years to the day since pubs were told to shut. An awful lot has changed since then and, thankfully, an awful lot has returned to normal but York still bears the scars of the Covid era in the form of a number of closed…

Ninja Air Fryer

I managed to resist for quite a long time but it’s happened, I’ve finally caved and jumped on the air fryer band wagon. I’ve a tendency to fall for gadgets that I’ve been trying to slow down over the last few years, but recently I found myself with a bit of money burning a hole…

Clucking Oinks

(ad – pr visit) If you follow me on any social media channel you’ll almost certainly have noted my affection for Clucking Oinks. Way back in 2017 I ran a few street food events at The Fulford Arms, one of which featured fantastic fried chicken from the Clucking team and since then I’ve been lucky…

York Minster Refectory

(ad – pr) York has some pretty spectacular restaurants, with premises inhabiting noted buildings such as The Assembly Rooms and the former girls’ school on Low Petergate – now occupied La Vechhia Scuola – notably repurposing grand buildings for hospitality. This concept has been taken to an extreme now with the opening earlier this year…

Malmaison

(ad – pr) Since it opened I’ve made a number of trips to the Malmaison in the centre of York which is housed in a former insurance office that for so many years was a beacon of mundanity and grey. I can attest to that being the case on the basis of having worked there…

LNER Centenary

I’m quite open that running this site affords me plenty of opportunities to eat out, which I regard as a huge privilege, but that doesn’t mean I’m not always on the look out for opportunities to enjoy meals out that don’t just fortuitously drop into my lap. I’m certainly not averse to spending my own…

Batanga

I can’t remember the last time we had a good Mexican restaurant in York. I recall Fiesta Mexicana being decent, though tailing off in its latter Fiesta Latina incarnation in latter years. Mexicano can be found on Blake St but there’s not been any restaurant to speak of recently, until now. Batanga York appeared seemingly…

Tasca Frango

Isn’t it wonderful when you get to see nice people come up with a good concept and product that’s rewarded with success? Spark has been the platform for a number of businesses in York, food and otherwise, to move from its safe confines out to brick and mortar premises and the latest among this number…

A new start for Forage

(ad – pr visit) It’s fair to say that Forage York has had a bit of a bumpy ride recently. After working hard to establish a reputation for good food and show-stopping cocktails in their bar, restaurant and hidden speakeasy, the team were hit with a sudden closure that, quite understandably, gained traction in the…