Top Tips from the North East and Yorkshire's Best Culinary Talent
From their favourite restaurants and hidden gems to cooking advice and more, here's what you need to know
Jake Jones, Forge
The bright spark behind Forge at Middleton Lodge’s exquisite estate-to-plate menus, Jake is all about keeping it straightforward, local and delicious, and his restaurant currently holds a Michelin green star for its commitment to sustainable practices.
Your go-to lazy supper?
One-pan chicken pot pie.
Best snack for a long journey?
I would have to say if it’s a long journey, I would stop for a McDonald’s.
What you’re reading/listening to/watching at the moment?
The Runaway Joe podcast, and I’m rewatching The Sopranos. I also watch MasterChef and Great British Menu.
Best place to walk locally?
We’re lucky as we’re so close to the Yorkshire Dales. There are so many great walks all around us.
Best place to eat locally?
Stable Hearth Neapolitan pizzeria in Darlington.
Daniel Jonberger, Crush
A new venture in Durham city centre from the former head sommelier of the two Michelin star-awarded Raby Hunt, Crush is the chic wine bar you need to know about.
Besides Crush, where is your go-to for wine in the area?
To be honest, there isn't anything like Crush, I'm proud to say, but I do like the Impeccable Pig in Sedgefield; good wine list, great atmosphere and good staff.
What is a good wine to impress dinner guests?
To impress, take a wine from Languedoc or Roussillon in southern France. Pick a small grower, read up a little about them and tell the story over dinner. The wines from those regions are so underrated.
What are you drinking at the moment?
At the moment I’m drinking a Cabernet Franc from China – it’s absolutely amazing.
Fran Jones, Ad Gefrin
A distiller at Northumberland’s Ad Gefrin, Fran was recently named in Harpers Wine & Spirit 30 Under 30, and knows a thing or two about good whisky.
What is your go-to cocktail?
My favourite is a negroni.
Tell us a hidden gem in the area.
I enjoy sea dips at Sugar Sands at Longhoughton. You can always count on the North Sea for a refreshing cool down after a warm day at the distillery.
What’s the best advice you’ve been given?
In distilling ‘never assume’. Check and double check. For example, always check any valves you need open or closed and don't assume someone else has done it. In life, live in the present and take each day as it comes.
Matt Mitchell and Charlie Doyle, Lagom
The joint owners of one of Newcastle’s newest speciality coffee shops, they take their beans seriously and know the best way to make a cracking cup of Joe.
Tell us your favourite hidden gem.
Matt: When I get the chance I do love to go up to High Force Waterfall.
Charlie: It’s where I proposed to my wife!
What’s your go-to guilty pleasure meal?
Charlie: I’m going to say a doughnut from one of the local places in Newcastle like Donut Lab.
Matt: I did like a Mexican from Barrio Comida.
What could you not live without?
Matt: I mean, can I go for the obvious answer?
Charlie: I’m going to go coffee!
Clement Cousin and Sandy Jarvis, Bavette
The crack couple behind Bavette in Horsforth which was named the Best Local Restaurant in the UK just four months after opening, this is not any old neighbourhood bistro.
What is your go-to guilty pleasure food?
Clement: I’m very lucky to live with a chef and I really like everything he cooks!
Sandy: I’m an absolute sucker for a good Chinese, aromatic duck pancakes.
What is your favourite hidden gem?
Sandy: We live just outside Roundhay Park so we go walking there a lot and there is an absolutely beautiful hidden waterfall in the park. Clement also likes a beautiful graveyard!
What’s your favourite restaurant?
Sandy: Before we opened, our absolute favourite was Hern – delicious food and the wine is just fantastic. It’s a really cute restaurant that’s very authentic and genuine. If we were lucky enough to have a Thursday night off together that would be where we’d go.
Angelica Sykes, The Italian Wine Shop
Bringing a taste of la dolce vita to the UK, Yorkshire-based entrepreneur Angelica has built The Italian Wine Shop – a go to for everyone seeking authentic and delicious Italian wine.
What could you not live without?
My sister, I live with my sister and she’s kind of our creative director. I can’t live without her because she is very grounding. My family in general really. I couldn’t do this without them.
Tell us a hidden gem in Yorkshire.
You’ve got to go to The Gilded Grape in Ilkley – it’s a fantastic little wine shop and they do the best cheeseboards I’ve seen outside London. Zucco in Meanwood, Leeds is an incredible local Italian restaurant too.
What’s your favourite outdoor spot?
You’ve got to go for a walk at the Cow and Calf Rocks in Ilkley. It’s stunning and the air feels so fresh, it feels like you’re on top of the world.
Liam Smith, Restaurant Pine
A northern lad, and a finalist in the Roux Scholarship, when we spoke to Liam he was an essential part of the team at Michelin star-awarded Restaurant Pine in Northumberland. Liam may be young but has built an impressive career in the North’s fine-dining scene already.
What’s your guilty pleasure meal?
I love a really dirty sandwich and I love to raid the fridge and find mad concoctions of things. You can’t beat a toasted sandwich really.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve been given?
Someone said to me once when I was having a really bad day, and was super stressed out and everything was going wrong, ‘it’s just cooking’. It sounds weird to say because everyone is so passionate but you need to pick your battles and let go of as much stress as you can.
Aaron Mclellan, Hide
Hide is the third in a trio of recent restaurants and bars in Heaton from the same team, offering a delightful tasting menu drawing on seasonal, local produce and building on the success of Nest and Flight.
What’s your favourite ingredient to work with?
At the moment it’s wood sorrel. Most people will turn a blind eye, but these herbs bring such a punch of flavour to a dish.
Tell us a good local foraging spot.
A true forager never gives away his spots! I do like to go around Kielder though, and even Jesmond Dene for people who live in the city.
What’s your go-to lazy snack?
As much as I love doing fancy food, I can’t go wrong with a Pot Noodle. A Pot Noodle and a nice cheese and ham toastie!
India Luck, Heppni Bakeri
The driving force behind the recently opened Heppni Bakeri in York, the pastries here are to die for (their Paddington, made with marmalade, orange frangipane and lemon syrup, is particularly good).
Tell us your top places to eat in York.
Goldee’s Bagels in Shambles Market – his bagels are unbelievable. Another hidden gem there is Krep with incredible homemade fillings. Los Moros which is about four doors down from the bakery and is a North African restaurant with the most beautiful garden at the back of it. Partisan on Micklegate do incredible Persian eggs and shakshuka.
What is your ultimate easy-to-make snack?
This is really rogue but mint sauce and peas mixed together. I would die on that hill.
What advice would you give to someone starting out with a business?
Most of the comments from people you can ignore. I got told by so many people that I wasn’t ready, but as long as there’s one or two people (including yourself) who believe in you, you’ll be fine.
Tom Kerridge
We caught up with Tom earlier this summer to find out more about his new book Tom Kerridge Cooks Britain. After spending time travelling around some of our favourite local spots, we had to know more.
What’s your favourite ingredient to work with?
I’m a big fan of dairy so anything to do with dairy – double cream and butter are probably my favourite things to work with!
Do you have a hidden gem you’d recommend?
I’m 100 percent going to say Andrew Pern’s The Star Inn at Harome – it’s amazing.
What’s your favourite quick snack?
I’m all over very simple things like fruit, apples and cheese as a go-to snack.
