Oooh, Headingley you funky thang. First we get a Red's, then we get a Whites! Okay, so this is old…read morenews to H-town locals and those that like to be in the know, but here's my take on this latest spot to crop up. The shop used to be Dusty & Dylan (still ongoing online, so check 'em out for vintage threads) and is now a super-cool spot to take your laptop, pull up a pew at the coffee bar, and grab a beverage and a sarnie. I'm a real fan of the coffee bar and I dig the aesthetic; inside it feels a bit like an IKEA show room. I really don't mean that to be offensive, it's just in the vibe: clean, sparse woods and tiles match the wooden block your latte comes on and the slate rectangle upon which you sandwich sits. The ceiling is sorightnow; the original brickwork is exposed and the light fixtures come with rustic cables. You see what I'm saying? Post-modernism is back and it's gotten cosy with that clean, simplistic Scandi feel. Expect students to congregate here and not do their work. Expect cool mamas to come in with the wee 'uns and grab a spot o' lunch. Expect MacBook twats like me to sit at the bar. (Except, I'm not posing, because I do work hard. Honestly, I do.) The coffee didn't capture me as much as the likes of Atha's and Laynes in town, but it's definitely good. And the sandwich was chunky and full of fresh, and I believe locally-sourced, goodness. I tried the ham sarnie: fluffy bread, tasty ham, good accoutrements. Solid and trad. You can also buy all sorts of bits to take home: watch out wallet! Staff are cool -- friendly, not too-cool-for-school, and smile a lot. It's an all round good egg and I'm glad it's here.

whites deli when hand written on their wifi sign looks like shites deli...but it's actually quite…read moregood so who knows what to believe any more in this mixed up world of ours.

Oh my god I forgot how much I love Slips. Another great loyalty card place, with proper good…read morequality snammidges (not like Subway), at fair prices. They have various specials with different ingredients in, but my all time favourites are the Roast Veggie Melt (mmmm) and the Chiba Melt (Chicken, Bacon and Blue Cheese, but they will swap it for Mozzarella if you prefer, and sometimes I do, just to mix it up a bit, you know). They also sell cans of cloudy lemonade, and who doesn't love cloudy lemonade? Great for a Sunday morning brunchy hangover treat.

Although I didn't even step foot in the place, I've been past several times, and have in fact eaten…read moretheir sandwiches. No, I'm not a master of trickery and magic (nor some kind of bready cat burglar), someone purchased a sandwich on my behalf and even had the kindness to drive it to me. I did something right, along the way, it seems... Anyway, how I got the yummy lunchable isn't important. What is, is that it was great. The choices range beyond the dullard standard, and they've no beef if you want to mix and match some ingredients. Perfect for me, since I fancied the chilli chicken sandwich with melted cheese and mushrooms. I managed to order this over the phone, whilst my deliverer liased with Slips, and soon enough was gifted a gargantuan baguette filled to the brim with tasty awesome. They don't scrimp on the filling. Truly. By the time I'd gotten to half of it, my face and fingers bore heavy the evidence of a good sarnie. It's certainly no gourmet sandwich, however, but to be honest that concept only entered my head having been to the US. (Honestly, they take sandwiches very seriously.) But, as far as good value, good generosity of portions, and good flavour, I don't think you can go far wrong with Slips. Very happy to have finally had a chance to eat their offerings, and it won't be the last!

So with half an hour to kill before a hair appointment, I popped in to Truly Scrummy for a brew and…read morea bite. Boasting locally sourced food and home baked cakes, scones & tray bakes, it was a fair bet that I was going to like the place, and I wasn't disappointed. I was greeted warmly when I came in, I ordered tea and a toasted teacake and was invited to take a seat. There are 8 tables with 3-4 seats at each, so a decent amount of space. It's completely open plan so you can see the food prep & cooking area, I watched the two chefs chopping veg and putting in a big pot on the stove, and preparing the pastry cases for some kind of quiche or flan, and the smells were just delicious! My tea arrived in a teapot with a separate pot of milk, which always makes me happy as I'm dead fussy about my brew. My teacake was large and generously buttered which, again, pushed my happiness buttons. As I supped I eyed the scrummy looking cakes and tray bakes under the glass domes, slightly gutted that I didn't have time to indulge today. Perusing the menu it looks full of delights, from breakfast staples with a local emphasis (like the griddled dry cured yorkshire bacon sandwich, or the local pork sausage sandwich) to paninis, jacket potatoes, wraps, soups and much more. The loss of one star comes purely from a pricing front. £4.20 for a bacon sandwich or £6.80 for a panini is just a touch over the limits for me. Perhaps that's a little unfair as you can clearly see (literally!) the care and attention that goes into preparing the food. Who knows, perhaps when I come back and eat more, and I definitely will be back, I might eat them and decide the quality justifies it, but until then, four stars it is.

Last Saturday I went to the Market for the first time since I moved to Leeds. I wasn't sure what to…read moreexpect but I definitely thought it would be bigger and would have more on offer than food. In retrospect, it was awfully silly to be surprised to find that a deli market would be mostly food based, but I digress! Though the market seemed small at the outset it was bigger on the inside, with each stall offering a variety of culinary delights. The wife and I both tried french macaroons for the first time, loads of different cheeses, some brilliant Extreme Chutney (with a side of delicious bhajis), and really interesting pork pies. All in all it was a really nice lunch adventure and I only wish I'd have had more cash on hand to sample a few more offerings!

I love Kirstall Abbey as being a Headingley lad I had spent a lot of time here in my youth…read more It was a lovely sunny afternoon. The rain clouds had done their stuff in the morning and they managed to stay away while I was there. This is my first time at this event and to be honest I thought it would have been a bit bigger. There were a few empty stalls. But as I looked round that was on offer I took my time to sample a few cheeses, preserves and ales that were offered. I was impressed with the buffalo burgers as they were lovely and juicy. There were pies and pastries and cakes galore. My eyes spent an absolute fortune!! I came away after trying the many different wares that were on offer. As my purse strings are a bit tight this month so I only bought a litre of cider which I shall be trying tonight. It was a lovely way to pass a half hour but I came away wishing it had been a little larger!

called in to Appetite for a bite of breakfast and rather enjoyed the experience. Although not the…read morecheapest or the biggest breakfast in Leeds it was OK although I do wish the chef wouldn't assume I like my mushrooms smothered in pepper. The toast here is amazing, it comes in big, freshly sliced hunks that make up for the smaller size of the rest of the breakfast. If I were to be picky (and I am) the sausage was a let down. It was reassuring that, when asked what they could offer that was gluten free, they could provide salad which is just what everyone would want for breakfast.

I very nearly gave this place a Meh, I've experienced better two stars because it is just another…read morelunch place among many but it does stand out from the rest for the freshly baked and delicious bread. The place itself is quite dark and scattered with odd pictures of Leeds in black frames. It is not a place to sit in really but as it was raining we did. If you are close by get some lunch but don't go out of your way to try it.

Deli Kitchen has got me out of many a poverty related scrape! This sandwich shop is located on the…read morearchitecturally beautiful Great George Street, in very close proximity to Leeds Metropolitan University. During my University years, in which my money belonged solely to the bars and pubs of Leeds, the £1 toastie became a reliable favourite. Whether it was a lunch time snack or a pre-drinking necessity, the affordability of their food became legendary amongst my peers. I do indulge my fond memories of those mirthful University days, by visiting Deli Kitchen for the occasional nostalgic jacket potato. The reasonable prices make this humble but wholesome cafe, constantly appealing.

It's gone RAPIDLY downhill since the end of 2012. Staff not up to it... nothing on their hair (i.e…read more stuff could drop off head onto food)... sandwich is a mess when you open it.... There used to be massive queues on a lunch time. Not anymore.

Those with a keen nose for secrets would have already spotted this gem, hidden in plain sight, just…read moreup in Far Headingley. But a stone's throw from Cottage Road Cinema, Sebby's Deli, Beer Ritz and the other gems in the area, this little shop-come-art gallery-come-cafe is a real treat. I've wandered by a few times and cursed myself for not having the time to pay them a visit, so on a weekend wander, I made sure to pick this spot for a coffee. As you go in, there's a counter of fresh goodies right before you, including home baked cakes at seriously cheap prices. They've a deli shelf, with all manner of world-friendly and nicely made things, such as specialist teas, biscuits, Fentimen's drinks, and more. It's a treasure trove of treats, and that's before you've even ventured beyond the initial entry. It appears to be family-run, and the friendly chap who served us was incredibly pleasant, smiley, and welcoming. We ordered two coffees, and went through to the dining room area. This gorgeous front room (the café must be a part of their actual home) is beautifully decked out in red and white table cloths, kitsch little things, a cabinet of locally made jewellery, and all manner of local art adorns the walls. Paintings of various styles take up all available space, making this quaint room come alive with colour. I loved it. Then, you can step through into the secret garden. Literally just across the road at one of the pubs was a crowd of rowdy Otley Runners, and despite still hearing the odd 'waaaaaay!', I felt transported elsewhere. Somewhere serene, safe and as the name suggests, secret. The garden is shaded by a huge tree, and it's a fabulous little spot to sit and enjoy a cuppa. At the time, there was an unfortunate moment, where a fledgling wood pigeon had fallen to the ground and so the lady (who I assume co-runs the cafe) warned us that it was frightened and to watch out for it. The poor thing looked pretty bewildered, fingers crossed it survived the fall and lived to fight another day. The coffees we enjoyed were fabulous, freshly made, and huge. It's not often you get such a generous cup, so you're definitely in for a treat if you're a caffeine fan. They serve a range of sandwiches made to order, croissants, cakes, and other bites too should you feel peckish. This time, I fancied something more brunch-y, but I'll definitely be back soon for a bacon sarnie in the garden! Needless to say, I'm a real fan. It's a local family run business, supporting local artists, who frame pictures too, and serve up a great coffee. What's not to love? Sneak away for a secret moment, it's worth it.