York chef brings inventive burgers, wings and Sunday roasts to popular pub
Burger at Chuffin Stuffed in York. Photo supplied
York chef launches street food menu at The Lighthorseman pub, reports MAXINE GORDON
BURGERS, fries, wings, curries and Sunday dinners are all on the menu at a York pub – but with a twist – as an ambitious local chef takes over the kitchen.
Danny Taylor has worked in a wide range of restaurants and cooked all manner of cuisines during his 15 year career.
Now he is bringing those ingredients together in Chuffin Stuffed, his latest food venture recently open for business at The Lighthorseman in Fulford Road, York.
Chuffin Stuffed street food now at The Lighthorseman in Fishergate, York, Wednesday to Sunday. Photo by Maxine Gordon
The business first began at the Grey Horse in Elvington but moved to its new base in Fishergate earlier this month.
Danny is running Chuffin Stuffed with his parter Claire Butler – and when I pop in to see them, they have their hands full not just getting the business going, but looking after their eight-month old baby Piper, who they assure me "eats everything, even spicy food."
Which is just as well, because from chatting to the couple, it's clear that Danny likes to cook food we all love to eat – with plenty of interesting and perhaps surprising twists too.
Danny Taylor, Claire Butler and their daughter Piper at Chuffin Stuffed street food at The Lighthorseman in Fishergate, York, Wednesday to Sunday. Photo by Maxine Gordon
On Instagram the couple announce: "Our goal is to change the mentality around street food".
Translated that means expect the food on the Chuffin Stuffed menu – from its beef patties and loaded fries to chicken wings and mac 'n' cheese – to be that extra bit special.
Danny, who has a passion for making his own ferments and salts, explains: "Our beef patty is made to our own burger mix recipe featuring different aromats.
"I make the sauce for our mac 'n' cheese in a Thermomix so it is silky smooth, then I gratinate it on top with panko breadcrumbs and rosemary."
Mac 'n' cheese at Chuffin Stuffed in York. Photo by Siren Social Media
As for portion sizes, well the couple say, they have to reflect the county they live and work in.
"We're proper Yorkshire," begins Danny.
"We were disappointed to see the size of mac 'n' cheese in York – so we decided to make ours a nice big portion," added Claire.
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Danny continues: "I've moved around a lot and worked in gastro pubs and fine dining as well as cooked Indian, Japanese, French and Italian food.
"We decided to make accessible food using the techniques I'd learned in my career."
Take his chicken wings. As an M&S advert might say, these aren't any ordinary chicken wings.
"They are cooked and cooked again so they are soft and tender on the inside but crispy on the outside.
"I make my own hot sauce too."
WATCH: Meet Danny Taylor of Chuffin Stuffed
Food is served Wednesday to Sunday with the Chuffin Stuffed menu running every day with seating in the bar and restaurant area (there is a beer garden too). Takeaway is also available (order on Just Eat).
Alongside the main menu, Wednesday is curry night, where a main curry and veggie option is available each week.
Recent dishes served up have included a Thai green curry and a Keralan paneer dish as well a traditional tandoori. Priced at £14, all curries include rice and a homemade naan.
Vegetarian Kerala-style curry with paneer at Chuffin Stuffed in York. Photo supplied
On Sundays, a dinner menu is served from noon to 5.30pm. Not surprisingly, perhaps, there are some interesting takes on the traditional roast.
"We have roast rump of beef and also gammon.
"The gammon is cured for three days then rolled and stuffed with sage and onion sausage so it is like a roulade of pork.
"We do fennel and carrots glazed in lemon and honey and our roast potatoes are blanched first them roughed up to get a nice edge and cooked in an infused oil mix of garlic rosemary and thyme."
Vegetarians can enjoy a bean patty along with the vegetables. Prices are £22 for meat choice and £18 for the veggie option.
A 10 per cent discount is available for students and for blue light personnel and military.
Check out Chuffin Stuffed
The Lighthorseman pub has been a focal point in the community for decades and the couple hope Chuffin Stuffed can settle in and find its home too.
Claire said: "We'd like the pub to get known as a place where you can enjoy really good quality street food."
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