Danny Malin: 'I left Rate My Takeaway a year ago today - and now I’m happier than ever'
‘I’m hungrier for life than ever’
Exactly one year ago today, I handed in my notice to leave my former channel, Rate My Takeaway.
It was a hard decision, but I knew I had to make some huge changes because I was struggling with my mental and physical health.
Looking back, I was a breath away from heaven. I had offered to film a goodbye video for RMT, but that didn’t happen.
It means the last episode that we filmed ended up being Bolton Food Festival, which I returned to this weekend. What a huge difference a year makes.
I’m happier, healthier and hungrier for life more than ever.
Luckily, one thing that hasn’t changed is the incredible food and drink here, but most of all, the lovely people.
This year I was filming the festival with my wife for our Mr and Mrs Yorkshire channel. Each yea, I’m given a secret menu to try a range of surprise dishes from 12 street food vendors.
Despite the rain, we started the day with an ice cream from North West Whippy, run by Raheem the ice cream man.
I love old-school ice cream - a scoop of vanilla with a flake and raspberry sauce on a cone. He served me an epic twist on the classic 99 with crushed Flake and Kinder Bueno. None of this blue sherbet stuff which kids nowadays love.
Raheem does both, but he said the classic is still the most popular.
Next up was Neapolitan-style pizzas from Carb Killa. I had a spicy buffalo chicken pizza. The pizza had a perfect crisp to it and the flavours packed a punch.
Last year for Rate My Takeaway, I reviewed the Texas BBQ Guys (who featured in the final episode) and they had set the bar high for my US tour this summer.
I wanted to try them again. This time I had a sharing box with slow-cooked brisket, chicken, meatballs, homemade mustard, veg chilli, potato tots and some cheesy sauce. You also get a slice of toast to eat it with. I loved the variety, and it was as good as we had eaten in Dallas.
There was a real Yorkshire contingent at the festival again, with chef James Martin and Marco Pierre White as well as content creators.
It was great catching up with Bobby aka the Yorkshire Indian who runs a popular Facebook page. We shared some patatas bravas loaded with homemade alioli and chorizo together. The Spanish food in Bolton was better than I had on Tapas Alley in Spain.
This, finished off with some homemade churros and lemonade from another stall, was an absolute dream meal.
After leaving RMT, I have since launched Danny Vs Food for my solo food reviews, and teamed up with Gary Eats for Danny and Gary YouTube channel where we travel the world trying the best and worst food.
My family and I continue to build the Mr and Mrs Yorkshire YouTube channel where we share family days out.