Rustic baking

21/09/2025

28/08/2025

Good evening, today it is 40 years since I went self-employed, way back in 1985 with my friend and invaluable support from his mum.
Financial help came from the Enterprise Allowance Scheme which paid £40 per week to set up your own business. The first business was Delta Potteries and we made ceramic animals that we sold at craft fairs all over the country. After a couple of years my friend left and I started to make Loch Ness Monsters and a large order to Harrods followed. I made Nessies for 17 years and then gave it up and opened a fruit shop and the baking journey started.
To reduce the waste I made preserves , pies and banana cakes.
The next business was a gift shop which was pretty boring and during this time I developed a heart condition and had several heart attacks. To keep my mind off my condition I changed the shop into a cake and coffee shop so I could be busy and not listen to my heart ticking, at the same time there was a 3 year lease of a tea room.
Then sold the shop and started selling my baking at food markets, festivals and markets, wrestling gazebos, wind, rain , sun and the cold.
Pop ups continued for over ten years until I decided it was time to get a shop again.
My daughter Sorrel and I opened The Yorkshire Deli in Whitby last year and we were soon joined by my son Ben who runs the shop whilst Sorrel and I bake, flatten cardboard and admin etc .
We are so pleased with the shop, we only sell products that are made in Yorkshire and we have over 70 suppliers.
It's been a lot of hard work, mainly as a single mum, skint for a lot of the time, only a week off after having each child but not too bad for someone who left school with one O level in art I guess.

Last month I won a star at the Great Taste Awards for my Hot Honey Mustard which was a huge surprise as I don't like vinegar and I don't eat honey so pretty hard to test, this goes with the one star I was awarded 3 years ago for my black treacle and walnut flapjack.
The honey will be in the shop soon. Thank you to everyone who has supported Rustic, especially through the pandemic and now The Yorkshire Deli it really is appreciated.
Here's to the next 40 years!

*EDIT*

The reason I went self-employed employed at the tender age of 18 was so I could work from home and be with my gorgeous dogs

Fatty, Gnasher, Tubby, Curly, Sherlock and Stig

24/07/2025

Time to get saucy! New from our Yes Chef! Range, Whitby Tomato Ketchup. Breakfast or BBQ it’s a must have! 🍅

18/06/2025

New in! Truffle Honey from the ‘Yes Chef’ range by Here’s a few ideas of what to do with it…….
Cheese Pairings: Truffle honey is a natural complement to cheeses like Brie, goat cheese, blue cheese, and aged cheddar.
Meats: Use it as a glaze for roasted meats, like lamb rack, pork tenderloin, or duck breast.
Salads: Incorporate it into salad dressings or vinaigrettes for a unique flavor.
Pizza: A drizzle of truffle honey can elevate pizza toppings like prosciutto, arugula, and blue cheese.
Crostini and Bread: Spread it on warm bread, crostini, or even a grilled cheese sandwich with figs, walnuts, and honey.
Marinades: Use it in marinades for meat to add a sweet and earthy flavor.

13/06/2025

We’re glad to say these are back in stock from
There’s two of us here at The Yorkshire Deli that simply can’t get enough of them. You will eat a tub full in one sitting! That’s if we don’t eat them all first 😂🥔

13/06/2025

On the shelves tomorrow! Old Scratch Habanero Hot Sauce from local chef
Great with eggs, burgers, chicken, steak and roast veg.
Devilishly Good! 🔥🔥😈😈