Yorkshire's Independent Restaurant Guide

Squid in Staithes

I have never seen a man happier than Matthew Asquith of Whitby Seafish when he won Producer of the Year at the Yorkshire Life awards in September. Not so long ago  his business was down in the dumps. Now it’s bouncing.

I dropped in on Saturday morning to find him experimenting with a Staithes version of Arbroath Smokies and went away with a bag full of haddock, halibut and squid. If you associate squid more with summer on a Greek Island (I did) then I can assure you fresh North Sea squid in November is every bit as good.

Matthew cleaned it and all I had to do was slice into rings, dip in seasoned flour and deep fry. Delicious.

Whitby Seafish Unit 1a Whitegate Close, Staithes, North Yorkshire TS13 5BB www.whitbyseafish.co.uk.