Where Chefs Eat: Adam Degg shares his favourite restaurants, events and cocktails

Provider of Harrogate’s first Michelin star and the creative genius behind FIFTY TWO at Rudding Park, Chef Adam Degg has quickly established himself as one of Yorkshire’s most exciting culinary talents.

Only this year, FIFTY TWO was awarded its first Michelin star, recognising the intimate, produce-led dining experience Adam and his team have created just outside Harrogate town centre.

But where does a Michelin-starred chef go when he’s off the clock?

From sourdough treacle tart and Levantine shawarma to wood-fired pizza, piña coladas and some of Yorkshire’s most exciting new restaurants, we sat down with Adam to find out where he likes to eat, drink and spend his days off.

Chef Adam Degg’s favourite Yorkshire restaurants

The General Tarleton – Specifically Aled’s Sourdough Treacle Tart

Everyone has that one dish that stays with you long after you’ve enjoyed it, and for Adam it’s a trip to Ferrensby to see fellow chef Aled Williams.

“Aled’s sourdough treacle tart at the General Tarleton is the dish I keep thinking about at the moment. The perfect way to end a Sunday lunch there.”

And from someone whose own signature custard tart is a Yorkshire Food Guide favourite, we’re inclined to trust his judgement.

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Lamb Shawarma from Sqew in Leeds

Michelin stars aside, chefs have their guilty pleasures too – and for Adam, it’s shawarma.

“When I lived in London, we would head over to Edgware Road for late-night shawarma at the end of a busy week in the kitchen. It’s one of the things I missed the most when I moved up north.

“Sqew does it better than any I’ve had before, and Mitch’s passion for what they serve is infectious. I need to visit again soon to try their new traditional Levantine saj flatbreads.”

Haxby Bakehouse and Heppni Bakery

York is not short of brilliant bakeries, and thankfully Adam isn’t prepared to choose between two of our favourites.

“Sorry, I can’t pick a favourite out of the two!”

On his days off, you’ll find Adam making the trip to both Haxby Bakehouse and Heppni Bakery, often with his son Jacob in tow.

“We regularly visit both Haxby Bakehouse and Heppni Bakery. Jacob “shared” most of my pain suisse last week at Heppni, and when we pop into Haxby for a coffee and to pick up a sourdough, he’ll always leave with a pain au chocolat.”

Honestly, we can think of few better ways to spend a day off.

Harrogate Food and Drink Festival

Held every August, Harrogate Food and Drink Festival takes to The Stray for one of our favourite events of the season. This year, the chef demo tent was lucky enough to host Adam Degg himself.

“I was on stage cooking at the Harrogate Food Festival recently, which is always a great event.

“I had a bit of time to explore the stalls before heading back to the kitchen, and I picked up some hot sauce and some really delicious vinegars from Adam Rasburn at Wild Infused Vinegar.”

Friday night in Harrogate at Cold Bath Brewery and Over and Above

I asked Adam where he’d go if FIFTY TWO was closed for maintenance, leaving him with a rare Friday night to play with.

After an incredible collaboration earlier this year with a certain Harrogate cocktail bar, it was no surprise where Adam was headed.

“If we’re closed on a Friday, then I’m really making the most of it! Cold Bath Brewery for a pint of Limon, a Spanish-style citrus lager they brew using lemon verbena from our kitchen garden.

“Then I’m heading to Over and Above to work my way through their cocktail list. The clarified colada (think piña colada meets consommé) is very special, but way too easy to drink!

“Owners Rich and Fran have created such a special place, and it rightly deserves its spot on the UK’s Top 50 Cocktail Bars list.”

A pint followed by a clarified piña colada? Sounds like a very good Friday to us.

Cresci Pizzeria, York

What is the best pizza a Michelin-star chef has ever had? The answer is simple: Cresci in York.

“I absolutely love visiting Cresci Pizzeria in York. It’s a small dining room, so you can feel the buzz of the kitchen and see the flames dancing in the wood-fired oven. Most importantly, the pizzas are just on another level, certainly amongst the best I’ve ever had.

“The staff are friendly and informal, giving it a real family feel. It’s also so quick and easy to pop into when you’re shopping. Getting such consistently high-level food at a reasonable price means it’s somewhere we keep going back to.”

New openings to have on the radar

There’s plenty happening across Yorkshire’s fine dining scene, and Adam Degg already has his eye on what’s coming next.

First up is Jamie Keeble, formerly head chef at Myse in Hovingham, who is taking over the Chef’s Table at Swinton Estate.

“I’m looking forward to seeing what Jamie Keeble does at the Chef’s Table at Swinton Estate. He’s a talented guy and will surely be chasing a Michelin star there.”

Then there’s Calluna by Adam Maddock at Saltmoore, the new fine dining concept coming to the North Yorkshire coast.

“Also, Calluna by Adam Maddock at Saltmoore. We stayed at the beach house there recently, it’s a fantastic spot, and I’ll take any excuse to head over to Sandsend.”

With one Michelin star already under his belt, Adam is certainly someone worth listening to when it comes to the chefs to watch.

Forge at Middleton Lodge

When we asked Adam to name a restaurant he particularly loves, one name came straight to mind, Jake Jones’ Forge at Middleton Lodge.

Forge is deeply connected to the land around it, with Jake working closely with the gardening team to create dishes around what is growing in the two-acre walled garden and across the wider estate.

The menus change with the seasons, reflecting the way the original estate would have functioned and sustained itself.

“I love Jake Jones’ style of cooking; for a big guy, he has such a delicate touch. It’s seasonal, considered, and packed full of flavour.”

It’s exactly the sort of cooking that resonates with Adam’s own produce-led approach at FIFTY TWO.

Pignut and The Hare

For any chef, eating out is about more than just enjoying a good meal. It’s a chance to see what other chefs are doing, discover new ideas and keep those creative juices flowing.

So, where is Adam Degg keen to visit next?

“There are so many on my list at the moment, but I’d say Pignut and the Hare is definitely up there.

“Owned by Tom and Laurissa Heywood, it’s a 12th-century inn deep in a wooded valley near Rievaulx Abbey, where Tom forages for ingredients to cook with. It looks like a really special place with a distinct personality.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​”

Of course, FIFTY TWO

We couldn’t finish without mentioning the restaurant that has earned Adam Degg and his team Harrogate’s first Michelin star.

Set at Rudding Park just outside Harrogate, FIFTY TWO is an intimate, produce-led restaurant where the kitchen garden is the centre of the experience.

Guests are seated at five sociable tables, all with views into the open kitchen, where the experience unfolds through a series of snacks, freshly baked bread, seasonal plates, a main course, dessert and a selection of liqueurs.

Adam’s cooking is rooted in Yorkshire produce, with ingredients from the kitchen garden taking centre stage alongside produce sourced from trusted local suppliers.

It’s a restaurant that feels unmistakably personal to Adam, and after a Michelin star win this year, it’s clear that his journey is only getting started.

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