The Alchemist

This post was originally posted by Lorna in the summer. 

Last night I had a late celebration of my birthday with one of my best friends, Harriet. We're normally so bad at doing anything for my birthday because she's always holidaying over the summer - but this year, for the first time in many, many years we managed to actually get together. We went to The Alchemist, a reasonably new restaurant and cocktail bar in the Trinity Leeds shopping centre - and I've been verrrry excited about going since it opened!

We grabbed our seats and got to grips with the extensive cocktail menu, I'm not usually one for cocktails (pint, anyone?) so I didn't know what to go for - we settled for a strawberry daiquiri and a strawberry mojito. Nommm...We grabbed our seats and got to grips with the extensive cocktail menu, I'm not usually one for cocktails (pint, anyone?) so I didn't know what to go for - we settled for a strawberry daiquiri and a strawberry mojito. Nommm...
I had The Colour Changing One. This looked more like a science experiment than a cocktail - it came with two glass vials to pour over ice and then just to sit back and enjoy!I had The Colour Changing One. This looked more like a science experiment than a cocktail - it came with two glass vials to pour over ice and then just to sit back and enjoy!
After that, we were trying to decide which cocktails to go for next, when as if by magic some freebies arrived at our table! We can't remember what they were (which sounds a bit ominous..) but the mysterious freebies were a massive thumbs up in our opinion.After that, we were trying to decide which cocktails to go for next, when as if by magic some freebies arrived at our table! We can't remember what they were (which sounds a bit ominous..) but the mysterious freebies were a massive thumbs up in our opinion.

It's such a fab looking venue - I wanted to sneak some photos of inside but it was so packed I couldn't really get any, so I pinched these from their own gallery.
We'd reserved a table, and I'm so glad we did because otherwise we'd have been queuing for ages to get in, if you fancy going then I'd definitely recommend booking. I hate queueing!
Then it was time for a proper catch up! We looked over the menu and supped our cocktails and felt very fancy indeed. For starters I had Duck Spring Rolls with hoisin sauce, whilst Harriet went for the Potato Skins with dips. We'd already decided we were going aallll out and eating as much as we possibly could manage... It was a treat after all!
Then came the matching mains - we went for the Fajitas. I had fillet steak, Harriet had chicken. They came with sauteed peppers and onions on a hot skillet, with warm tortillas, guacamole, salsa, sour cream and salad. They were very good, but very messy!!
Smokin'!
After we'd made a massive mess of our table, faces and clothes.. We opted for some more cocktails before digging through the dessert menu.



The photos don't necessarily give the drink any justice - it looked amazing, and it bubbled up and smoked for ages, I almost didn't want to drink it because it looked hot, but eventually gave it a go. It was interesting to say the least and very sugary. Not sure I'd order another in a hurry but it was worth it for the special effects.
We finished off our meal in the best possible way, with Belgian waffles served hot with cinnamon, sugar and vanilla ice cream. These are mine and Harriet's all-time faaaavourite desserts so they were a must-have!
And boyyyyy were they good?! They were amazing, even looking at the unfortunate blurry photo now is making me want more right now. We savoured our desserts, tipped back the last of our freebie cocktails, then headed past the crowds forming in the bar for home. We were home before midnight, much like Cinderella, and we stayed up chatting late into the night - which meant we had shameful lie ins this morning, but after our feast we felt we deserved it!

Lorna - Life by LDE

Opening of Handpicked Hall, Leeds.

A few days ago there was a new addition to the Leeds retail scene. Not a big name, or a shiny new mall. Quite the opposite.

Handpicked Hall is home to hundreds of independent retailers, giving them a chance to sell in a city centre at a tiny fraction of the cost (and risk) of setting up on their own.

The shop is in Grand Arcade, Vicar Lane, which even regular Leeds shoppers may well never have passed, unless you frequent the city’s Grand Theatre.

It has to be said it’s not the most glamorous part of town; it has more than its fair share of boarded up shops, despite being just steps from the bustling Headrow.

But the enthusiasm on the eve of the hall’s opening more than made up for any of that.

Most of the sellers I spoke to at the preview evening said it was their first foray into face-to-face selling, having started online. They’re planning to sell there one or two days a week, with most hoping trade will be healthy and that it will make sense for them to be there more often.

As retail units in Leeds go, it’s a pretty big space – 15,000 sq ft - double fronted and spread over two floors. There are four ‘zones’: food and drink, fashion and accessories, art and craft, and vintage.

Because of its size, it seemed a little sparse at the preview night but I understand the Hall will be home to more than 300 sellers.

> Born to Thread

> Louby Lashes Handmade

> There’s also food. This man’s hummus was divine.

> Cali’s Handmade Candle Co. I came away with the Madagascan Honeyed Vanilla and it fills my home with the scent of holidays.

> Njoy Crystal Jewellery

> Gillian Cordingley Ceramics

> Daisy Bakes

Like an idiot, I completely missed the fact there was an upstairs when I was there. That means I missed Our Handmade Collective and Love Me Sew. Plus, the upper floor looks like this. Like I said, I’m an idiot.

(via)

There aren’t many (any?) shops in Leeds city centre that can offer such an overhead view.

It’s fitting: Handpicked Hall is an innovative, ‘blue-sky thinking’ approach to retail; while the entrepreneurs, just starting out, are reaching for the stars and dreaming of where their business may take them.

Handpicked Hall launched last year, first opening in Ripon, then in Skipton earlier this year.

Director Anthony Blackburn said the Leeds opening means they are providing a home for more than 500 Yorkshire retailers.

“I think our success is down to the fact that we’ve made high street trading easily accessible and affordable for so many new businesses,” he said. “We also ‘hand pick’ all of our retailers to ensure we get the right high quality products and passionate people.

“The best part of my job is meeting great people with amazing talent and passion for their products, seeing how thrilled they are to be ‘hand picked’ and giving them the chance to realise their dream of having their own business.

“The space is amazing. To get the opportunity to work with such a beautiful Victorian property and bring it back to life with an eclectic mix of quality independent retailers is so exciting for everyone involved.”

Prices start at £10 a day and you can apply here.

The Hall will be open Wednesdays to Saturdays 11am-6pm and Sundays 11am-4pm.

I hope it will be a success and I’ll certainly be popping in when I’m in Leeds. Will you? Maybe you have been already? What do you think to the ‘Handpicked’ ethos?

 - Angel in the North

Coffee Duran, Leeds.

I find that most articles about eating out tend to focus on big evening meals or more expensive places, and when you go on a shopping trip to a city and want to find somewhere good for a drink and a quick bite it can be difficult. Obviously chains like Starbucks and Nero are in every city but I find myself continually underwhelmed by them, and rather annoyed that I've spent so much.

So I want to share with you one of my favourite places in Leeds City Centre. My boyfriend and I came across it completely by accident when we were looking for somewhere to eat after we moved into our new flat, and have fallen in love with it. We are regulars and have a chat with the owner every time we go in, but don't worry he'll be extremely friendly to all customers new or not.

Coffee Duran is on York Street in Leeds centre across from the bus station and, although it looks completely underwhelming, the food here is phenomenal and extremely cheap! If you're just nipping in for a quick bite - as we usually do - I suggest the homemade burger. It's always fresh, perfectly cooked and the paprika seasoned chips are to die for. Although if you're wanting something a bit lighter there's a whole selection of Mediterranean food available for you as well as the old English favourites.

I'm not one that usually rants and raves about how great somewhere is (in fact I'm usually the opposite) but this is my favourite place in town, and I'm pretty sure the pictures speak for themselves. You should give it a go. 

Hannah - Possibly Vintage

Leeds Food Festival

So this weekend was the Leeds Food Festival. I had been looking forward to this for a few weeks been a secret fatty and all. Other then the festival been super busy it was a really nice day out and the sun made a welcomed appearance. My pictures don't really do the event any justice but the festival which fills millennium square in Leeds hosts stalls from local restaurants, local farmers and a few cheeky beer/cider stalls. 

Saturday night I discovered I actually love olives. (I practically ate an entire jar at a BBQ) When I saw the stand selling all kinds of olives I was rather pleased and treated myself to some fetta cheese stuffed olives, delicious. 

I loved the cute camper van selling ice-cream 

 My favourite stand of the day. A nice refreshing glass of pimms on a hot sunny day. Blissful. 

 There was a different smell of freshly cooked food around every corner. 

 There was live cookery demonstrations throughout the day what most people enjoyed with a beer, cider or home-made lemonade.

 No food festival could be complete without a cupcake stand.

Have you been to the food festival?

How was your weekend?

Sammie

www.littleblondelife.com

Sammie -  Little Blonde Life