Foods from Yorkshire you must try in York

Are you wondering what foods from Yorkshire you can try for the first time on your trip to York?  I’ve compiled my favourite Yorkshire foods to help you, all of which are affordable and easily available in York.

Food from Yorkshire has an excellent reputation both within the U.K and around the world. It’s something Yorkies are proud of.  You may know of some Yorkshire foods already but I guarantee there will be others that you did not know had their roots in God’s Own County.

So, what food is Yorkshire famous for and where can you eat it in York?

 

Yorkshire puddings

 

If you ask anyone to name a Yorkshire food, I guarantee the first thing they will say is Yorkshire pudding. We love it in the U.K. 

However, overseas visitors may be surprised to learn that a Yorkshire pudding isn’t a sweet dessert but a savoury side dish served alongside a roast dinner. A roast dinner in York isn’t complete without at least one Yorkshire pudding on it – ideally more! 

Yorkshire puddings date back to the 1700’s and are made from eggs, flour, and milk or water.

Sounds simple? The ingredients may be straightforward but cooking them is not and you’ll often hear the complaint ‘my Yorkshire’s didn’t rise.’ In fact, it’s said that a Yorkshire pudding isn’t a Yorkshire pudding if it’s less than 10 cms high! 

You’ll find this traditional Yorkshire food served alongside roast beef, roast potatoes and gravy. However, nowadays, you can also find giant Yorkshire puddings filled with curry or chilli.

A roast dinner with Yorkshire puddings will cost around £15 ($19).

 

Where to find Yorkshire puddings in York

 

You’ll find Yorkshire pudding on all the roast dinners served in pubs and restaurants in York. The best Yorkshire pudding in York is the source of some debate – you’ll have to try a few for yourself and decide!

Alternatively, for something a little different, try one of the Yorkshire pudding wraps from the York Roast Company. Their takeaway Yorkie Pud wraps are giant Yorkshire puddings filled with a roast dinner (potatoes, meat, vegetables and stuffing) and then rolled up like a fajita.  Vegetarian options are also available.

The Yorkie Pud wraps so delicious and an ideal hot lunch on the go. 

 

The York Roast Company –  78 Low Petergate, YO1 7HZ or 4 Stonegate, YO1 8AS 

 

Yorkshire Tea 

 

I’ll admit I didn’t start drinking Yorkshire Tea until I moved to York 19 years ago. Now, I always travel with Yorkshire Tea bags in my luggage and even had a box of tea sent to me overseas on our family gap year. 

Yorkshire Tea was founded by the Taylor family in 1886 in Harrogate, North Yorkshire and it remains a family-run business today.

Imported tea is used to create a special blend to match the water found in Yorkshire. It’s a strong blend, perfect for a wake-me-up cuppa and varieties include Yorkshire Gold and de-caffeinated tea. 

If you try it you’ll be converted – just like I was! 

 

Where can I try Yorkshire Tea in York?

 

You can buy loose leaf Yorkshire Tea or tea bags in any of the city centre supermarkets. It makes a great souvenir from York. A small box of 40 tea bags costs around £1.80 ($2.30). 

Yorkshire Tea is served in cafes and pubs all over the city, including Betty’s Tea Rooms.  Good luck to an establishment if they try to serve anything other than Yorkshire Tea to a Yorkie!

 

Yorkshire Curd Tart

 

This traditional food from Yorkshire is a sweet pastry tart sold in bakers, farm shops and farmers markets across Yorkshire. It’s super tasty and very filling. 

A shortcrust pastry lining is filled with a mix of curd cheese, sugar, lemon zest, eggs and melted butter. You’ll often find varieties with added fruit such as raisins or sultanas and nutmeg. 

A small Yorkshire curd tart costs around 90p ($1.10) or a tart for 2 for costs around £2 ($2.50).

 

Where to find a Yorkshire curd tart in York?

 

Betty’s Tea Rooms sell amazing curd tarts to eat in or takeaway but I also recommend the cheaper takeaway tarts from Thomas The Bakers. 

 

Thomas The Bakers – 7 Church Street (corner of Kings Square) YO1 8BH or 5 – 7 Market Street, YO1 8SR

 

Rhubarb

 

I never knew rhubarb could taste so good until I moved to Yorkshire. 

Yorkshire rhubarb dates back to the mid 19th century and is grown in the ‘rhubarb triangle’, between Leeds, Wakefield and Bradford.

Yorkshire rhubarb is a type of ‘forced’ rhubarb which means it is grown out of season indoors in warm dark ‘forcing’ sheds. It’s harvested in Spring, not in summer like outdoor grown rhubarb. 

Forced rhubarb encourages tender, super sweet stalks which is harvested by candlelight to preserve its tenderness.

It’s used in sweet desserts, pies and compotes and you can even pick up a rhubarb flavoured Yorkshire Gin. 

If you want to try traditional Yorkshire desserts, look for a rhubarb dessert.

 

Where to eat rhubarb in York?

 

You’ll find rhubarb on most dessert menus in York, particularly in Spring.

For a special treat, try the rhubarb and custard sundae at the Minster Refectory opposite York Minster. Their Tomlinson’s forced Yorkshire rhubarb and vanilla compote is served with ripple ice cream, custard whip and sherbet and costs £10 ($12). 

If you’re visiting York in Spring, pop into the Shambles Market to pick up some freshly harvested rhubarb from the fruit and veg stall.  A few stalks will cost around £1 ($1.20).

 

Minster Refectory – Deangate, YO1 7JA.  Shambles Market – Silver Street, YO1 8RY

 

Fat Rascal 

 

A Fat Rascal is one of the best known Yorkshire cakes and is a Yorkie favourite. It’s a large fruit bun, somewhere between a scone and a rock cake.

It’s made from flour, egg, milk, cinnamon, nutmeg, currants, raisins, sultanas and the grated zest of an orange and lemon. Finally, it’s topped with glacé cherries and blanched almonds. 

Fat Rascals have been sold since the 1800’s though it’s thought they date back to Elizabethan times. Despite their unusual name, no-one is certain how the name was adopted.

A Fat Rascal is big enough to share. It can be eaten dry but it’s best served cut in half, slightly warmed and slathered with butter. 

You can also buy variations including a Gooey Rascal (with a chocolate centre) and Cheeky Little Rascals (a smaller sized bun). 

 

Where to eat a Fat Rascal in York?

 

Fat Rascals are synonymous with Betty’s Tea Room though the exact Bettys’ Fat Rascal recipe is a closely guarded secret. You can eat in or pick one up at the Betty’s shop to takeaway. 

A takeaway bun large enough for two will cost around £2.80 ($3.50).

 

Betty’s, St. Helen’s Square YO1 8QP

 

Yorkshire Tea Cake

 

If you fancy something a little lighter than a Fat Rascal I recommend Yorkshire tea cakes. 

They’re lightly spiced, toasted, yeast based buns made with currants, sultanas or peel. They’re best served warm, well buttered, and with cup of Yorkshire Tea.

Traditionally teacakes (also called English teacakes) are eaten mid-afternoon or mid-morning as a between meal snack. A tea cake usually costs around £2 ($2.50).

 

Where to find Yorkshire tea cakes in York?

 

You’ll find toasted tea cakes in most cafes in York.

 

Wensleydale Cheese

 

There are 85 different cheeses made in Yorkshire but undoubtedly the most famous is Wensleydale Cheese, the favourite of Wallace from the ‘Wallace and Gromit’ movies.

Cheese has been made commercially in the Dales since the 12th century and Wensleydale is made by the Wensleydale Creamery in Hawes.

It’s a strong flavoured, crumbly cheese and is delicious on a cheese board, in a sandwich or with a slice of rich fruit cake. This sounds weird I know but it works somehow! 

 

Where to get Wensleydale cheese in York?

 

City centre supermarkets such as Tesco and Sainsbury’s sell pre-packaged blocks of Wensleydale or you can pick up a fresh block at the Shambles Market. A small block of cheese will cost around £2.50 ($3). 

If you want to try Wensleydale in a restaurant, visit Pairings. Their Yorkshire Board sharing platter for consists of Wensleydale Blue, roast ham and a locally made pork pie. It costs £20 ($25). 

 

Pairings, 28 Castlegate, YO1 9RP

 

A Full Yorkshire

 

A ‘full Yorkshire’ is the Yorkshire version of a fried or full English breakfast.

An English breakfast usually consists of back bacon, scrambled or fried eggs, pork sausages, grilled tomato, cooked mushrooms, baked beans and buttered toast.

A full Yorkshire breakfast uses ingredients that come from Yorkshire farms plus the addition of black pudding, a sausage like product made from pigs blood, oats and herbs. It’s one of those food products you either love or hate but trust me, it’s not as bad as it sounds. 

It’s a filling breakfast and prefect fuel for a long day visiting York attractions. It’ll cost between £12 – £15 ($15 – $19).

 

Where to eat a full Yorkshire breakfast in York?

 

If you’re staying in a hotel in York that offers breakfast, you’ll be served a full Yorkshire. Plus, lots of city centre pubs and restaurants offer a full Yorkshire breakfast until around 11 am.

My tried and tested recommendations include The Judge’s Lodging on Lendal (YO1 8AQ), Cafe No 8 on Gillygate (YO31 7 EQ), or Star Inn The City by Lendal Bridge (YO1 7DR).

 

Yorkshire Parkin

 

Parkin is a heavy sponge like cake made from flour, butter, oats, ginger and black treacle. It has a sticky, chewy texture with a strong ginger aftertaste. It’s one of the lesser known food in Yorkshire. 

The recipe for Parkin dates back centuries and it’s traditionally eaten around Bonfire Night in November though you’ll find it on sale all year round in York. 

Parkin is also called ‘cut and come again’ cake as you can cut a piece to eat and the rest of the cake won’t go off for a few days. 

 

Where to find Parkin in York?

 

You’ll find parkin in Thomas The Bakers or Cooplands bakery. It’ll cost around £2 ($3). 

 

Thomas The Bakers – 7 Church Street (corner of Kings Square) YO1 8BH or 5 – 7 Market Street, YO1 8SR. Cooplands bakery – 17 Davygate, YO1 2 QR 

 

Fish and chips

 

Fish and chips is popular throughout Britain but, in my opinion, the fish and chips in Yorkshire tastes better than anywhere else.

Whitby is the spiritual home of fish and chips in Yorkshire and I know some Yorkies who travel to Whitby just to get a fish and chip supper. 

It consists of haddock, plaice or cod deep fried in batter, served with a slice of lemon plus a generous portion of thickly cut, deep fried chips. Many Yorkshire folk like to add a side helping of mushy peas to their meal. 

 

Where to try fish and chips in York? 

 

You can find fish and chips on most restaurant and pub menus but if you wan the real deal from a proper ‘chippie’, visit Drake’s. It’s one of the oldest chippies in York. 

They use local suppliers and serve the best quality, freshest fish and you can dine in or get a takeaway. Eat – in fish and chips costs from £12.95 ($16). 

 

Drake’s – 97 Low Petergate, YO1 7HY

 

Crab

 

The Yorkshire coast is known for its tasty fresh seafood, particularly crab. You’ll find it in restaurants, pubs and in takeaway baps (bread rolls) from mobile caterers up and down the Yorkshire coastline. 

 

Where to find crab in York?

 

If you want to have a go at cooking crab for yourself, there is an excellent fishmongers in The Shambles Market. Alternatively, Pearly Cow serves locally sourced crab on a tasty seafood platter for two which costs £26 pp ($33).

 

Pearly Cow – 1 Clifton, YO30 6AA  

 

 

Foods from Yorkshire FAQ’s 

 

Is Yorkshire Tea made in Yorkshire? 

The tea is blended and packaged in Yorkshire but is grown overseas.

 

What do Yorkshire people call dinner? 

We call dinner ‘tea’ in Yorkshire. So we have breakfast, lunch and tea – and, of course, tea (as in cup of tea)! 

 

What is a ‘picky tea’?

If you hear a Yorkie saying they’re making a picky tea, it’s a buffet-like dinner made up with random food from the cupboard or fridge.

 

What is ‘a lazy tea’?

A lazy tea is a dinner that doesn’t require much effort or cooking such as frozen pizza or a jacket potato. 

 

Don’t leave York without trying some of the delicious foods from Yorkshire featured in this article. You won’t regret it, its reyt good!

Bon appetit!