David Parkin looks for the The Man Behind the Curtain and pitching to Branson

WHAT makes a city attractive?

A vibrant economy, varied retailers, thriving arts scene, great public spaces.

We all have our favourites cities around the world and we have our individual reasons for choosing them.

But in the majority of cases it is because those cities combine the attractions above – along with lots more – that makes them unique, memorable and buzzing place we want to be.

I’ve always believed that restaurants are a sign of a city’s success and sophistication.

A varied eating scene more than likely points to a cosmopolitan population with a high degree of disposable income.

And while I think Leeds has many reasons for counting itself an attractive, successful city, it has long lacked a really high end restaurant, one with, or pushing for that elusive Michelin star.

My limited experience of this type of fine dining has been enough to understand that paying a big bill for a tasting menu and dishes that look like they belong in an art exhibition rather than a restaurant table, doesn’t automatically mean that you get a fantastic dining experience that is memorable for all the right reasons.

Leeds has some great owner-managed restaurants that serve well cooked, great food, such as The Foundry, Brasserie 44 and Sous le Nez.

Other cities it would compare itself to, such as Manchester and Birmingham, each have a handful of fine dining restaurants which have managed to delight both restaurant critics and customers.

After a lunch last week, I’m now of the opinion that perhaps Yorkshire’s biggest city does have a restaurant that is sufficiently different and can add to the attractions that Leeds can boast.

The Man Behind the Curtain is the creation of chef Michael O’Hare. Based in the former premises of Anthony’s at Flannels, above the clothes shop on Vicar Lane, it has quietly started to build a reputation for exciting, challenging food that is served very differently.

I was the guest of Tim Parr, tax accountant extraordinaire at Baker Tilly. He’s a sophisticated man but not one to be swayed by trends or fashion – that was clear from the bow tie he was wearing (he calls his weekly wearing of knotted silk at the neck as Bow Tie Day Friday).

Tim was a regular at La Grillade before its move north to Ripon, and now favours Sous Le Nez.

So he leans towards the traditional and substantial rather than the trendy and meagre when it comes to his meals.

However after a chance meeting at a recent Suits & Vinyl networking event, he was raving about The Man Behind The Curtain and invited me to join him and fellow Leeds tax specialist David Wilson, another man who knows his way around Britain’s top restaurants.

When told the chef was called Michael O’Hare I wondered to myself whether he was any relation of one-time Derby County and Nottingham Forest (Leeds fans may not recall him so fondly, as one of Brian Clough’s signings during his 44 days in charge at Elland Road)  square-shouldered target man John O’Hare.

But I doubt it. Michael, with his tight trousers, patent platform boots and lank black hair, looks more like a member of a punk rock tribute band.

His staff are equally individual – tattoos and nose rings appear de rigeur – and maitre d’ Charlotte is a patient, knowledgeable host quick witted enough to deal with the “banter” you would get from two tax accountants and an ex-journalist.

That makes me wonder, what do you call a collection of tax accountants? Answers welcome below.

Not that Michelin stars are the be-all and end-all, but I have a feeling the restaurant inspectors may be having to jump on a train at King’s Cross to visit Leeds for the first time since the demise of Anthony’s on Boar Lane.

:::

YORKSHIRE firm Approved Food has made the shortlist of a competition to pitch for investment from bearded Virgin entrepreneur Richard Branson.

Andy Needham and Dan Cluderay’s Sheffield-based venture is a great concept, selling near to sell-by-date food via a website, that is already very successful. But like most ambitious entrepreneurs, they are keen to grow it and the investment from Branson would certainly help that.

You might remember Dan and Andy appearing on BBC show Dragons’ Den earlier this year and while the likeable pair impressed and hit it off with the wealthy would-be investors, none of the Dragons put their money into the venture.

I think that was a blessing in disguise: Approved Food doesn’t need the help of a TV Dragon to be successful – but the publicity gleaned from appearing on the show did the guys no harm at all.

So please support them. Click below to vote. Apparently of the final 10 firms, eight are based around London, so let’s have Approved Foods flying the flag for the North in front of Branson.

http://www.virginmediabusiness.co.uk/pitch-to-rich/grow/approved-food-/

Have a great weekend.