Birds Bakery: I tried this iconic Nottingham treat for the first time and one thing shocked me

If you’ve lived in Nottingham for a long time then there are certain things you’ll have become accustomed to. 

From watching the world go by in Old Market Square to Christmas shopping in the Victoria Centre, many of us share similar experiences in and around the city. 

These shared experiences are often linked to food. 

Once you’ve lived somewhere for a while you get to know the food scene pretty well and quickly realise the top pubs, restaurants and cafes in your area. 

Even if you’re a relatively new resident of Nottingham, you’re probably already aware of a certain establishment by the name of Birds Bakery. 

Founded by three Derby brothers in 1919, Birds has gone on to become one of the most iconic businesses in the East Midlands. 

The bakery’s city centre shop in Lister Gate is a popular place among shoppers to grab a quick snack, but there’s one menu item in particular that stands out above all others. 

The item in question is a cream-filled choux pastry topped with chocolate.

It’s been affectionately known as the Elephant’s Foot for decades because, well, it looks like an Elephant’s Foot. 

As a non-native to Nottingham, I’d never actually tried one of these famous Nottingham snacks before, so I thought I’d head to Lister Gate and see what all the fuss is about. 

Birds do offer a smaller version of the Elephant’s Foot, but as this was my first time trying one I decided to go for the classic option. 

Priced at £2.20 to eat-in, you certainly get bang for your buck when buying an Elephant’s Foot. 

After paying my £2.20 and taking a seat, I was immediately struck by one thing - the size of the creation in-front of me!

I genuinely wouldn’t be surprised if the pastries are the same size as an actual elephant’s foot. 

In terms of taste, my first bite of the Elephant’s Foot did not disappoint. 

The sweetness of the chocolate and cream combined with the light, fluffy pastry was absolutely delicious. 

Not wishing to feel a bit queasy on my way home, I only ate around half the pastry and took the rest away in a box. 

Containing 28.2g of fat and 27.1g of sugar, the Elephant’s Foot probably isn’t the snack of choice if you're training for a marathon. 

But as a one-off treat, there’s certainly no harm in enjoying this classic Nottingham pastry.