WHAT’S ON THE MENU?PEACE,LOVE ANDKIM-JOY ATCHRISTMAS‘Tis the season to bejolly… AND to talk life inLeeds, Ilkley inspirationand choux snowmen withformer Great British BakeOff finalist Kim-Joy…My early childhood in Belgium isa bit of a distant memory, but I doremember sometimes eating biscuitsfor breakfast which I really don’tthink I should have done. When itcomes to baking, it was somethingthat neither of my parents did, butit was something I wanted to do. Asa child I hated mincemeat but I didmake mince pies, it was a traditionwhich Dad encouraged me to getinvolved with. I enjoyed the processof making the pastry and putting themincemeat in. When I was still quiteyoung (5 years old) my family movedto London and there was a pandancake that Mum got from China Townand I loved it and was determined tobake my own. So I spent hours withmy Malaysian recipe book and madepandan cake over and over again.I first came to Leeds to study fora masters in psychology and metmy husband Nabil, who has livedin Yorkshire all his life. Not like mewho’s moved around, from Belgiumto London, then to Bristol University.I immediately loved Yorkshire andsettled in straight away. It’s such acontrast to London, which stressedme out with its busyness. One ofmy favourite places is Bettys CaféTearooms and that’s where Nabil andI went on out first date … Bettys inHarrogate. It was my birthday and wasone of those just friends sort of dates.That’s where it all started and Bettysholds such lovely memories.Leeds is a special city and has afantastic food scene. It’s ALL aboutthe food for me. Nadil and I enjoygoing out to eat … when not restrictedby the pandemic. Tharavadu is afabulous restaurant serving the mostamazing South Indian food, Sukhothaiis another favourite and its authenticThai dishes are delicious, plus LeedsKirkgate Market is huge, there’s awonderful variety of food for sale andit’s somewhere we often go for lunch.My life revolves around food. Canyou tell how important food is to me?(laughs)Being part of the Great British BakeOff (2018) completely changed mylife and was an incredible experience.You go on as a contestant, but youhave no idea how you’re going toperform and don’t know how faryou’ll get. So I was very, very happyto get to the final and it’s meant thatI’ve since been able to write twocookery books, Baking with Kim-Joyand now Christmas with Kim-Joy,and start my own YouTube channel,which is incredible. Before the show,baking was just a hobby and now Ican do it and make a career from itwhich is wonderful. It’s increased myconfidence and I know a lot of peopleprobably say that but it’s true.There are so many great things aboutliving in Yorkshire. Leeds is an idealbase from which to explore and enjoythe whole county. Favourite places tovisit are Bettys (of course), walkingand making the most of having niceplaces and trails to explore right onthe doorstep, Mother Shipton’s Cavein Knaresborough - I love how bonkersit is (in a nice way), Bolton Abbey isstunning and is surrounded by greatwalks too, plus I love that place whereHarry Potter was filmed … MalhamCove in the Dales. Gorgeous! Ourcurrent home in Leeds has fantasticcountryside views out the back, as welive next door to a farm with cows,chickens and horses, so we get tosee them without having to look afterthem. I appreciate my home comfortsand feel content just being at home.It helps that house prices in Yorkshireare much cheaper than in London too.Nabil and I are planning to move toIlkley in the coming weeks, as we arecurrently in the process of buying aproperty. For the same price downsouth we’d have had to settle for amuch tinier place, but in Yorkshirethere’s so much more on offer forthe money. One of the good thingsto come out of lockdown has beenthe reduction in stamp duty. We’veviewed some great houses in lovelylocations, across different parts ofYorkshire and have found what we’re20yorkshire.com
CHRISTMAS WITH KIM-JOY(Quadrille, £15) Photography: Ellis Parrinderyorkshire.com 21
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