Handmade Bakery, Slaithwaite, Huddersfield

We’ve written about this great bakery before, but special places are always worth a second mention, don’t you think? This time the emphasis is on the cafe, where really tasty, good-looking food is to be had at very reasonable prices. I’ve neglected it rather, which is a bit daft since it’s only over a couple of hills. The last time I went it struck me that it’s the perfect combo of brilliant bakery and cool caff.

The menu is rustic. Don’t expect much in the way of sophistication, or huge choice, or even memorable presentation. But what you do get is flavour, texture and aroma. North African squash and chickpea stew zings with ginger and the jenga pile of toasted sourdough with a pot of creme fraiche works beautifully with it. Savoury Danish has a foot in the dough and pastry camp and is piled high with roast peppers and sweet, sticky onions – just gorgeous. And the cakes. The cakes! Triple ginger (or so it seems), Tunisian orange – the very embodiment of aromatic – looks amazing but it’s the Polish cheese cake that grabs your lapels. Oof, so good. So, brilliant bread, fabulous patisserie and a cool caff – oh and exemplary coffee. All this and it’s a right on not-for-profit worker’s cooperative. Get yourself over the hill to Slaithwaite.