THIS BLOG HAS MOVED

It has become increasingly difficult to keep both blogs going simultaneously, so. I have decided to merge them. My British Food site for the New York Times is getting page views in the 10's of thousands a day, so why not get Yorkshire in there and flag it up.

A new site is coming soon to focus on Yorkshire; Yorkshire Life, Food and People to coincide with my new book . News will be here and on the British Food site.

No way am I abandoning Yorkshire, just showing a bigger audience just how fab we are.

My final word on this is to say how great it is to hear that Yorkshire food has topped the polls in the new Hardens Guide, though, hello, what have I been banging on about for the past 15 years? Good to hear that finally the national audience is listening.



See you on the other side

I'm Back..!

Yorkshire Puddings - the Most Popular Hit at About

Well, well well. Where has the time gone. What a whirlwind the past months have been. I never realised just how much time would be needed to get the new website up and running. Even though it does seem to have swallowed all my time, I love it. The New York Times are fantastic to work for; the title alone opens many doors. Their support network is second to none and have made some great new friends worldwide.

I was so busy I didn't make it over to the conference in July but as there's another one in October I didn't feel too bad. I am happy to report the site is doing really, really well, I am shocked sometimes when I see just how many people are reading it, thousands every day.

It's great fun to fly the flag for the UK but I haven't forgotten Yorkshire. I am still cracking on with the Yorkshire Post reviews and am flattered that I have now completed a couple for Waitrose Food Illustrated as well...very pleased about that new contract.

I haven't been glued to my laptop either. In the past few months have successfully completed the Food Festival at Castle Howard, Great Yorkshire Show and a three-day event at Harewood House to celebrate Yorkshire Day.

Awards season is upon us again and though I may not be running the YL awards this year (and from the rumours I am hearing about them have to say I am happy I am not) have been very busy with the Yorkshire Tourist Board's White Rose awards and last week chairing the Regional Food Group Annual Food Awards.

The Food Group Awards are going from strength to strength and this year saw record entries. Over the 3 days judging we made our way through tasting hundreds of products and most of them were FAB. Makes me proud to be a Yorkshire Girl. The shortlist will be published in September and the winners in November.

So I'm back and am not going to be as negligent again. There's tons to report from Yorkshire and will make sure I stay on the case.

You can always find me and my antics on the other site ... but if it's Yorkshire you are interested in, then this is also the place to be.

A long time coming...

Many months ago, (January, around the Yorkshire Life debacle) I made mention of a new job in the wings and news of it later. Well, finally 4 months down the line I can safely say the new job is in the bag, as the new site I have been writing (and will continue to do for a long time to come) is finally live.

It is something of a coup to now work for the New York Times Company on their information portal About.com as their expert on British Food. I feel somewhat responsible in carrying the flag for the nation in this arena and I will certainly give it all I have got.

About.com is massive as a site, it is ranked as one of the top 15 sites in the world and prides itself on writers and experts in their field producing original content. Given the site gets on average 55 million visits a month, the task is daunting.

The getting there wasn't easy, first to be shortlisted and then undergo a 17 day selection/training process (whilst learning HTML on the side) but I kept my head down and wanted to prove not just to myself but former employee (!) that I could do it. So imagine my delight when I was chosen.

So it's all go, but Yorkshire is not abandoned and never will be. I continue to trawl the restaurants in my role as restaurant critic and I have a summer packed with food festivals, awards panels and judging to carry out; all of which I will report here.

Please visit the British Food site and feel free to e-mail me with ideas, suggestions for features and reports on anywhere in the British Isles or Ireland, restaurants, producers, ingredients or recipes.

Let's fly the flag for Britain!

Olive Magazine

James Mackenzie chef-owner, The Pipe and Glass Inn, South Dalton

Check out this month's Olive Magazine page 79. This Blog was selected by the Editor as a "Favourite Food Blog", what an honour.

They asked me about my favourite places to eat in Yorkshire...what a difficult decision that was; the list went on and on. They finally settled on the Oxford Street Brasserie in Harrogate, and The Pipe and Glass Inn at South Dalton.

They particularly liked Oxford Street becasue it is still one of the county's hidden gems - despite me having talked about it for the past 18 months. They are both well worth a visit!

Read my review on Oxford Street. Despite writing it last year, I have been back since and it is still as good, if not better than before.

Festival Time in Yorkshire

The Ryedale Festival of Food Champion Chef Line-Up

Andrew Pern, James Mackenzie, Robert Ramsden, Stephanie Moon, Andrew Foster, Robert Craggs, Rob Green and Andy Burton

It's that time of year again when the merry-go-round of Yorkshire food festivals begins. It kicks off this weekend with the Dales Festival of Food - a fab three-day event at Leyburn. I won't be visiting this year, but it is well worth the trip and queuing to park!

The best for me is The Ryedale Festival of Food at Castle Howard on May 25th and 26th. I will once again be hosting the cookery theatre and this year’s line up of chefs is staggering; the best chefs in the county together under one roof (though a marquee). No TV celebs this year, just the best that this county has to offer. It may be fun to watch but for me the fun is backstage in our little kitchen-marquee. Fitting all the chefs plus their equipment is always a feat of engineering but we’re used to it. This is the 4th year of the festival and it gets better every year. Last year even the weather couldn’t dissuade thousands flocking to the event. As well as the great food producers from the county there is plenty to keep everyone occupied, young and old.

June sees the first Taste Festival in Leeds. The popular festival is heading North for the first time for 4 days of eating and drinking, shopping and cookery demonstrations. The Regional Food Group will be hosting a marquee to showcase some of the county’s finest producers and your truly will be there giving a helping hand.

And finally, in July The Great Yorkshire Show. This year is a special event as it is the 150th show, so it promises to be even better than before, but more of that nearer the time.

PS: I forgot to mention, sorry Anthony didn't make it through to the final of the Great british Menu. Shame, but he certainly flew the flag for Yorkshire.