Yorkshire’s food capital?

As the grateful recipient of a voucher for a ‘Yorkshire Seafood Cookery Course’ at the Malton Cookery School, it was time to go and check out whether the market town of Malton was worthy of its recent claims to be ‘Yorkshire’s Food Capital’

www.maltoncookeryschool.co.uk

Well, the cookery school is a joy ! With Gilly at the helm (formerly of Swinton Park Cookery School , established by her alongside Rosemary Shrager) I felt immediately at ease. There were four other eager novice chefs as well as myself on this occasion but the groups can go as high as 12.

As previously mentioned I was doing the Yorkshire Seafood Course, but there are many other courses available, take a look as to what may suit you!

First off was our brunch, smoked haddock risotto with poached egg.

Whilst we were busy prepping this Gilly showed us how to knock up a quick soda bread too
We broke to eat our ‘results’ and have coffee, then pressed on with pan fried scallop (which we shelled and trimmed) with cauliflower ‘two ways’ (crumbs and puree!)

Once we’d enjoyed this with a chilled glass of white, we learnt how to fillet a plaice which we then breadcrumbed, and pan fried, and enjoyed with a quick homemade hollandaise (oh and a splash more wine if you wanted it!)
Safe to say we were now quite full…..
The final dish was a Mussel Curry. Preparing a fantastic curry paste from scratch and adding just the mussel meat to the sauce with few in their shells on the top to look pretty !

I couldn’t think of a better way to spend four hours! The setting, equipment, produce, atmosphere and tuition were second to none.

I left with a fab complimentary apron and my recipes to enable me to re create the dishes at home, oh and the desire to book another course asap!

Obviously (well for me!) the next stop was quality independent coffee, no Food Capital would be complete without this right? Roost Coffee Roastery was just closing, but looked fantastic, reason to come back then !
www.roostcoffee.co.uk (GORGEOUS website too!)

So I was pleased to come across Yo Bakehouse and can confirm it ticked all the boxes…. coffee, service, surroundings, and cake (which of course I just admired as all I had done was eat up until now!
www.maltonyorkshire.co.uk

Malton certainly has a different feel since the last time I visited…. I enjoyed exploring the market place and the many earthy, stylish independent retailers popping up, from interior shops to gin and whiskey tasting…. the Talbot Yard Food Court was great too!
www.maltonyorkshire.co.uk

Alongside The Roost Roastery you can also explore the fresh pasta making, fabulous butcher, Artisan Baker and ice cream parlour!

I will definitely be heading back and certainly don’t begrudge Malton their Food Capital claim!