I used to be a little bit of a scrooge when it came to Christmas. I was in that awkward stage when you've gone back being a kid that loves Christmas, but can't quite yet value the chance to see your friends and family and give them presents. My birthday is also in December so I was pretty delicate about people celebrating Christmas before my birthday was over (sensitive I know but it's from a lifetime of people accumulating your Christmas and Birthday present into one and never getting good birthday cards).
Anyway, last year that all changed. I moved away from my family, the SO and everything I knew to start a job in the heart of Leeds. It isn't massively far from where I am from near Sheffield but it might have well as been the other side of the world for how far it took me out of my comfort zone.
One of the best parts of living in the best city in the North is wide variety of food-related things that happen throughout the year. The Food Festival is my favourite, but a close second is the German Christmas Market and it really does signify the start of the most wonderful time of the year.
Anyway, last year that all changed. I moved away from my family, the SO and everything I knew to start a job in the heart of Leeds. It isn't massively far from where I am from near Sheffield but it might have well as been the other side of the world for how far it took me out of my comfort zone.
One of the best parts of living in the best city in the North is wide variety of food-related things that happen throughout the year. The Food Festival is my favourite, but a close second is the German Christmas Market and it really does signify the start of the most wonderful time of the year.
I've been to a few other Christmas markets before, and the one in Birmingham proper dwarfs the one that Leeds has but that doesn't make it any less great for me. Leeds' market is just about the right size for me to manage in my lunch and there is a wide selection of food, though there is an obvious focus on hot dogs.
After two years, I have my favourite stall that I always go to during my first visit to make sure I'm not disappointed. It's towards the bottom of the market and the queues are usually long - especially at lunchtime - but it is so worth it. They do a spicy sausage hot dog and it is just the best.
This year I've noticed more variety in food with people doing currywurst, schnitzel and plenty of other things so I may have to stray from my favourite stall next week.
After two years, I have my favourite stall that I always go to during my first visit to make sure I'm not disappointed. It's towards the bottom of the market and the queues are usually long - especially at lunchtime - but it is so worth it. They do a spicy sausage hot dog and it is just the best.
This year I've noticed more variety in food with people doing currywurst, schnitzel and plenty of other things so I may have to stray from my favourite stall next week.
Aside from hot dogs and burgers, there are plenty of sweet treats to be had and on this occasion we opted for a delicious doughnut that was the perfect hit of sugar after my spicy hot dog. There were at least ten different types of fillings and toppings to choose from so it took us a little way to decide, but I'm sure they are all as great as the other - at least the ones without nuts are.
A massively popular part of the German Christmas Market is the beer tent. We went on the first lunchtime that it was here and it was the right level of busy. It was thriving but no one was drunk yet. We picked up some mulled wine, while the boys opted for a stein of German beer. It's just about right on lunchtimes, but it's not my sort of thing for the weekend, I've spent enough of my time around very drunk Northerners.
Where are your favourite Christmas markets? Will you be heading to Leeds'?