From humble beginnings in Newcastle Markets to Leeds high street.
The mighty cheeseburger: patties piled high between layers of gooey cheese cascading down either side; sauces oozing escaping between every bite; light, fluffy buns sandwiching one America's finest dishes together.
Perfect for all occasions, meat-eaters have raved about cheeseburgers since their creation across the Atlantic- and we've been obsessed ever since.
Few have managed to achieve the right balance of meat and carbs, but since MEAT:STACK launched back in 2016, they have quickly become a cult favourite for American-style burgers and shakes.
Image: Meat Stack
With a real focus on quality, the team have crafted a small yet perfectly formed menu of double or triple cheeseburgers, sides, shakes and desserts that will satisfy even the most discerning of fast-food junkies.
MEAT:STACK has built up a loyal following in the north of England since they first launched as a pop-up in six years ago and after operating within Newcastle’s historic Grainger Market, the company took the plunge in 2020 and opened their first high street store on the Bigg Market in Newcastle.
The success of their burgers followed them onto the main streets and now they're bringing their attention to detail, authentic preparation methods and moreish flavour combo to Leeds.
With ten different burger combos to choose from, including a pork and beef patty breakfast burger, vegan fried ‘chicken’ burger and a regularly changing monthly special, we have to say the menu really does look immense. It’s a cheat day treat if ever we saw one.
Each patty is lovingly crafted with the perfect blend of rare and traditional beef cuts, sourced from award-winning free-range butcher's Block and Bottle. To create the base of their menu, the meat is smashed into a raging hot grill, smothered with cheese and all the trimmings, before being steamed to melted gooey perfection.
Menu highlights include the bestselling French Canadian, which comes loaded with streaky bacon, blue cheese, garlic butter, chilli-maple syrup, hash brown, American cheese and signature Stack Sauce.
The sides menu is equally as desirable, particularly as it includes the Pompeii Fries: beef dripping fries smothered with Stack Sauce, fiery ‘nduja sugo, basil oil and parmesan cheese. The Filthy Fries encourage diners to get their hands dirty, with a killer combo of crumbled blue cheese, Signature Buffalo and crispy onions.
Those with a sweet tooth will naturally gravitate towards the Jersey Shakes, which come in a range of satisfying flavours, including Nutella, Peanut Butter and house made Raspberry Jam. MEAT: STACK also offers up their own brand of locally brewed pale ale, and a refillable soda fountain.
Image: Meat Stack
Opening in spring 2022, MEAT:STACK have taken over a vacant venue on Bishopgate Street, in the prestigious 34 Boar Lane building, right next to the train station.
MEAT:STACK has snapped up the last space in the recently renovated building, which is home to a plethora of creative offices, retail outlets and restaurants. The venue will seat up to 60 diners and create up to 25 new jobs in Leeds.
MEAT: STACK partner and director Allan Hyslop had this to say ahead of the release:
“Since we announced that we will be coming to Leeds, we cannot get over the incredible support we have had in the city."
"There is such a great food scene here and we cannot wait to be a part of that! Community is everything to us and we hope to be getting involved with as many businesses, creatives and foodie folk as we possibly can once we are open".
Whilst you can't quite visit the MEAT:STACK venue just yet but you can drool over the menu and plan your visit to 34 Boar Lane to get your cheeseburger fix in the coming weeks.
She's big, she's green and she's ready to ruin your figure.
A lot of you will have seen the viral ‘Bertha’ cake by Leeds born beloved sweet treat specialists Get Baked.
They recently opened another site in Manchester's Northern Quarter, where queues literally formed round the block of hungry punters wanting to get their hands on the infamous sugary treats.
And now it's going to happen all over again, as they've recently unveiled their newest flavour which is sure to go down a storm.
We’ll give you a hint: it’s a current food and drink trend that’s about as big as Bertha herself – it’s not matcha, it’s not hot honey (duh), and it’s not Guinness…
Images: Get Baked
Yes—scratch that; HELL YES!Get Baked is set to welcome Bertha’s equally beautiful twin sister, and she’s officially a pistachio girlie.
Having started out life simply as ‘Bruce’, after taking inspiration from the iconic scene from Matilda, this thing has become a phenomenon in its own right, and who doesn’t like more flavours of a good thing?
Probably one of the biggest foodie crazes going at the minute, thanks to the popularity of pistachio cream, cookies, lattes and the similar social media sensation that is the ‘Dubai Pistachio Bar' people are rather fittingly going nuts for this particular flavour of almost absolutely anything.
With that in mind, the Leeds-born bakery and dessert shop – founded by Rich Myers over in Headingley back in 2011 – have shown no hesitation in hopping on the bandwagon and creating a new twist on their own viral menu item.
Teasing the full details in a post on their Instagram this week, they wrote: “What’s big, green, and is going to destroy your life in a couple of weeks’ time? Pistachio Bertha. Strictly limited to 5,000 slices. Coming oh so soon. GB.”
In case you were wondering just how mad those with a sweet tooth could possibly go for a slice of cake, just look at the recent queues when they finally launched in Manchester city centre:
Speaking on the grand opening here on our turf and his partner Amy’s hometown, Myers said simply: “Manchester, what a launch. Thanks for much for the warm welcome. Stay baked.”
The Swine That Dines announces the official opening date of its brand new restaurant
Clementine Hall
Much-loved Leeds Bistro The Swine Bistro, formerly known as The Swine That Dines, has moved to a bigger space in Headingley.
Although it’s gone through a few name changes over the years since launching as The Greedy Pig cafe in 2012, this independent spot has long been a firm favourite for Leeds locals for some time now.
Run by chef couple Jo and Stu Myers, they’ve been operating out of North Street where it’s all about cooking seasonal produce simply and with an added ‘little bit of sunshine’.
But now Swine Bistro has moved up over to Headingley, taking up a unit previously occupied by Jam hairdressers on Otley Road.
Image: Supplied
And the time has finally come for them to open their doors, as they announce their first service will take place on Friday 4 April with bookings open from today, Thursday 20 March.
The Myers will be welcoming head chef Kirsty Cheetham, who won Observer Food Monthly’s Best Sunday Lunch award in 2018 and 2022 when she ran The Queen o’t owd Thatch in South Milford, Leeds.
The expanded space in the restaurant has allowed the team to curate a bigger wine list which will include natural wines from Wayward Wines and Latitude Wines as well as local beers from Ilkley Brewery and Horsforth Brewery.
Image: Supplied
The team remains passionate about locally sourced ingredients and has partnered with a variety of Yorkshire suppliers including R&J Yorkshire for its fresh meat, Tarbetts fishmonger, cheese from George & Joseph cheesemongers and beans from micro roaster, Chipp Coffee Co.
Jo Myers, co-owner of the Swine Bistro said: “It’s taken a huge amount of time and effort to realise our dream to revamp what was previously a hairdresser into a fully functioning kitchen and restaurant. It’s been a wild ride but we’re excited, and slightly nervous, to finally open our doors.
“We love the vibe in Headingley and the time out has allowed us to have fun with our menu as well as take part in lots of essential taste testing of ingredients and drinks from our brilliant local suppliers. We can’t wait to welcome guests into our new restaurant!”
Sophie Smith -
18th March 2022 
