The Best Pubs in Newcastle

If there's one thing that Newcastle excels itself in, it's the somewhat lost art of offering a really decent set of excellent pubs. Yeah, there's the usual endless selection of chains, the quayside establishments with beer soaked carpets and assorted collections of hen and stag dos, and the type of places that you've hopefully never witnessed the likes of until you've seen Geordie Shore. But if you're willing to do a bit of digging about, you'll find plenty of pubs that are nothing but bloody lovely.

Having recently ended up back in Newcastle after a brief return to the homeland, I set myself the selfless task of carrying out some thorough investigative research into what could be considered as the cream of the boozer crop. It's probably worth noting that my beer knowledge is somewhat limited. So while I'm not professing to be an expert on such matters, these are the places that I'd choose to head to when in need of a bit of alcoholic respite, and the places that I'd suggest to people who I generally don't dislike.

The Free Trade Inn 

The Free Trade is my new local, but even if it wasn't, it's definitely worth a fairly long journey to get to. Firstly, THE VIEWS! Have you ever witnessed a pub with views as good as this?

No, neither have I. But as well as having the best beer garden in the whole of the city (maybe even the whole of the North East), it's got plenty in the way of substance too. Absolutely loads of local beers, an impressive array of CAMRA and other awards from those who actually know stuff about this kind of thing, and some of the friendliest bar staff that I've witnessed in recent times.

If that wasn't enough, they've acquired a resident pub cat that goes by the name of Craig David. There's even a little collection pot on the bar in his name, and I have it on good authority that he's had all his injections and other such feline essentials funded purely through the kindness of regulars and passers-by. And if that doesn't make you feel a little bit better about the state of humanity, I don't know what will.

The Tyne Bar 

Just thirty seconds down the bank from The Free Trade is The Tyne Bar. It's what I'd call a summer pub, in the sense that there's loads of outdoor seating, a regular selection of gigs played outside, and it's right on the river. Located under Glasshouse Road Bridge, they've got some funky under-arch lighting craic going on, and there's even a few disco balls hanging about.

Go here for late afternoon boozing, or slightly later on when there's a certain sort of holiday vibe. Well, the closest that you're likely to find to that in Newcastle, anyway.

It's a bit hipster at times, but it's Ouseburn. Par for the course.

The Forth 

I've been darkening the towers of The Forth since my university days, and it's remained a firm favourite. A decent selection of beers, and a laid back feel that stays present whether you're there for a Saturday night or have turned up on Sunday under the premise of 'what makes you bad, makes you better'. The nooks and crannies make it a wise choice for a date pub, and the little terrace on the roof is a good spot if you fancy chain smoking loads of fags. They've even got a board that states it doesn't serve the likes of Malibu and Fosters and Smirnoff Ice, so you can rest safe in the knowledge that you can tell your pals that you've been in a proper place that doesn't give in to such tomfoolery. You're in the company of other such booze snobs.

There's also a canny quiz on a Monday night, and the food's pretty good too.

BrewDog

Is BrewDog a pub, or is it actually a bar? It doesn't really matter anyway, because it's smashing. Possibly the coolest start-up story of the past ten years, it involves two Scottish fellas with a passion for craft beer and a dedication to bringing it to the masses. Since 2010, they've opened nine bars in Scotland and England, one of which is on Newcastle's Dean Street.

Kitted out with an industrialist sort of decor with bare concrete walls, steel beams, the odd neon light and huge windows, they've got loads of beers on tap, including their core Punk IPA and Dead Pony Club lines. Recently too, they've started doing beery cocktails, which have become my go-to beverage when visiting.

Masses of attitude without being pretentious, and they've got boardgames too. Pubs with boardgames always earn a few extra points.


Obviously, this select few may be my personal favourites, but there's plenty more that could be strung onto the list to make up the finest of pub crawls. The Bacchus, Lady Greys, and The Bodega are close contenders that are worth a mention, and a visit, for that matter. Make a day of it and visit each one. It is summer, after all.

Newcastle Restaurant Week 2013

January, eh? Broken resolutions, a bank balance that you daren’t even look at, and the horrible realisation that it’s no longer acceptable to crack open a bottle of wine before 2pm. The less said about the whole thing, the better. Not to worry though, as the nice folks at NE1 have thoughtfully coincided Newcastle Restaurant Week with what would otherwise be the most depressing month of the year. 

Seven days when you can dine at some of the city’s best restaurants for just a fraction of the price that you’d usually pay. At £10 or £15 per person, it’s almost cheaper than eating at home. Forty restaurants are taking part in total, but that’s probably a few too many for even the most enthusiastic of diners to work through in a week. So without further ado, here’s where you should be eating between the 21st and 27th of January.

This was a guest post for KYEO.tv. You can read the full piece over at their website.

I'm going vegetarian! (For January)

I'm going meat-free for the whole of January. 31 days of no meat or fish. Obviously, everyone keeps asking 'why?', which is a bloody good question, and one that I'm starting to ask myself. I almost definitely eat too much meat. I have pretty much no clue about how to cook good veggie stuff. I think that perhaps I just fancy a new challenge.

A few kind souls have offered to sponsor me for my efforts, so I've set up a page on JustGiving to raise a bit of money for the Children's Heart Unit at the Freeman. If that's not an incentive to stay on the meat-free wagon, I don't know what is.

If there's one thing I've learned over the past few weeks while I've been researching, it's that it's a bit of a minefield in terms of knowing exactly what you can and can't have. So in the interests of clearing things up from the offset, I will be eating dairy products, but I'll be avoiding everything that isn't suitable for vegetarians (not vegans).

I absolutely love meat and I've got no desire whatsoever to give it up permanently, but I'm pretty excited about the whole thing now.

So, please do point me in the direction of any veggie blogs I should be reading, recipes I should be trying, or places I can go out to eat in the North East when I totally run out of inspiration.

Meanwhile, I'll be cursing about the whole thing over on Twitter.

Getting back on the food blogging horse

As far as hobbies go, food blogging is a bit of an odd one. Taking photos of your dinner and writing about it is a fairly strange concept to most normal people. Giles Coren went so far as to call all food bloggers 'pointless wankers' recently. Even so, it's been the source of much enjoyment over the past few years, and something that I always wish I had more time to do. 

In fact, it was probably what led me, in a round-about way, to start my own business earlier this year doing copywriting and other 'wordy stuff'. But since I now spend a large chunk of my time stringing sentences together for other people, it's hard to find the motivation at the end of a long day to write about the latest restaurant I've been to, and whether or not the waitress had a look on her face that suggested she might have spat in my soup. 

Every now and again though, I really miss it. It might be a self-indulgent pastime, but I've made many lovely friends with a similar passion for food. Writing about fashion and SEO and whatever else rears its head might pay the bills, but it's not really anywhere near as exciting. Plus, I've been amazed at just how many people actually take the time to email me and just say that they love reading my blog. What, MINE?! It turns out that it's not just me who will happily spend 5 hours reading whatever drivel they can find on the internet before actually getting down to some frigging work. 

Getting to the point, and as the title suggests, I'm back on the blogging horse. 

So here's to continuing to be a pointless wanker in 2013. 

And just to prove that I haven't been doing nothing whatsoever for the past 6 months, here's a few cakes that I've made during my unplanned blogging break. 

Veg Box Company experiment: the verdict

So a few weeks ago, I jumped on the veg box bandwagon and received my first delivery from The Veg Box Company. £12 got me the couple's fruit and veg box, packed with more than enough to feed two people for a week. The challenge was this though: could I actually use it all in a week to create lovely, healthy recipes? Or would it end up shrivelled in its box, forgotten about while I was easily persuaded to go out for dinner after work, or low and behold, pop into Tesco?

In the end, I surprised even myself. A week after it had been delivered, all that was left was a single orange. It probably goes without saying, but one of the best things about getting a veg box is that you don't know what you'll be getting, other than that it'll be local, seasonal produce. Planning what you'll make therefore turns into quite an exciting little project.

Everything was used without too much ado, and it was actually quite nice to make meals led by the content of the veg box rather than having to think of endless ideas off the top of your head. All the produce was really fresh and high quality, and my only complaint would be that there was nothing too 'out of the ordinary'. Probably a plus really, in terms of getting everything used, but it would have been nice to see something that you might usually have to go out of your way to find. The content of the boxes changes weekly though, so maybe next time I'll be able to have a moan that I don't know what to do with all these weird and wonderful vegetables.

I made frittatas, stir fries, numerous honey roasted vegetable side dishes, a Sunday roast with all the trimmings, and on lazy evenings, just whatever was in the fridge with a tray of roasted vegetables. A caramelised onion and tomato tatin was a particular success. Yes I cheated and used ready made pastry, but really, who has time to make their own on a weeknight?



Recipe serves 4.

You'll need:

500g puff pastry

75g butter

2 tbsp olive oil

1 large onion, peeled and cut into thick slices

2 tsp sugar

2 tbsp good quality balsamic vinegar

1 garlic clove, peeled and roughly chopped

400g tomatoes, cut into large chunks (or use whole cherry toms)

• Preheat the oven to 200c/180c fan assisted/gas mark 6. Heat a heavy based pan over a medium heat and melt two thirds of the butter with 1 tbsp olive oil. Cook for about ten minutes, or until golden. Add 1 tsp sugar and balsamic vinegar, stir well so all the onions are coated, and cook for another few minutes. Remove from pan and set aside.
• Heat the remaining butter and olive oil in the pan and once melted, add the remaining sugar, garlic, and tomatoes. Cook for 2 minutes.
• Pour the tomatoes into a tart tatin tin. If you don't own one, any large ovenproof bowl can be used. Scatter the onions over the top.
• Roll out the pastry so it's slightly bigger than the top of your tin. Lay the pastry over the top and tuck in at the edges.
• Bake in the oven for 30 minutes or until golden.
• Allow to cool for 5 minutes before turning out of the tin. This is the only tricky part of the whole recipe. Place an upturned plate over the tin and quickly turn over. No messing around here. Edge it out slowly and you'll end up with a broken tart.

Serve with new potatoes and green beans or salad.

All in all, my little veg box experiment was a resounding success. Buying from local suppliers such as The Veg Box Company isn't going to change the world, but it will mean that you have lovely local produce at fair prices while supporting people who are passionate about what they do. Buy a box. You won't be disappointed.

Electric East, Newcastle

Anyone who enjoys getting fed seems to be raving about Electric East at the minute. Previously operating as Barn Asia, the Thai, Vietnamese and Cambodian fusion restaurant was a jewel in Newcastle’s culinary crown, winning the North East’s only addition in the Times Top 100 Best Restaurant list and a Remy Martin Award for Excellence. Sadly, I’d never quite gotten round to eating at Barn Asia before it closed its doors for the last time in October, another casualty of the recession. But no sooner had it gone the distance, it was reopened as Electric East. Same staff, same management, and a bloody good excuse to have an evening out...

This was a guest post for KYEO.tv. You can read the full review over at their website.

What's on in January: Newcastle Restaurant Week

Like most, I started January with the best possible intentions. A copy of the latest Weight Watchers magazine, a clear out of the alcohol cupboard, solemn promises to myself that I'll be looking svelte and gorgeous in a bikini by June.

Also similar to most, I expect that the sentiment will be dashed by the end of the month. But really, could there be a worse time to deprive yourself?

If you're looking for ways to add a bit of excitement to an otherwise dull January, or an excuse for falling off the dieting wagon with a bit of style, pencil in Newcastle Restaurant Week. Running from 23rd-29th January, the event involves over 20 of the city's top restaurants, mostly offering 2 courses for £10. My personal favourites from the list include Blackfriars, Cafe 21 and Pan Haggerty, though I also intend to try out a few places that have been on my 'to do' list for a while now. On a more serious note, it's also an affordable opportunity to support the local restaurant scene during these tough times.

For a full list of participating restaurants, check out the Get into Newcastle website. Booking in advance would be sensible.

I'm taking full advantage and I've booked a table at two restaurants throughout the week already. Everything in moderation, eh?

My first Veg Box Company purchase

On Saturday I received my first fruit and veg box from The Veg Box Company, a local business specialising in delivering locally sourced produce to homes and businesses in the north east.

I ordered the couple's fruit and veg box, designed to feed 2 people for a week with up to 13 varieties, and priced at £12 including delivery. I received:

A large cauliflower

Broccoli

A large garlic bulb

A large turnip

2 large sweet potatoes

2 onions

6 large potatoes

8 carrots

3 parsnips

3 large handfuls of mushrooms

2 tomatoes

3 pears

2 oranges

2 apples

A 16 teabag trial pack from Victory Tea

All in all, a good selection and lots of staples that most households will use on a daily basis. I buy most of my fruit and vegetables from the supermarket or when I get the opportunity, from local greengrocers and markets. Having your fruit and veg delivered straight to your door is a bit of a risky proposition, as you can't have the usual root-around for the best looking items, but it's convenient and was actually quite exciting. Or maybe I just need to get out more?

So far, I'm more than happy with the selection and the quality of the items in my veg box. But the true challenge is this: can I incorporate all the items into a week's worth of meals, without wasting anything? I've got a penchant for deciding to eat out at the last minute and cooking things on a whim, rather than putting too much forethought into what the next day's menu will include. So I've set myself the challenge to make this a week of wasting nothing, attempting new recipes, and most definitely getting my 5-a-day.

Check back next week to see how I get on.

The Veg Box Company

www.thevegboxcompany.co.uk

Posh chicken parmo

If you're a northerner who enjoys a good old night out, I dare say there's been a time when you've become acquainted with a chicken parmo. The dirty little sister of a veal parmigiana, drunken Teessiders have been enjoying the post-pub snack of a flattened chicken breast, deep fried and covered with lashings of white sauce and cheese since as far back as most can remember. Legend has it that the chicken parmo made its first appearance back in the 1950's, and it's been dividing opinions ever since. Hotelier and food writer Ruth Watson even went so far as to call the poor parmo 'the antichrist of cooking'.

I'll be honest: I'm not a big fan. But in honour of the north east tradition, I've honed this recipe from something I saw on Channel 4's Cookery School a little while ago. A posh parmo, if you will, far more refined than a takeaway shop counterpart. The runny egg, crispy capers and salty anchovies replace the cheese, and it's an all-round more civilised affair, perfect for an after work dinner.

Five pints of lager prior to consumption not necessary.

Recipe serves 2.

You'll need:

For the parmo:

2 boneless chicken breasts

50g plain flour

1 large egg, beaten

75g white breadcrumbs

25g grated Parmesan cheese

3 tablespoons olive oil

For the crispy caper and fried egg topping:

25g capers

2 large eggs

4 anchovies

• Butterfly your chicken breasts by laying them flat on a chopping board, with the flat side facing down. Place your hand on top of the breast and carefully slice it in half widthwise, almost to the other edge.
• Place a piece of cling film on the chopping board and put your first chicken breast on it, opened out like a book after you've butterflied it, and place another piece of cling film on top. Use a rolling pin to hammer the breast out until it's about 1.5cm thick. Repeat for the second breast.
• Mix the Parmesan cheese with the breadcrumbs and put on a plate. On two separate plates, put the flour and beaten egg.
• Dip the chicken breasts firstly in the flour, then the beaten egg, then the Parmesan cheese and bread, making sure they're really well coated.
• Heat a frying pan on a medium to high heat. Add the 3tbsps of oil and once heated, add the chicken breasts. Fry for 2-3 minutes on each side until golden brown.
• Put a smaller frying pan on a high heat with 1tbsp of oil. Throw in the capers for 3-4 minutes or until they're crispy.
• Meanwhile, heat a third frying pan over a medium heat, add 1tbsp of oil and crack in 2 eggs. Fry for 2-3 minutes.
• To serve, place each chicken breast on a plate, top with a fried egg and sprinkle over the crispy capers. Lay two anchovies across each egg in a criss-cross.

Best with a salad, wedges of lemon and a big glass of white wine.

Hotel Chocolat Christmas Giveaway

Hotel Chocolat has been the bane of my life this week. You see, I've been on a bit of a pre-Christmas health kick and on Thursday, I received the Christmas Chocolate Goodie Bag which they had very kindly sent me. Since then, it has sat on my kitchen bench, mocking me and my attempts at weight loss. It's a hard life, isn't it?

I fell off the dieting wagon this morning though in spectacular fashion and enjoyed a bit of Hotel Chocolat for breakfast. And why the bloody hell not? The Goodie Bag, part of their extensive Christmas gifts range, includes six Billionaire Shortbread chocolates, a Christmas Gift Slab with milk chocolate and dark cookie pieces, a milk chocolate Pocket Reindeer and a Mini Festive Wreath. The latter was my favourite.. Milk and dark chocolate with cranberries, hazelnuts and biscuit. Very Christmassy and very, very lovely. Breakfasts should include Hotel Chocolat more often.

You can buy the Christmas Goodie Bag for £17 online or in any of their shops. For north eastern readers, pop into Metro Centre or Newcastle. The shops are modern, sophisticated, yet fun, and definitely fill a gap in the market. Where else can you buy great quality chocolate on the average Great British high street? Hotel Chocolat are also the only British chocolatier to have their own cocoa plantation. They mean business. There's no doubting that Hotel Chocolat ain't cheap, and will be wasted on certain people. Don't waste your money if the recipient is more of a £2.99 selection box sort of person. But for the more discerning chocolate lover, the Goodie Bag makes a lovely present.

And thanks to Hotel Chocolat, I have one of these Christmas Goodie Bags to give away to one reader.

To enter, just a leave a comment on this post before midnight on 14th November. The winner will be picked at random.

You can gain further entries by following any of the steps below. Please leave a separate comment for each, so all of your entries will be counted.

• Follow me on Twitter (@EatingUpNorth)
• Follow Hotel Chocolat on Twitter (@HotelChocolat)
• Retweet this giveaway on Twitter

Good luck!

This giveaway is now closed. Thanks for your entries.

What's on in November

The cold nights are drawing in, we have one less hour of daylight in the evenings, and we still have a long wait before the festive season. In short, we all need a little something to look forward to. Here's my list of top events happening in the region in November.

Latimer's Seafood Lunch Club

Latimer's are renowned for selling the best local fresh fish in Newcastle and Sunderland, and now they're hosting their first lunchtime event with north east pop-up chef Anthony Brown. Treat yourself to a leisurely 3 course lunch, based on the French notion of 'Plat de Jour' (that's 'dish of the day', if your French lets you down). Main course and dessert for £20 per person.

3rd November, 12.15pm

Latimer's Seafood Deli, Shell Hill, Bents Road, Whitburn, Sunderland, SR6 7NT

0191 5292200

www.latimers.com

Living North: The Essence of Christmas Fair

This is the largest event of its kind in the region, and a definite highlight of the north's foodie calendar. The four day event will showcase 250 stalls featuring food, drink, interiors, arts and gifts. Start your Christmas shopping early (well, I personally think that November is early for this sort of thing) and have a browse amongst the wares of local beauties such as Northumberland Cheese, Mr Vikkis, Wylam Brewery and Lottie McPhee's. What's perhaps most impressive though is the list of demonstrators featuring over the course of the event, which reads like a 'who's who' of the north east's culinary scene. Terry Laybourne of 21 Hospitality Group, Mark Percival of Eslington Villa, Bob Arora of Sachins and David Kennedy of NE2 Food Social make up just the tip of the iceberg, so plan in advance to avoid missing your favourites. Tickets are £6 in advance or £8 on the door.

3rd-6th November, 10am-4/5pm

Newcastle Racecourse, Gosforth Park, Newcastle, NE3 5HP

www.livingnorth.com

Christmas Food and Drink Festival

The Lewis and Cooper (my new favourite place) annual celebration of great food and drink. This is an opportunity to meet dozens of Lewis and Cooper's suppliers and producers, and take advantage of some extra special offers and discounts. Plus, it aims to raise thousands for their chosen charity, Help for Heroes. Tickets are now free.

Sunday 6th November, 10am-4pm

Lewis and Cooper, 92 High Street, Northallerton, DL7 8PT

01609 772880

www.lewisandcooper.co.uk

Lumiere Festival

Not foodie, but still a must-visit for those in and around Durham. The dazzling festival returns to the city for four nights with installations and projections that will light up Durham's buildings, streets and bridges. The first Lumiere in 2009 attracted over 75,000 visitors to the city and it's getting bigger, and well, as you might imagine, brighter. Selected restaurants will also be running special deals for festival attendees, including Oldfields who are offering 25% food bills (print off the voucher from Lumiere's website).

17th-20th November, 6-11pm

Durham City Centre

www.lumieredurham.co.uk

Newcastle Continental Market

The Continental Market returns to Newcastle City Centre just before the run up to Christmas. There's nothing better than getting wrapped up and wandering around the hustle and bustle of the market with a mulled wine, picking up some Christmas presents and trying out the many food stands. Expect paella, currywurst, waffles, crepes, and more.

21st November - 3rd December

Grey's Monument, Grey Street and Grainger Street, Newcastle City Centre

Enjoy, and do let me know the verdict if you attend any of these events.

Bra and knickers cake

If you're looking to impress the man in your life on his birthday, you can't go far wrong with this ingenious pairing of cake and sexy underwear. And best of all, it's reasonably easy but will earn you a reputation as an amazing cake decorator for months to come.

You'll need:

8"x6" oval sponge cake

750g flesh coloured sugarpaste

250g buttercream

Small cup of royal icing, 1/2 coloured red, 1/2 coloured black

Oval cake board

Piping nozzle (round, #2 sized)

2 small red ribbon bows

Start by placing your oval sponge cake onto a cake board, and use a 2" round cutter to cut out semi circles from the side of the cake. Trim a little bit off the edge so it's perfectly flat, and place on top of the cake. This creates the waist and the boobs.

Next, cover the cake with a thin layer of buttercream. I added melted dark chocolate to mine, and you can vary the flavours according to your own tastes. Make sure you get this as smooth as possible so you have a good base for the sugarpaste to stick to. Put your cake in the fridge for 15 minutes to firm up the buttercream, making it easier to cover.

The next bit is probably the most tricky, and will result in a kitchen tantrum and/or swearing if you don't get your head around it all in advance.

Grease your work surface with a very thin layer of vegetable fat. Sounds strange, but it stops your sugarpaste drying out or sticking to your bench, and it has no smell or taste.

Roll out your sugarpaste to about 5mm thick. Sugarpaste spacers are really useful for getting an even thickness and can be picked up for a few pounds from a cake decorating supplies shop. If you're in the north east, I'd recommend popping into Design a Cake in Washington for this sort of thing. Avoid handling your sugarpaste too much as you don't want it getting too hot and sticky.

Pick up your rolled out paste (I find it easiest to drape it over and between my forearms) and drape it over your cake. Starting with the boobs, make sure that your sugarpaste is sticking to the buttercream and gently ease it down, taking a lot of care to ensure you aren't stretching it.

Continue this for the rest of the cake, using the flat of your hand, paying particular attention to the edges of the cake. When smoothing the sides, always smooth in upwards movements. Otherwise, you'll be pulling down the paste from the top of the cake, which will lead to cracking or end up with the cake poking through the paste.

Trim off the excess paste from the sides with a knife, and use a smoother (again, a really useful piece of caking decorating equipment and dirt cheap) to perfect your covering.

Finally, use the end of a thin paintbrush to lightly press a belly button into the sugarpaste.

Ideally you should leave your covered cake overnight to let the sugarpaste set.

Then, use the black royal icing to pipe on the outline of the bra and knickers.

Next, fill in the outlines with the red royal icing. Don't worry about this bit too much, just pipe little squigles straight onto the cake to create a lacey effect.

Finally, go over the black piping again to make it really stand out. I did backwards-and-forwards squigles over the existing lines to make it more striking. Secure 2 bows with a little dot of royal icing to complete the cake.

Da-daaa! Done and dusted with a few hours work and hardly any stress . If this doesn't earn you a few brownie points, I don't know what will.

North East Foodies to Follow on Twitter

The world has gone Twitter mad. Celebrities from Stephen Fry to Russell Brand are regularly updating us with 140 characters or less, and hashtags, followers and tweets have become part of our everyday language. I've been a regular user of Twitter for just over a year now (you can follow me at @EatingUpNorth), and aside from using it to put off washing the dishes, it's a really useful tool for foodies. It's great for hearing about new restaurants, shops and events in your local area, as well as discovering new recipes, interesting articles, and interacting with people who share your love of food.

I've seen lists on who to follow for all manner of interests and niches, and so this is my list of suggestions for foodies in the north east. I try to follow those who are interesting, informative, and contribute to discussions and the local food scene as a whole. This is by no means a definitive list, so feel free to leave a comment if you think you should be included, or if you know a great north east foodie who you think I should be following.

Shops/local suppliers

@beckleberrysltd

@doddingtondairy

@mmm_newcastle

@graingermarket

@vegboxcompany

@latimersseafood

@farmfreshdurham

@lewisandcooper

@AdvintageWine

@MichaelJoblingW

@New_Close_Farm

@deli_fina

@candkwines

Food bloggers/writers/enthusiasts

@katie_cakes

@northeastwino

@nellyscupcakes

@cookinacurry

@northcountryken

@newcastle_eats

@the_grazer

@chilliupnorth

@RELISH_COOKBOOK

Restaurants/cafes/pubs

@_thebroadchare

@TheFeathersInn

@BlackfriarsRest

@21HG

@HeatonPerk

@eatoldfields

@BlkHorseBeamish

@dkfoodsocial

Be sure to also check out the #NEfollowers hashtag for news, views and events going on in the region.

Lewis and Cooper, Northallerton

On Monday I paid a visit to Lewis and Cooper, a food and drink outlet in Northallerton, following a suggestion from a friend that I might like the place. Like it? It was similar to suggesting that Gazza might enjoy a trip to the pub. I absolutely bloody loved it.

Trading since 1899 from Northallerton's High Street, this family run business is a food lover's paradise. Deceptively large, I could have happily spent the whole afternoon in here. There's literally thousands of lines available, from local honey, jams and chutneys to foie gras, impressive selections of supplies for Chinese and Indian cookery and sushi making essentials.

The delicatessen area is bursting with fresh produce including hams, highest quality sausages, cheeses and pates, some from European suppliers and others from right on their Yorkshire doorstep.

Cake decorating enthusiasts are well catered for too.

They brew and grind their own coffees on the premises, have endless Great Taste awards for their fruitcakes and puddings, and a well stocked wine and beer shop. You can also pick up a ready made hamper in-store from their huge selection, or put your own together to include all your Lewis and Cooper favourites. If you can whittle it down to just one basketful anyway.

A definite must-visit for food fans in the north east.

Note: the car parking situation in Northallerton is a bit of a funny one. You need to pick up a disc from a local shop or the Tourist Information Centre, but it's then free on the High Street. Or you could just cheekily park in Tesco, at the other end of the street to Lewis and Cooper.

Lewis and Cooper

92 High Street

Northallerton

North Yorkshire

DL7 8PT

The Town Wall, Newcastle

I think my boyfriend's flatmate may have actually taken up full-time residence in The Town Wall. That boy must be in there at least three times a week. His love for the place has even become a bit of an ongoing joke.. 'Where you off to today Jonny? The Town Wall for food, by any chance?' '..Well, yes actually. Bugger off'.

The newest addition to Pink Lane, an increasingly trendy quarter of the city, The Town Wall is housed in an impressive Grade II listed building which was once the living quarters and workplace of famous Northumbrian Thomas Bewick. It's a chilled out affair, spacious and airy yet still managing to feel quite cosy, exposed brickwork, vintage furniture, gastro-pub-esque.

The menu offers locally sourced traditional pub grub with a modern twist, and an impressive selection of beers and ales. It's simple food at decent prices. A good selection of starters and sharers, salads, sandwiches and larger mains. There's also a decent choice of gourmet burgers, handmade with 100% beef, and they're served pink. I like this. There aren't enough pink burgers being offered these days.

You see, the folks at the Food Standards Agency have been getting their knickers in a twist over this for some time now. Of course there is an extremely slight chance that such a burger could carry E.Coli. But look, I have a lottery ticket in my purse from last night that I haven't checked. This doesn't mean that I've told my boss to naff off and I'm currently purchasing the entire Chanel Autumn/Winter collection online, because the chances of me having won are probably fairly similar to being struck down by a horrible illness all because I like my burgers a bit pink in the middle. I'm confident of the meticulous standards in the British beef supply chain and in the kitchens of any eateries worth their salt. I applaud any restaurateur who is also confident of their own standards and are happy to take this entirely minuscule risk, in the name of serving the most enjoyable and highest quality food. Let us eat pink burgers, if we so wish.

So whilst I shall be returning very soon for a burger, on this occasion we went for less contentious fare, the sausage rolls with Heinz beans and chips, and a Greek salad. I know, I should have practiced what I preach. But the sausage rolls were meaty and succulent, the chips homemade and fluffy, and salad was fresh with good, salty cheese and sun-dried tomatoes. Comfort food at its best.

The bill came to around £15, including two soft drinks. Bargain.

I'll be returning to The Town Wall, ideally on a Sunday. I'll be reading their papers, putting my feet up (metaphorically.. the furniture may be 'vintage', but let's not be taking liberties) and enjoying some good food and fine beers.

Go along, enjoy a burger of the best variety. And be sure to say hello to Jonny. He'll definitely be there.

Result: 9/10

The Town Wall

Pink Lane

Newcastle

NE1 5HX

Autumn Grazer Market, Jesmond

Looking for something to do this Sunday?

Pop along to Northumberland Tennis Club for an autumnal food market. Organised by Anna Hedworth, Autumn Grazer will feature food and drink from north east suppliers including Ringtons Tea, Northumberland Cheese Company, The Consett Popcorn Company and Carruthers and Kent. The Broad Chare will also be there, serving up pub snacks and real ales and Hotel Du Vin are hosting an outdoor BBQ. Let's just hope this lovely weather holds out.

The Feathers Inn, Hedley on the Hill

However did we manage without sat-navs? Well, we probably just planned the journey in advance, used a map, and got there on time without too much fuss. Yesterday, we set off on the 30 minute journey to the Feathers Inn without any prior knowledge of where we were really going. We arrived over an hour later, having at one point ended up on the longest, rockiest country track I've ever seen in my life. We also drove precariously across the narrowest bridge known to man, crossed the same river three times, and at one point, following directions from the lovely sat-nav lady, ended up in a field.

Not to worry though, we got there in the end. Even if our ears were popping from the ascent up the hill and our nerves were slightly shaken, we were hungry.

The Feathers Inn has been on my 'to do' list for a while now. Featured in the Good Food Guide 2011 and recently named Great British Pub of the Year, it's acquiring an excellent reputation both locally and nationally and I couldn't wait to sample their offerings.

It's a typical English country pub, cosy and without any pretensions. Lots of wood and a warm, rustic feel. A few locals prop up the bar with an ale in hand, and all tables are fully occupied with diners.

The menu features British food with a local twist. Most of the produce is sourced only a stone's throw from the pub, and suppliers are detailed on the back of the menu. For starters, we shared the charcuterie board, served with celeriac coleslaw, toast and pickles.

Pork and grouse terrine, and a chunky pressed ham hock were beautiful, but the chicken liver parfait is the highlight. Creamy, soft and meaty, almost the texture of butter, it was delicious lashed onto the toast. There was ample for two people, though I could have quite happily had some more of the parfait.

Moving on to the main courses, we ordered beer battered North Sea fish with chunky chips, tartar sauce and mushy peas, and the the sausages with creamy mash.

The fish was fresh, flaky and delicate, encased in a light batter and served with fluffy, perfectly seasoned chips. I could eat the chips again right now. Contenders for 'chip of the year'.

We could hardly manage a desert, but in the spirit of making an across the board judgement, we shared the dark chocolate brownie with chocolate sauce and wild cherry ice-cream.

The picture does this no justice. It was rich, dark and moist, accompanied perfectly by the creamy and refreshing ice-cream. I don't have a massive sweet tooth, but this was a perfect round off to a perfect meal.

There's also an extensive, reasonably priced wine list, as well as a good selection of local ales. Service was friendly, knowledgeable and professional, striking the balance just right between not-being-there-when-you-want-them and in-your-face-annoying.

The bill came to £48, including 2 glasses of Pinot Grigio and a ginger beer. Very reasonable for such a lovely meal in great surroundings and excellent service. It was also refreshing to see that there wasn't a 'discretionary service charge' added to the bill. I'm all for tipping great service, but it isn't discretionary when it's already added.

The Feathers Inn really is something special, and I'll be back very soon.

Though next time, we'll just use a map.

Result: 10/10

The Feathers Inn

Hedley on the Hill

Stocksfield

Northumberland

NE43 7SW

Jamie Oliver's Fiery Dan Dan Noodles

It's Friday evening, and this of course calls for easily made, quick recipes which are satisfying and best washed down with a few beers.

I've been a big fan of Jamie Oliver since his Naked Chef days. Aside from the fact that many of his recipes are now in my regular repertoire, I'd love to go for a pint with him and have a good old chat. He just seems like a lovely bloke. His commendable dedication to numerous food related causes, his lovely old nan, his gorgeous wife, his beautiful children, named after various perennials... makes you sick, doesn't it?

Anyway... I love this recipe for Fiery Dan Dan Noodles. Perhaps you could question its authenticity, even more so after I've added my own variations to Jamie's original, but it's very good nonetheless.

Also, it's simple to make, requires no more ingredients than what you'll probably already have in your fridge, and can be on your plates in less than half an hour. Silky soft noodles, fresh crunchy vegetables, punchy raw garlic, crispy beef with a sweetness from the honey and a real kick from the chilli.

Recipe serves 4.

500g minced beef

2 tablespoons runny honey

500g wheat noodles

4 handfuls mixed green vegetables (cabbage, broccoli, bok choi, etc), cut into 1cm strips

4 cloves garlic, peeled and chopped

3 tablespoons dark soy sauce

2 teaspoons Szechuan pepper

4 tablespoons chilli oil

1 fresh red chilli, finely chopped (you might want to omit this if you don't have a good tolerance for chilli, as it's quite hot already if you only use the oil)

2 spring onions, trimmed and sliced

1 lime, quartered, to serve

• Throw the beef into a dry pan on a medium to high heat. Keep it moving about for about 10-15 minutes, or until it's becoming golden and crispy. Drain out any excess fat and stir in the honey, mixing it in well, and continue to heat for around 40 seconds. Remove the pan from the heat.
• Cook your noodles on the hob according to packet instructions. When they have about a minute to go, chuck in the green vegetables. They should be heated through but still really crunchy.
• Drain the noodles and vegetables in a colander. Tip them back into the hot pan with a mugful of water. Add the garlic, soy sauce, Szechuan pepper, chilli oil and fresh chilli. Give it all a good stir.
• Put the beef back on the heat for 30 seconds so it's piping hot.
• Divide the noodles into 4 bowls. Sprinkle the crispy beef on top. Throw on the spring onions and serve with a lime quarter.
  
  
  
  

Tip for superstitious types: Don't serve your noodles with the chopsticks stuck into the bowl. It's traditionally associated with death. Just balance them on the side then let your guests do the rest.

Lovely served for friends with a beer.

What's on in October

I'm a bit of a stickler for organisation. My diary is a wealth of knowledge on all forthcoming events which may involve the opportunity to partake in two of my favourite pastimes; eating and drinking. In reality, I'd probably never find the time to make it along to all of them, but my well organised intentions are there nonetheless. Rather than keeping these to myself, I've put together a list of my personal favourites for the month ahead.

Blackfriars Ladies' Lunch

Do you fancy yourself as a lady-who-lunches? Yes, so do I. Get yourself along to the brilliant Blackfriars' monthly event, which features a demonstration by a local expert (this time, make up artist Kerry Nicholson from The Perfect Base) and a three course meal including a glass of wine and coffee. Make new friends, learn the tips and tricks of make up artistry and sample the food of one of my all time favourite Newcastle restaurants. Tickets are £25 and it's advisable to book in advance.

4th October, 11.30am

Blackfriars Restaurant, Friars Street, Newcastle, NE1 4XN

0191 261 5945

http://www.blackfriarsrestaurant.co.uk

Northumbria Food and Wine Festival

The first of what is promised to be an annual event, recently crowned 'British Pub of the Year', The Feathers Inn, is collaborating with Fasol Menin and Tynedale Rugby Club to bring us the first Northumbria Food and Wine Festival. The event will feature pop-up restaurants, cookery demonstrations, wine talks, wine tasting events and live music. They aim to 'create an environment that allows people to shop easily, discover new facts about wine and food and try lots of new tastes.' Tickets are available for £20 via the website, or for £25 on the door.

7-9th October

Tynedale Park, Corbridge, Northumberland, NE45 5AY

http://www.northumbriafoodandwinefestival.co.uk

Pop-up Indian restaurant

Newcastle based food writer and private chef Maunika Gowardhan hosts the region's first pop-up Indian restaurant. Held at Terry Laybourne's Caffe Vivvo, this one off event will be 'showcasing regional influences from the Indian sub continent whilst celebrating Indian street food along with home cooked meals for discerning diners and Indian food fans alike.' 3 course menu, £30 per person.

Note: this event is now fully booked, though Caffe Vivvo are holding a waiting list, in case of cancellations.

10th October, 7pm

Caffé Vivo, 29 Broad Chare, Newcastle, NE1 3DQ
0191 2321331

http://caffevivo.co.uk/

http://www.cookinacurry.co.uk

Durham Food Festival & Book Festival

Durham Food Festival brings gourmet food marques, a continental market, local farmers' market and chef demonstrations to the city. The final day, Sunday 23rd October, coincides with the Durham Book Festival and some foodie talks are served up on the Palace Green, with a distinct emphasis on all things baking related.

At 12pm, award winning baker Dan Lepard will be discussing his new book, his baking philosophies, and whisking up some treats. At 2pm, Edd Kimber, the 'boy who bakes' and winner of BBC2's Great British Bake Off, will be sharing tales of his baking adventures.

20-23rd October
Durham City

http://www.durhamfoodfestival.com

http://www.durhambookfestival.com

With such an interesting and diverse programme of events in one single month, it's pretty fair to say that it isn't so grim up north.

Spice Bollywood, Metro Centre

The prospect of a visit to the Metro Centre is enough to induce a small temper tantrum. It proudly boasts of being the largest shopping centre in Europe. In reality, I've found that this equates to crowds, screaming children, largely run of the mill shops, and the overwhelming challenge of finding a suitable outfit for Ladies' Day without losing my sanity (well, this was only the case last Thursday, but you get my point...)

Such events though can be made bearable if there's the promise of a decent meal at the end of the day. The Metro Centre isn't short of the usual chains... If you're after a Subway, McDonalds, Frankie and Benny's (my personal absolute non-favourite when it comes

to such places, but I'll leave that story for another day), you've come to the right place. Where though, do you go if that isn't your cup of tea?

Spice Bollywood has been tucked away in the Mediterranean Village for as long as I can remember, and I've returned countless times for post-shopping-trip refreshment. It's small and no nonsense, a simple cafe-come-restaurant serving up the usual Indian fare. The menu is by no means cutting edge or innovative, but includes something for everyone and the £9.99 three course lunch special is exceptionally good value.

We both had onion bhajis followed by lamb dupiaza. Both were faultless, and the lamb was fall-apart-on-your fork tender and rich.

The picture makes the dopiaza look too oily, which it wasn't. It also looks like I was arranging the dopiaza in a romantic heart shape, to woo a lover. This was coincidental, I was dining with my mam.

I had kheer for dessert, which I love. A fragrant rice pudding, delicately flavoured with cardamon pods and served cold. I'd happily eat it after any meal, though it rounds off an Indian especially well. My friend sadly didn't share the same sentiment... 'Cold rice pudding? Sounds shit.'

Service is great too - friendly and efficient.

Three courses each with 3 large glasses of Pinot Grigio came to £36. Great value, good food, and I challenge anyone to find anything better in the Metro Centre. Pop in next time you're shopping.

Oh, and I got a nice frock for the races too.

Result: 8/10.

Spice Bollywood

Unit 16-17

Mediterranean Village

Metro Centre

Gateshead

NE11 9XG