Big British Food Map Dining like the Vikings

Date Published:

19/08/2008

Andrew got to the heart of Yorkshire, on the look out for Viking grub

A sad loss for sausage

I took a wander around York today exploring places you've suggested, and a few you've not. Sadly Scott's of York, added to the Map by jritson, has closed. According to jritson's entry Scott's always had at least eight differant types of sausage on the go - all fantastic. But upon finding it, it was all closed up with only flies in the shop and the website was down too.

When will it ever stop?

In other news, York flooded last night!

The surgeon from Texas

Is there anything finer than the quiet hush of a rainy afternoon, sitting snug in a pub with a book? I don't think so, nor does this guy. He grew up in Hartlepool but left in the 1960s and eventually became a top surgeon in Houston, Texas. I'd just bought a copy of T. Sarah Peterson's 'The cookbook that changed the world'. He'd just got a book on Johnson and Boswell's famous tour of Scotland in 1773. The conversation turns to food: "The quality of food in the UK has vastly improved over the last 10 years," says Kenny. We talk about the US presidential election, England in the 1950s and what it's like to be a surgeon. Another revelation was that the Two Fat Ladies had a large cult following in the US. It was an enjoyable hour; I've not really spoken to anyone face to face apart from people whose businesses are on the Map for ... well, ages. I think I'm going a bit mad with it all, hence chatting to strangers in bars.

Race fans drown their sorrows after the races are called off

Spent the afternoon chatting with Martin at Café No 8 and then a nose round York Art Gallery. There's a George Stubbs exhibition on at the moment, providing the only equine interest in town given that York's 'Ebor' horse racing festival has been a total wash out. I was chatting to some race fans in a restaurant last night. "It's been a disaster," said one. "At least we've not lost any money," said another. "Yeah but I've not won any money either," said a third. I considered broaching the subject of eating horse, a topic Janet Street-Porter raised in the F Word last year, but thought better of it as emotions were running high.

One of Betty's legendary Fat Rascal cakes

For me, a cup of tea first thing in the morning is essential. I'll readily admit I'm like a new born mammal first thing, all unopened eyes and yawning. Let's just say I'm not really a morning person. Tea, (followed by coffee a bit later - tea's the fire starter, coffee's the fuel) is the reason to get out of bed. That and because you might need a wee. Anyhoo, this morning my first cuppa of the day was accompanied by an full-sized Yorkshire afternoon tea for two as I was in Betty's Tea rooms in York at 8:30am. I then headed over to Harrogate to Betty's head office, for a tour of the facilities, and finally had a slurp round sister company Taylor's of Harrogate, for more tea. It was a very productive and interesting day.

Something's caught his eye

Number two in my Friday series of (un)humorously named shops. This example was spied in Harrogate yesterday - sigh.

Spin cycle

Today was mainly spent dodging the rain and doing my washing. Ah the glamour of life on the road!

A roam around the ruins

Last day in York today before moving on to East Yorkshire so I had a final wander round the town. Even the sun came out and the cafés, bars and restaurants spilled out onto the pavements to make the most of it. The town was packed with diners, tourists and sightseers. I stopped for a while in the museum gardens and had a nose round the Abbey ruins.

Last week Andrew was in the Yorkshire Dales.

Next he's off to East Yorkshire.

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