Vegan Afternoon Chai at We Are Wellness

I like afternoon tea as much as the next person (ok maybe more and when I saw that We Are Wellness were hosting a Vegan Afternoon Chai as part of the Leeds Indie Food festival I jumped at the chance of trying this unique take on afternoon tea.

We Are Wellness, housed in the stunning Clifton Manor in Headingley, is a yoga and beauty therapy space which was the perfect setting for our relaxing afternoon.

Upon arrival at the manor we were led into the dining room where we could help ourselves to a minty fruit infusion, water, the most delicious vegan chai tea and spiced crunchy dhal.

The first course included a variety of savoury morsels with  an Indian inspired theme.

These included:

Aubergine chapati wraps with a pomegranate salad - whilst the flavours of the wrap went well together the wraps were a bit too spicy for my taste.

Crispy baked samosas with a potato and pea or tofu and cashew filling. 

Baked beetroot hajis with a most delicious apple and mint chutney 

And finally, open cucumber on rye sandwiches, served with cucumber raita; because no afternoon tea is complete without cucumber sandwiches!

After topping up our cups with more chai the sweet course and my taste buds were in for a treat! 

From mango lassi cheesecake to chili chocolate brownies and the very scrumptious banana and chai spiced cupcakes (or rather just cake)

Readers of this blog will know (or maybe they don't, who knows?) that I rather rather enjoy experimenting with various ingredients and substitutes in a bid to cater for pop;e with dietary requirements and so I was eager to hear how the sweet treats of our tea were made.

The brownies use hydrated chia seeds instead of eggs. For my recipes using chia seeds you could click here and....oh wait I forgot to post the other recipes.

The banana and chai caramel cake which was beautifully light untextured was made using soaked cashew nuts, which were then ground into a paste, in place of butter.

Finally, it was time for the petit fours, although what do you call petit fours when there's no fours (oven) involved? 

The selection included a coconut and cardamon ladoo as the totally diving Indian cashew fudge bites.

Thanks to We Are Wellness for the gloriously guilt-free afternoon tea which was low on sugar yet super high on tickling those taste buds!

SaveSave

George and Joseph Cheese Tasting

The Cheesemongers George and Joseph have arrived at Ham and Friends bringing an artisan selection of cheeses to Leeds city centre. Here you will find a a fantastic range British, French and Swiss cheeses including popular varieties such as cheddar, gruyere, brie and blues as well as lesser known delicacies. 

We bought a selection of cheeses to take home to try and these included : Baron Blood Brie, Kileen, Summer Field and Etivaz.

Summer Field cheddar, as the name suggest is only made in the summer months. It has a distinct sunshine yellow colour and a robustly mature taste. The cheddar cheese is creamy in texture and I hear that it would make a perfect cheese toastie!

I am generally not a fan of goats cheese as i find the taste too ‘goaty’ but I was quite taken by the taste of Kileen. This pale goats cheese has a very light flavour and creamy texture.

The Baron Blood Brie is the only soft cheese of my tasting selection and is best eaten at room temperature. This pungent soft cheese melts in mouth texture and slight tang in flavour that which is not too overpowering and leaves you with a pleasant aftertaste.  

Finally we come to Etivaz which is my clear favourite of the bunch. This bergkase is full of flavour and has a pungent aroma. The salt crystals in the cheese add texture for a interesting mouth feel. This cheese would go very well in a soup.

Ham and Friends and other delicacies

You’ve heard of the land of milk and honey but let me tell you about  the delicious new foodie find right in the heart of Leeds. Ham and Friends is the third addition to the Friends of Ham empire and brings a fantastic selection of charcuterie, wines, beers and cheese to its food hall and kitchen. 

Ham and friends is also home to the Yorkshire Wine School, where as well taking part in wine tasting events you can also gain qualifications.  

George and Joseph, the first cheesemongers to Leeds City centre were most certainly worth waiting for! The cheese room offers a delectable selection of hard and soft cheeses made from cows, goats and sheep’s milk. Keep an eye out for my cheese tasting blog to follow!

The team from Ham and Friends and Friends of Ham host a selection of workshops and events including “Meet The Maker’ evenings where you can meet the suppliers and really sink your teeth into knowing where their food comes from. As part of the Leeds Independent Food festival Ham and Friends hosted a food photography course with photographer and stylist Victoria Harley (channel 4) 

A clear favourite of the morning that I spent at Ham and Friends was the coffee. The Darkwood coffee is roasted in the West Yorkshire Pennines and was ground for us on site for a beautifully fresh cup. 

The restaurant at Ham and Friends is to open at the end of May/ beginning of June and will incorporate seasonal produce from top quality suppliers who are specially chosen by owner Claire. 

From cured Italian meats to Spanish Chorizo Claire knows all of her suppliers personally and this translates in the way that Ham and Friends is not just about the delicious food but it is about the people too.  

SaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSave