People / My Bristol Favourites
My Bristol Favourites: James Lee Gordon
James Lee Gordon is founder of The Chocolate Bear Kitchen, specialising in fine dining menus for those with food intolerances. Based in Filton, he is currently in residency at The Strawberry Thief on Broad Street, where he will be until the end of December. He also offers consultancy to chefs, restaurants and caterers.
Here are James’ top-five Bristol favourites:
St Nick’s Market
is needed now More than ever
“Whether it’s local produce from Source or a wrap from the guys at Matina, the queues are always worth the wait. For me, St Nick’s Market is the go to place for lunch when in the city centre. I love the way such a small part of Bristol encapsulates our multiculturality. Along with music, food is one of the great ways to celebrate diversity.”
The harbourside at Christmas
“Mulled wine, ideally snow-capped views across the river and a showcase of Bristol’s craftspeople and artisans: what more could you possibly ask for on a weekend? Look carefully – preferably away from the chains of restaurants – and you can find some secluded pockets of foodie heaven.”
Street art
“Every person I show around the city ends up on an unofficial graffiti tour. Even our temporary masterpieces sprayed onto boarded-up buildings outshines the artwork you find elsewhere. Of course, there are the famous Banksys, but that’s just the tip of iceberg. There are plenty of other local artists equally worthy of recognition.”
Clifton Suspension Bridge
It is a truth universally acknowledged that a Bristolian photographer must be in want of a bridge at high tide #bristol #canon #autumn pic.twitter.com/jCuD1CxuAz
— NeilJamesB (@NeilJamesB) October 29, 2016
“Whether looking out from the middle of the bridge itself or staring at its lights from a distance, Brunel’s masterpiece serves as a symbol of Bristol’s industrial past but also its exciting future – spanning the gap between one age and another and joining communities and cultures together.”
Bristol Sweet Mart
“Custard apples, purple sweet potatoes, snakefruit and alfa alfa sprouts all in one place! The Sweet Mart has long been my favourite place to buy exotic fruits and vegetables. I can never turn down the opportunity to grab some of their samosas, jalebi or barfi from their counter round the side. The place screams cosmopolitan Bristol through its staff, customers and produce.”
Read more: Strawberry Thief – bar review