Those of you who follow @LucieLoves on Instagram will remember that incredible foodie adventure I mentioned last week - if you missed it, you can check out the little Instagram Reel I made, which tags all of the restaurants! Well, as promised, I’ve been looking forward to sharing more details from my day out in Leeds – a northern UK city that I am not so familiar with! The only time in my life I’ve ever been to Leeds was for an open day at Leeds Art University in 2004, a “will we won’t we get back together” post-break up reunion with an early boyfriend in 2009, a night out to visit a school mate who was studying at Leeds, a day trip with the family a few years back and now this! A press invite to spend the day with the Jet2 team and Leeds Food Tours, which was really quite lovely!

This brilliant outing was all about celebrating some of the fantastic travel destinations you can reach within a few hours on a plane with Jet2 flights from Leeds Bradford Airport . With over 50+ destinations to choose from, they offer a cracking selection of routes for city breaks and holiday hot spots. And if you’re anything like me, your holiday criteria will be often end up being narrowed down to picking a location that prides itself in its excellent local cuisine and boasts a wide selection restaurants for the eternally hungry foodies amongst us, making it a doddle to plan a quick getaway to somewhere perfect!

Our Delicious Destination Hopping… A whirlwind world tour (well, kind of):

Whilst our whistle-stop tour through Europe may not have involved actual jet lag or passport control, it get our taste buds tingling and make me feel all nostalgic about holidays I’ve enjoyed in the past and the dreamy places I would like to travel to next. Let's delve into the delicious details:

🇩🇪 Germany: Berlin's Bite-Sized Bliss:

First stop on our taste bud tour was Germany! We popped into I Am Doner, Leeds, where I had my very first doner kebab… and it was not at the end of a night out… Nope! We were treated to an authentic OG doner kebab, which is said to be a true Berliner's favourite snack. Imagine this: succulent, marinated meat piled high in warm, fluffy bread, drizzled with creamy sauces and fresh salad. It was actually really tasty and the perfect way to make you question your decision to pop on bright red lipstick that morning when you did your makeup… Ooop! Anyway, it was a great way to kick off our international food adventure. Fun fact: doner kebabs are said to be a Berlin invention, so where better to experience this iconic street food than right here in Leeds?

Now, Germany is a destination I have visited a few times before - at various intervals and life-stages. The first time was on a school trip in 1997/1998, with Sisqo’s Thong Song inappropriately playing on repeat, whilst some major football tournament where Engerland-na-na-na had gotten to the finals and was playing on TV, cheered on by raucous pre-teens (if my memory serves me correctly - my cousin will know!?) The second time I popped to Germany was for a city break with my besties during the final year of university. We spent a few days in Berlin, staying at an innercity hostel, doing a city tour on bikes, exploring vintage shops, playing ping pong in hipster bars and enjoying Vietnamese food and chatting up local boys in bars! The third time I headed to Germany was for a work trip to Munich, tbf. I didn’t get to see much of the city as I was mainly working, but I do remember someone drinking a Stein at some point. The last time I headed to Germany was for a road trip to the Mösel Valley via Ypres, Belgium to do some wine-tasting, back in September 2021.

🇪🇸 Spain: Tapas Time in Sun-Kissed Spain:

Next on the food tour, a short walk down Leeds city streets, we (metaphorically, of course!) jetted off to sun-drenched Spain with a visit to the beautiful El Gato Negro Tapas, Leeds. Here, we indulged in a selection of mouthwatering tapas – the perfect way to experience the vibrant flavours of Spanish cuisine. Each bite was a delightful explosion of taste and texture, transporting us straight to the heart of a bustling Spanish plaza. Imagine sharing small plates of melt-in-your-mouth patatas bravas (spicy potatoes), juicy gambas al ajillo (garlic shrimp), and sizzling chorizo – a true celebration of Spanish culinary culture, right here in Leeds!

I’ve got a real love for small plates restaurants of any kind! I think it appeals to my love of novelty and being able to try lots of dishes at once. I’ve visited Spain a few times and always love it! From beachy breaks in beautiful Barcelona and Sitges, to Mijas on the south coast, near Malaga. To the more regal sights of Madrid on a little city break and some of the Spanish islands too, like Ibiza and Mallorca - stunning! I’ve got my eyes on San Sebastian next, which is said to be a real foodie haven!

🇬🇷 Greece (and Cyprus!): A Taste of the Mediterranean:

Now Greece holds a very special place in my heart, so I was certainly feeling like we'd been whisked away to the Greek Isles, when we then headed to Taverna Ki Bistro Leeds. This gem offered us a taste of Greece and Cyprus, with dishes that burst with fresh, authentic flavours - I absolutely ADORED the butter beans dish they served us! So delicious! If you’ve never been to Greece, this has to be one of my favourite foodie destinations. So fresh and flavoursome. Think creamy saganaki cheese, dolmades bursting with flavour, and slow-cooked lamb kleftiko falling off the bone. By this point on the food tour, I am now dreaming of being transported to a table for two, menu in one hand and glass of cold Greek wine in the other, sitting right next to the sun-kissed shores of the Mediterranean… and all without leaving Yorkshire! This restaurant is a true hidden gem, offering a taste of the Aegean right on our doorstep. (Note: Leeds is about a 1-hour to 1-30 drive from Warrington and Manchester, so not far at all!)

I’ve visited quite a few places in Greece - from cities like Athens, to Greek Islands such as Skiathos, Paros, Naxos, Antiparos, Mykonos, Santorini, Kefalonia, Serifos, Zante, Crete (the trip I took last year with Jet 2 - press trip) and Cyprus. Visit Greece says: “There are over 6000 islands and islets dotted throughout Greece but only 227 islands are inhabited.” Which ones have you visited?

🇮🇹 Italy: A Slice of La Dolce Vita:

Italy was calling next, and we couldn't resist the fresh arancini at Stuzzi Leeds. These trendy golden fried delights were filled with seasonal creamy goodness - think: peas and mint - and were the perfect embodiment of Italian "cucina casalinga" (home cooking). I adored the interior design at Stuzzi - it is a super cool restaurant on a really quirky and colourful Leeds street. They offered us a taste of Italy's warm hospitality and delicious home-style cooking, right on our doorstep! Imagine biting into a piping hot arancini, the crispy exterior giving way to a creamy risotto filling – a true taste of Italian comfort food.

When it comes to places in Italy I’ve had the pleasure of visiting myself, I have been to Venice as a youngster, in my early 20s, whilst interrailing around Europe. I had a chance to visit Milan about 4-times for various blogging opportunities and press trips, and finally, I took a solo trip to Rome back in January 2023 - which was absolute glorious! I loved this city so much! OH THE FOOD! THE HISTORY! THE ART?!

🇹🇷 Turkey: Istanbul's Street Food Delights at Kirkgate Market, Leeds:

For our final stop, we embarked on a taste of Turkey with some incredible Istanbul street food at Mr. Mackerel, located at the vibrant Kirkgate Market. I have to be honest, by this point on the tour, I was absolutely stuffed and could not eat another morsel! Well, not of savoury food anyway… I was already eyeing up the baklava from the stall behind - a melt-in-your-mouth sweet ending to our delicious foodie adventure.… But I must say, despite having never visited Turkey or Instabul (Yes! They are both on my list!) I am a huge fan of Turkish food. I can highly recommend trying one of the Gokyuzu turkish restaurants in London - or heading to one of the others on Green Lanes - my favourites include: Selale, Gökyüzü Green Lanes and Diyarbakir Restaurant. They each offer a true taste of Turkish culinary culture and a chance to experience the bustling energy and flavours of Istanbul's street food scene, without the long-haul flight!

Planning Your Own Foodie Adventure?

This Leeds-focussed whistle-stop tour through Europe's flavours left me wanting more! It was the perfect way to experience the incredible diversity of cuisine that's just a flight away from Leeds Bradford Airport.

If you're looking for some inspiration for your next foodie adventure, be sure to check out Jet2's fantastic selection of cheap flights. They offer amazing destinations in Spain, Greece, Italy, Turkey, and even Germany for a city break! Plus, with their competitive prices, you can treat yourself to a delicious and affordable getaway.

Stay tuned for more detailed blog posts coming soon on lucieloves.co.uk - who knows! Maybe I’ll have an actual summer holiday this year, where you can be sure I'll be sharing all the drool-worthy photos from the trip!! In the meantime, if you're looking for some travel and lifestyle inspiration, be sure to follow the amazing travel bloggers I met – you won't be disappointed!

A HUGE thank you to the team at Jet 2 and LeedsFoodTours for inviting me on this yummy Leeds day out!