How to stop the kitchen fall outs

Picture the scene – an amazing smell is coming from the pan simmering on the hob, the table is set, the wine poured. Perfect. Except, according to new research, we’ve probably already started bickering with our loved one over everything from timings to meddling in the preparation.

The research from HelloFresh looked at the top reasons couples fall out in the kitchen. The most common bust ups are over what to eat – there’s nothing worse than one person fancying pasta and the other a roast dinner. The second most common row is around what time to eat – again, annoying if you’re an early diner and your partner prefers a late supper.

The third reason – which most of us can probably identify with – is leaving the kitchen looking like a bomb has hit it! Using every pan, spoon, knife and chopping board in the house is never going to go down well. Interfering in the other person’s cooking was fourth on the list – back seat chef-ing should be avoided. Fifth was pretty much giving up on cooking altogether and arguing over whether a takeaway was a better idea!

Other ‘boiling point’ topics included boring meals, ingredients loved by one and loathed by the other, washing up, spiciness, shopping, waste, repetition, failing to replace an item or hoarding too many, unhealthy foods and meal planning. With 25 argument-causing topics on the list there’s certainly lots of reasons to row! Some of the more bizarre included whether a meal was too healthy, and whether or not there’s enough sauce. Who knew!

Because of these rows, more than one in ten couples haven eaten separately, while a similar number have refused to cook for the other person or ordered a takeaway for themselves. 

That said, the research also showed how much we love to talk about food. Apparently, the average couple will talk about what to eat for their evening meal for at least 10 minutes a day (61 hours a year). Obviously here at Hunters you could probably multiply that by 10 – we love a good chat about food, anytime, anywhere!

But the research definitely shows that a lack of variety is at the centre of many of the disagreements – arguing about eating the same foods all the time and feeling bored with what’s on the plate. Apparently, of the seven evening meals most of us make every week, five will be the same – often including a roast, spaghetti bolognese and pizza.

One third of couples said they would like to be more adventurous with their food choices but blamed their partner for being stuck in their ways when it came to mealtimes. Although one in four also admitted they’re usually too tired at the end of a busy day to go too crazy trying out new recipes.

Well, we don’t think that trying out new things has to be complicated or difficult – we try and make it straightforward and delicious! So, if you’re looking for some inspiration, why not come and have a chat with us? We’ll help reinvigorate dinner (lunch and breakfast) time – and stop those rows in their tracks!

Give dad a fabulous Father’s Day

It’s long been said that the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach. Here at Hunters we definitely agree that tasty treats or your dad’s favourite tipple is always going to go down well. Who doesn’t love to receive some goodies – and as they’re a present you’re not even expected to share!

But what delicacies to choose!

If your dad has a savoury tooth, we can guarantee he’d love some of our pies and pastries. What better than a hamper of baked goods to brighten up his day? Choose from sausage rolls with all manner of tasty flavourings – leek and apple or sweet chilli perhaps? For pies, how about pork pie with black pudding or our exclusive Slow Roast Pork and Ampleforth Abbey Cider pie? Yum.

A cheese board might also go down well – we have dozens of local and international cheeses to choose from, including some more unusual varieties. The Charcoal Cheese – black in colour – is surprisingly delicious! Get him a few of his favourites, along with some luxury crackers and one of our own brand chutneys, and he’ll be in heaven. We also have our own range of delicious pates which would go nicely – everything from Bison and Fried Onion to Venison with Cognac or Ostrich with Blueberries.

For a sweet toothed dad, you need to come upstairs to our first floor! You can hand pick him a box of very special Lauden chocolates, choosing his favourite flavours. The chocolates themselves are works of art, and the flavours are to die for – Lychee and Rose or Sour Cherry anyone? We have chocolates, fudges, toffees, sweets, gourmet marshmallows, biscuits and cakes galore – there’s bound to be something which would tickle his fancy!

If your papa has an intolerance or allergy we also have a size-able ‘free from’ range – no one should miss out this Father’s Day!

If dad likes a tipple, come check out our ground floor. Whiskey, gin, beers, ales, ciders, wines, lagers – from across the world, but also just down the road. We even have wine from a local vineyard, cider from the abbey just a couple of villages away, gin made outside York – Yorkshire really is an amazing place!

If you can’t pop into the shop, we also have products available to buy online – including our popular hampers, as well as some of our own brand favourites. If there’s something you have in mind which isn’t mentioned on our online shop just let us know and we’ll see what we can do!

Happy Father’s Day!

Helmsley – the perfect place for the perfect picnic

National Picnic Week takes place in June – one of our favourites! Surely everyone loves a good picnic – even if the Great British weather works against us, we don’t let it get us down!

We’re very lucky being based where we are, as we’re surrounded by a multitude of marvelous picnic spots. Duncombe Park is the obvious one right on our very doorstep. It’s a stunning location for a walk and a picnic, and there’s lots of fun exploring to be done! The National Centre for Birds of Prey is set within the grounds too, with plenty of picnic tables to sit at and enjoy a bite to eat while finding out more about some very special feathered friends. Maybe just don’t eat your sandwich while the flying displays are taking place…

Helmsley Castle is another great place to put your picnic blanket – enjoy hundreds of years of history and lots of green open spaces. It’s a fantastic place for kids to run off a bit of energy and learn something new! Helmsley Walled Garden is another wonderful place to sit back and enjoy fantastic surroundings – at different times of the year the flowers are a riot of colour, and it’s a place which can’t fail to make you smile.

Further afield (but not very much further) we have the famous Rievaulx Abbey to explore, and the spectacular Sutton Bank - offering the best views in Britain. What more could you want for a picnic spot? As Helmsley is set in the North York Moors National Park, there are walks and cycle routes aplenty – including the famous Cleveland Way, which starts in the town.

But, in fact, one of the most popular picnic spots can be spied from our windows! The steps of the statue in the centre of Helmsley’s Market Place are often full with bikers, walkers and shoppers enjoying a bite to eat in the sunshine. Bliss!

So, what should you take on your perfect picnic? Well, come to us, and we’ll help you create a picnic like no other! Our famous deep-filled sandwiches will keep you full up until dinner time and we have all your favourite fillings to choose from. Roast beef and horseradish is the clear front runner with our customers (the local beef is roasted by us on site) – but also very popular are honey roast ham with coleslaw and Wensleydale cheese and carrot relish.

If you don’t fancy a sandwich, how about choosing a pie or pastry? We have pork pies of all shapes and sizes and plenty of sausage rolls – some with a twist like sweet chilli or apple. Other delicious pastries include the Mediterranean roll or the brie, sun blushed tomato and basil quiche – definitely making your picnic one to look forward to.

We have deli salads you can choose from to create a meal fit for a king, the marvelously moreish Yorkshire Crisps, and cakes, biscuits, chocolates and confectionary galore. We can even set you up with some cheese, pate, crackers and chutneys – just bring plates and cutlery or it may get a bit messy!

Don’t forget something to drink. For soft drinks we have the refreshing Belvoir Elderflower Presse or Helmsley produced 3 Girls Orchard apple juice. Alternatively if you’re leaving the car choose from one of our local beers or wines.

So, whatever your perfect picnic, pick it up at Hunters. We’ll even throw in some advice on the best places to enjoy it – always ask the locals!