18
FOOD
drink & If you’re planning to while away the hours exploring the charming market town of Skipton or one of the nearby villages, you’ll be wanting to stop for a spot of lunch or a quick snack at some point. Likewise, if you’ve spent the day taking in the breath-taking scenery of the Yorkshire dales, you will doubtlessly find yourself ready for some refreshment as night begins to fall. Whatever the time of day, whether you fancy something hearty and wholesome or you’re looking for something a little more sophisticated, you’ll be spoilt for choice here. This part of the world, with its dramatic, rugged landscapes and glorious scenery, is home to hundreds of farmers, food producers and artisan suppliers. This in turn means that restaurant owners and chefs have a wealth of choice when it comes to sourcing fresh, quality ingredients. ‘Sourced locally’ is a mantra seen on many a restaurant menu nowadays but here it means exactly what it says. The streets of Skipton are lined with a variety of places to stop and recharge your batteries. Enjoy one of the freshly-made pies at The Skipton Pie and Mash Shop, another of the many eateries including tea-rooms, bar-cafes, pizzerias, bistros and international restaurants, which together serve up an eclectic choice for lucky visitors to the area. For some good, old-fashioned, local hospitality, pop into The Castle Inn, handily located at the top of the bustling high street. It serves traditional pub food in a friendly, informal setting and is famous for its homemade Yorkshire pies including the enormously popular Steak and Old Peculier Pie. It serves Yorkshire coast fish and chips and has a range of vegetarian and vegan options, as well as offering a good choice of caskconditioned ales and bottled beers. Other pubs selling food include The Woolly Sheep Inn, The Cock and Bottle and the Red Lion. If you’ve a taste for wider European flavours, there is more than enough choice to keep you satisfied. Le Caveau is located within a 16thcentury, former prison building, where only the vaulted ceilings and exposed stonework provide a hint of its former use. There is certainly nothing punishing about the food on offer here! With an a-la-carte menu, fixed price offer and lots of blackboard specials, Le Caveau offers a mouth-watering selection of dishes to choose from. Chef Mark Byron has a genuine passion for local produce, sourcing the best quality meats and seasonal game from the Yorkshire farms surrounding Skipton. All menus change regularly to reflect the seasons and the rich pickings of the local countryside. His truly original creations include guinea fowl, pearl barley and haggis risotto, and the super inventive Basque-style baked egg piperade with vegetarian black pudding, finished with a Brie glaze. Alternatively, head over to Le Bistro des Amis, a super friendly establishment whose success is built on its unique blend of France and Yorkshire. All the chef’s ingredients are sourced either locally or from leading French markets, so the menu is a heady mix of authentic French cuisine and British classics. Think slow-braised Yorkshire lamb on the menu alongside a rich Boeuf Bourguignon and sumptuous mushroom ravioli served with a tarragon cream sauce.