Yemi Adelekan is a food writer and blogger who was a semi-finalist in last year’s BBC TV’s Masterchef  competition. Every Saturday Yemi will be writing on the Stray Ferret about her love of the district’s food  and sharing cooking tips– please get in touch with her if you want her to review a restaurant, visit your farm, taste the produce you sell or even share a recipe.  

Food is emotive, engaging all the five senses of sight, touch, taste, smell and hearing.

From hearing the sizzle of onions and garlics in olive oil to the aroma that immediately fills the room, the senses play a key role in our dining experiences.

Smell can also be controversial when it comes to food – from pungent smells of fermented sauces or condiments, stinky blue cheeses to sweet smell of lavender, we all have our own opinions on the smells we love to associate with our food.

A little too much of the wrong aromas and the dish is described as over powering or over bearing. Lavender is one of the smells that a lot of people only associate with their nan’s drawers or perfumes.

Lavender smells and looks wonderful in many applications but most of us don’t reach for it when we are cooking.

The Lavender Rooms at Market Place in Knaresborough is steeped in history. Located in the oldest chemist in England dating back to 1720, it acquired the name when the wife of a chemist bottled her lavender water in the upstairs rooms.

The rooms can’t get any more traditional with their exposed low beams, which were the perfect height for me but tall people need to watch their heads. Dotted around the lavender rooms were relics of history, pictures telling stories that date back centuries.

With a good selection of wraps, melts, sandwiches, breakfast, hot dishes and rarebits including ploughman’s lunch, pate of the day and Yorkshire rarebits served with options of bacon or sausage, I was spoilt for choice. Their board showcased several dishes of the day offering even more options.

I was interested in their cream tea selection, which included sweet and savoury options. The savoury cream tea included savoury scone with cream cheese and red salsa served with a pot of Yorkshire team.

I ordered their signature lavender and lemon scone, which came with an option of jam or lemon curd and clotted cream. The one and only time I'd had lavender in scones was over 20 years ago and I remember being intrigued by the smell and the conversation with other ladies about the unusual flavour. The purply lavenders dotted the scones making them ‘a thing of beauty’ and compelling eat.

I was keen to see how their lavender and lemon scone compared and whether it would live up to my memories. As soon as the scone was served, I couldn’t resist taking a whiff to enjoy the delicate lavender and subtle smell of lemon. It was exactly as I imagined and tasted even better; the scones were well risen with a crispy top.

I had mine with jam and clotted cream washed down with a cup of tea and a bottle of Harrogate water.

Spoilt for choice

The manager Rowan Bardon was passionate about the business and was delighted to tell me that everything was made fresh on site everyday. Their option to buy now and eat later allows diners to order a nibble to take away.

With their outdoor sitting on a sunny day, indoor sitting in multiple rooms overlooking the street you are spoilt for choice for a more intimate cream tea or full blown meal with friends and family.

As I left the Lavender Rooms, I thought about other polarising food smells and rose petals and rose water come to mind so my next challenge is to make a rose-scented dessert.

Knaresborough is a noted town with lots of celebrity links so make plans to visit the Lavender Rooms and enjoy their warm hospitality and the great Yorkshire food.

Next week, I will be visiting Rudding Park kitchen garden, an awarding winning Harrogate based cake designer and Betty’s cookery space so look out for my food stories on all of them.

Read more:

• Yemi’s Food Stories: Cooking the perfect steak


• Yemi’s Food Stories: My slow love for avocado