@LadyRach was kind enough to send a me an invite for the press launch of Sesame; Leeds’ premier Urban Farm Deli. If you’ve been reading this blog for a few years, you would know that I had sadly but correctly predicted the demise of a few sushi/noodle places in Leeds…like Nooshi . I have a take-no-prisoners view on badly made sushi and imitation ingreddients, and nooshi was so far off the bat – so it was risky in my view to invite me to the press launch of Sesame! I decided that I would just not write about Sesame if it was as dissapointing as the others .So the fact that you are actually reading this now should give you an idea of things to come in this post.

Located in the haven of blood suckers lawyers in Leeds at St Paul’s Street, Sesame is an unassuming place from the outside. If you are looking for it and get kinda lost, it is not precisely opposite of Starbucks, but fairly close. Nothing showy or loud, high ceillings, airy and light, this is definately my sort of place. Just like one of the delis in Little Italy that I used to frequent in San Francisco…I like.

After saying hi to the lovely LadyRach and handed some champagne complete with pretty ribbons, I headed straight to…..what else, but the counter overflowing with these…

Cate’s Cupcakes are made by the lovely ‘cupcake fairy’ Cate…who suprisingly, is crazy about Tiffany jewelry as well. We had a natter over her delicious cupcakes and Tiffany’s suprisingly expensive enamel cupcakes.

Don’t you just love her cupcake tee!! She’s holding up a platter of her bite-size vanilla cupcakes in pink frosting, which I had a piece (would have just run off with the whole platter if she wasn’t there watching over her cake…very shrewd move indeed) . Very moist buttery sponge topped by the prettiest sparkly pink frosting. Yummz. Bacon even went as far as proclaiming this to be way better than @hummingbbakery’s (sorry, I can’t seem to stop using twitter speak) lovely cupcakes. Hmm. I shall reserve judgement until I try her version of red velvet…

The next person that I gravitated towards was this charming young lad who obliged my request for a photo

And just look at what he’s carrying!! Yay!! Salmon nigiri, New York Roto (smoked salmon, cream cheese & cucumber), California Roto (Whitby crab, avocado & cucumber), tuna maki….this is like my idea of heaven. The only thing I regret is not whipping out my own chopsticks (yes, I travel with chopsticks, so sue me) or the brains to ask for a disposable pair – eating sushi with fingers is a new experience for me.

Okay, now for the taste test. Fish is very fresh, no smelly fishmonger feel….rice has just the right amount of stickiness, and not too much rice to ‘pad it out’. All together very well made sushi – I had like 4 of these salmon nigiri in a space of 5 minutes…they were definately very delicious. I love the Whitby crab in the California roto as well, the sesame (obviously) were lightly toasted, giving it the extra nutty kick that most rotos need. I LIKE!

To be honest, I was relived to find that the sushi passed my taste test. I was dreading for another deluge of immitation wannabe sushi restaurant/store. Too many places sell pseudo sushi; instead of fresh fish, fried chicken & tuna sweetcorn ect are used. I guess it’s to cater to the British palate – I know of too many people who are terrified of raw fish. It’s nice enough, but just don’t try to pass it off as authentic sushi! I love the freshly made COLD rice (had salmon nigiri served on HOT rice before!). And the good folks at sesame are not afraid to flex their creative muscles as well….

No idea what this is called and it’s not on their takeaway menu, but it is smoked salmon and cream cheese rolled in thinly sliced cucumber,held together by a strip of nori. Okay, fine, this is not traditionally sushi, but bacon promptly declared this was his absolute fave. It was definately very delicious, a twist on the New York roto. Love it love it!

This wonderful platter wandered up to me as well – tuna pate atop a slice of cucumber topped with a spiral of mooli and sprig of mint. Definately more canapes than sushi, but this place is definately not proclaiming itself as a traditional Japanese deli – soups, pies, cupcakes, noodles, rice salads…..so they defiantely have earned the creative license to go crazy and create. Again, fabulously presented lovely fresh fish; it contrasts beautifully with the fresh crisp cucumber and sprig of mint & mooli spiral. Just what the doctor ordered. (PS: those were my fingers going in for the kill..hehe)

I let bacon loose with the camera whilst I chatted with the charming Louise who owns Sesame. Bacon naturally gravitated towards the other heartier options on sale – those that were not doing the rounds as canapes.

The seared local beef carpaccio on fresh salad and sushi rice. I absolutely love carpaccio…and this beef carpaccio looks so lovely in pink…can you tell I love undercooked/uncooked food? I feel hungry just looking at this. Wonder how it would taste like with wagyu beef?

Their selection of yummilicious noodles. Large cartons go for £4.90, small cartons start at £3.50. Beef wonton, salmon teriyaki, chargilled chicken, spicy vegetable & spicy chicken are the varieties available. Bacon’s been going on and on about them since we left…I think I might need to make a side trip to the deli to stock up on my way back from work.

i’s Pies, made in Ripon by Anthony. Like everything else in the deli, all fresh local ingredients, no preservatives and all that E-numbered variety stuff found in retail pies.

The collection of takeaway sushi boxes. All freshly made on the day. I can just imagine sitting there all day just picking on all of it…

The lovely LadyRach with Louise, the founder of Sesame.

We left with cute little takeaway bags, filled with discount cards, takeaway menus, a bag of matcha (will be turning that into matcha cupcakes this weekend!) and most importantly, a small sampling of the sushi selection and a pack of the yummiest wasabi peas..

I think my favourite is the California roto – fresh Whitby crabs is just so damned good in a sushi (did I already say that?). The good people of Sesame definately know what to do with their sesame – what lovely nutty flavours!!! (hmm…repeating myself again I think..)

Sigh. Now I have to go back and spend all my money before I go home tonight. Actually, that is not exactly true. Louise have priced the selection very well – and I told her that. Prices are extremely reasonable, with my favourite cream cheese stuffed pepper going for £1.50 a pot. It is about £2 at Tescos. Okay, Tesco vs Sesame….no prizes for guessing the winner. Miso soup goes for £1.50 for a pretty big carton – I would be happy to have one of these for lunch. Or a sushi pack for £4 for lunch – miles better than the hard-as-bricks variety stocked in supermarkets with ‘fake’ raw fish. Sounds too good to be true, there’s gotta be something wrong with Sesame right?

yep

IT IS TOO FAR FOR ME TO WALK THERE FOR LUNCH!!

Sesame Urban Farm Deli
Enterprise House
16 St Paul’s Street
Leeds, LS1 2LE
www.ilovesesame.co.uk

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