Big on flavour, perfect for Instagram and inspired by globetrotter's travels, the new menu from Banyan is offering a true taste of summer.
The Leeds-born group of bars is known for its mouth-watering menu and cocktail offerings and now that the sun has finally decided to make an extended appearance across the city, the light bites and sharer plates are perfect for summertime brunches, lunches, evening meals and post-work snacks alike.
The new menu prides itself as being a locally-crafted, globally-inspired delight, so expect bold flavours aplenty.
Goat’s Cheese and Spinach Arancini Balls. / Image: The Hoot Leeds
For those looking for a grazing option or to share with mates using the new three small plates for £19.50, or four for just £25.50 offer, look no further than the crispy Goat’s Cheese and Spinach Arancini Balls. Served with three balls on a bed of salad, expect steaming arancini balls filled with fried rice, red pepper and garlic sauce.
The Creamy Burrata served with red and yellow tomatoes and fresh zesty pesto also comes highly recommended as a light starter or sharer plate.
Elsewhere on the menu, you'll find Banyan's famous Brie Wedges, brand-new Avocado and Sumac Houmous and the Middle Eastern style Baharat Prawn Tacos all served up as part of the Banyan platter.
Main menu seekers will adore the plentiful options that fuse flavour with hearty portions. New to the menu this summer is the Korean Fried Chicken Burger: a spicy cajun chicken burger, served with gem lettuce, tomato caesar mayonnaise, crispy slaw and a huge chicken gravy dripping pot for that added saucy serving.
Korean Fried Chicken Burger. / Image: The Hoot Leeds
Love it or hate it, Marmite has also made it on to the menu.
The summer-inspired Mac n’ Cheese is ideal as a starter, main or sharer depending on your preferences and comes with a crunchy crumb of Marmite- though this is mild enough to keep even the Marmite-hater at bay.
Summer calls for copious amounts of seafood and both the Smoked Salmon and Prawn Flatbread and Teriyaki Salmon are perfect light servings.
The flatbread comes as an open wrap, topped with avocado hummus, gem lettuce, cucumber and tomatoes, complimented by Marie Rose sauce, pomegranate and lemon oil whilst the teriyaki is a low-cal stir-fried vegetables and fragrant rice, topped with teriyaki sauce, coming in at under 550 calories with plenty of protein.
Smoked Salmon and Prawn Flatbread. / Image: The Hoot Leeds
You can find the new Banyan menu available alongside their new cocktail menu, where you can still grab 2-for-1 aplenty and more at any of their Leeds' locations in the heart of the city centre at City Square or slightly further afield in Horsforth, Roundhay and Ilkley and Harrogate.
For more information, including how to book your seat at the table and test out these flavours for yourself, visit the Banyan website.
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 -
30th June 2022 
