Subtle entrance…

We’ve avoided York for quite a while now. Perhaps we over did it? It’s always bustling with tourists and the universities have grown and expanded so it’s always busy. Once again, we missed the turn off for the Park and Ride [free to park your car, and a nominal cost for the bus] on the basis it was a flying visit before moving on to Helmsley and places east. And York hasn’t always been the top destination for food. Good restaurants have appeared briefly and gone, although the Blue Bicycle is still here, alongside a rash of national chains of varying quality.

We parked and walked in a different way [who says we’re creatures of habit?] and almost as soon as we crossed into the city along Peasholme Green we spotted this very smart and inviting deli and café called Le Langhe – apparently after the rather wonderful area in Italia. Of course, when we say ‘spotted’ who should we find has been there before us? Jay Rayner...

This York venue may look ordinary enough, but the food on offer is absolutely out of this world

So in we go and secure a table – the last one as we haven’t booked. Slightly confusing menu at first but, when all is clear we order pasta of the day – pappardelle freshly made with pumpkin and goat’s cheese, or Italian sausage ragu; there was a tempting truffle one but we resisted. Coupled with some water [San Pellegrino obvs], a couple of glasses of the house Vermentino, a couple of excellent coffees the whole lot came to just over £36. In William Boyd’s new book Sweet Caress, you’re encouraged to describe something/someone in four adjectives. So here goes…Wonderful. Unexpected. Welcoming. Astounding. And what a selection of Italian meat, cheese and wine.

Café and deli Le Langhe

The shop – magnificent Italy

The wine bit…

The cheese bit…

The meat bit…

The restaurant – a bit more restrained decor…