Taste Magazine Issue #10

Reviews

Taking a look at some of the top places to eat, including Hotel du Vin, Kingslodge inn, Fat Buddha, Vujon and more!

Chef Q&A

We interview Ralph Hellens, Head Chef at The Blackbird, Ponteland, Newcastle.

Recipes

We have recipes from Riverford Organic Farms, Chef David Tate and more.

What’s on

Find out about local food & drink events.

Competitions

WIN great prizes from St Mary’s Inn, David Souter and Seaton Lane Inn!

issue 10 taste-magazine.co.uk

gatesheadnewcastle 1

Now taking booking for our:

Christmas Menu

We’re a small family run Italian business in Newcastle City Centre, distinguished by an open kitchen, friendly staff, and original South Italian recipes.

Antipasti/Starters Cotechino e Zampone Selezione di Bruschette (V)

Primi Piatti/Mains Orecchiette al Ragú di Coda di bue Cannelloni al Forno con Spinaci e Ricotta (V) Parmigiana di Melanzane (V) Linguine ai Frutti di Mare

Dolci/Desserts Millefoglie Panna Cotta ai Frutti di Bosco Tiramisú

£24.95* per Person * Price includes a welcome glass of Prosecco. Parties of 4 and above will receive a complimentary bottle of House Red or White. Coffee or Tea also included at the end of your meal.

us Find us or Follow

(V)= Vegetarian dish

Terms & Conditions: Christmas Menu available from the 9th of December to the 30th of December. Due to the kitchen’s capacity and the long preparation time of certain dishes, bookings are required with the selection of the desired dishes for each guest. Bookings for the Christmas Menu must be done 48 hours prior.

Bookings can be made by email: albuconcl@gmail.com.

0191 261 6646

4 Eldon Square, Newcastle NE17JG

Tues-Sat: 10:00 - 20:00 Sun: 10:00 - 17:00 Mon: Closed Christmas Eve: 10am to 5pm, Christmas Day: CLOSED, Boxing Day: CLOSED 27th - 30th Dec: 10am to 8pm, New Year’s Eve: 10am to 5pm, New Year’s Day: CLOSED Monday 2nd of Jan: CLOSED, Tuesday 3rd of January 2017: OPEN 10am to 8pm (Returning to Normal Opening Hours) 2

Merry Christmas!

Welcome to Taste Magazine, a dedicated food and drink publication in the North East, helping you make the choice for your next meal out or place to visit and what to eat.

We have some excellent reviews in this issue, four amazing competitions to enter. Plus fantastic recipes for you to try.

Why not give them a go and tweet us your finished pics?

We’d love to hear your feedback!

Don’t forget to mention us, when using any advertisers!

Want to find out more about our magazine? Contact us below or tweet us @magazinetaste.

Thanks to our contributors, Katie Vincent, Emma Phillips, David Souter, David Tate and Riverford.

E: info@taste-magazine.co.uk M: 07786 130 175 T: 0191 488 3881 www.taste-magazine.co.uk Taste Magazine is Created by Taste Creative. All content is copyright ©2016 Taste Creative. All rights reserved. All artwork remains the property of Taste Creative and cannot be copied or reproduced without the editors consent. While every effort is made to ensure accuracy, no responsibility can be accepted for illustrations, photography, artwork or advertising materials or the services provided by the advertising companies. All information is correct at time of going to print.

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Chef Q&A

16

La Vera Italia

18

Recipe

24

Rub Smokehouse & Bar

30

Recipe

38

Hotel du Vin

44

San Lorenzo

52

Recipe

56

Vujon

62

Fat Buddah

65

Fitness - new!

71

What’s On & Taste Fun

We interview Ralph Hellens, Head Chef at The Blackbird, Ponteland. pg30

We review Sunniside’s newest Italian restaurant.

Cookies for Santa! Give this recipe a go and make the perfect chocolate cookies.

Katie Vincent visits the all new Rub Smokehouse & Bar in The Gate.

Turkey meatball broth with greens thanks to Riverford!

Katie heads along to the Hotel du Vin to sample their delights.

Katie visits the recently revamped San Lorenzo, Washington.

Mincemeat recipe follow up from Chef David Tate.

Cannyfood reviews the long established restaurant, Vujon.

A Thai Lunch at the all new Fat Buddha Sunderland at Seaburn.

IN10SITY Workout Challenge Lunge Burner from David Souter.

Find out about local food and drink events in the local area.

Competitions!

We have x4 competitions in this issue, on pages, 22, 65, 66 & 67 3

Chef

my career such as Marco Pierre White, The Roux Brothers & Gordon Ramsay to the modern day, Ferran Adria, Rene Redzepi, Eneko Atxa, and of course our own Kenny Atkinson.

Q&A

Q. H ow does a typical day in the Blackbird kitchen go?

Introducing you to the region’s top Chefs, getting to know the men and women behind the perfectly plated dishes.

A. I t starts with checking stock levels, blanching chips, preparing meats & fish. Of course a large mug of tea is a definite pre requisite as we work on preparing for service.

Q. W hen you aren’t working, where are your favourite places to eat?

Sitting 8 miles outside the hustle and bustle of Newcastle City Centre, The Blackbird in Ponteland is making a strong name for itself in the food game in the area. Headed up by Chef Ralph Hellens, we talk to him about the past, present and future of his career.

A. When not at work, and on the rare occasions my partner Diane and I manage to escape for a meal, having recently had twins, we always enjoy the Landmark Chinese on Stowell Street and for those special occasions my favourite is House of Tides.

Q. H ow did you discover your love of food and when did you realise you wanted to become a Chef?

Q. W hat food trends are you loving and hating at the minute?

A. W atching my Mother cooking & baking for the family, I found it so interesting to discover what could be produced from a few basic ingredients. She would bake cakes & pastries every Sunday for the family tea which I used to love.

A. A t the minute, I am liking the trends of ferments, powders & grains. There are a lot of interesting ideas around that need experimenting with. That said I am not a fan of dishes that are overcomplicated by chefs trying too hard to include as many of the trends as possible on the same plate

Q. W ho influences you most in the culinary world and why?

Q. W hat advice would you give someone who wants to become a Chef?

A. A lot of modern day chefs influence me from all over the world and it is difficult to narrow it down from the old school chefs when I started

A. B e prepared for long hard shifts and never ending amounts of ‘mis en place’ lists that take enormous amounts of time and effort to produce only to be gone within minutes, hopefully, to the customers liking. It is a hard career path to embark on however it can be rewarding........sometimes!!

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Q. C an you give us any sneaky hints as to what is to come in the future from the Blackbird kitchen?

A. I have to say it would be Sautéed Scallops, Truffled Cauilflower Puree & Crispy Pancetta. This is one of my favourite dishes of all those that I have prepared in my career and one I will always enjoy.

A. T he kitchen at the Blackbird will soon be extended and of course with the extra space will come new & additional equipment that will make our life easier and allow us to create even more seasonal dishes using the best of local produce from local game to fresh fish from North Shields.

The expansion of the kitchen can only mean more new and exciting things coming to both the Blackbird and Ponteland, further making it a great foodie destination outside of the City Centre.

And finally the question we all want to know the answer to – Q. S tranded on a Desert Island, you can only prepare and eat 1 dish for the rest of your life - what would it be?

@Blackbirdponteland 5

@BlackbirdPontNe

Kick off your boots Après-Shopping at The Botanist CITY centre pub and restaurant The Botanist has unveiled its latest project for Newcastle shoppers and revellers alike – an outdoor après-ski bar set within its roof terrace.

installation illuminating the venue’s iconic dome, now a familiar sight on the city’s skyline.

Festive lighting will be added by the decorating specialists both inside and outside The Botanist as it prepares to mark its second birthday, and third Christmas, in Newcastle.

In a move reaffirming its presence in the vibrant local leisure scene, the 1,500 sq ft open-air development, which sits above the venue’s main level in Monument Mall, has been transformed with a classic Nordic ski resort theme, complete with log cabins.

Andrew Shiel-Redfern, general manager of The Botanist Newcastle, said: “Last year we invested in the roof garden to turn it from a summer al fresco destination to an enchanted winter wonderland – ensuring the space was utilised throughout the darker, colder weather – and the feedback from our customers was really positive.

Visitors can expect ski racks, snowboards and all sorts of alpine paraphernalia adorning the walls and furnishings. The enclosed garden shed-like areas have even been made to look like snowy, mountain-bound wooden chalets.

“We love reinventing our offering and wanted to switch up our ideas for decorations once more so we hope the new look terrace for Christmas 2016 surprises and delights our guests over the coming months. It’s certainly something brand new for Newcastle so we’re really excited to show it off.”

The full-service bar that holds a capacity of up to 120 people boasts unrivalled views over Grey’s Monument, Grey Street and soon, the International Christmas Market – a perfect spot from which to watch the world go by below.

Outdoor heaters and cosy blankets to wrap up in also ensure celebrations can go on into the night without the nip in the air spoiling plans.

For a winter warmer, the bar team are serving up mulled wine and hot spiced cider alongside its extensive cocktail and ale offering.

To deck out the roof garden, the New World Trading Company has partnered once again with Tyneside’s The Christmas Decorators, which is responsible for the 12,000 LED light

The Botanist ski shack terrace officially launched on the evening of Thursday 3 November and will run until early January. It can also be booked for private functions in part or fully.

For more information, call 0191 261 6307, email newcastlebdm@thebotanist.uk.com or visit The Botanist at Monument Mall, Newcastle NE1 5AU.

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A friendly welcome with home cooked food and real ales, fine wines in a warm, cosy atmosphere.

Why not visit us early, for a

Week Night Special

Traditional British

Traditional Cooked Breakfast

Two Dine For £9.99

Sunday Lunch

Available Daily from 9am - 11.30am

Available Mon - Fri 11.30am - 6pm

Available Sunday From 11.30am

Now taking booking for our Christmas Menu

From 28th November - 31st December (Excluding Sundays & Christmas Day)

Two Course £11.95

Beamish, Stanley, County Durham DH9 0RS Tel: 0191 370 0349 www.shepherdbeamish.co.uk

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Three Course £13.95

The New Board Inn

Written by Katie Vincent

County Durham is famed for many a wonderful thing but what the county does exceptionally well in is hearty home cooked meals in cosy quaint country pubs.

Everyone loves a drive in to the country and a pub lunch by a roaring fire, right?

flavourful, the soup was different to the usual darker onion soup but it was delicious nonetheless. Pretty damn filling for less than £4!

Sampling something a little more exotic, the Chicken Satay (£5.95) looked to be quite a small portion but the chicken was well grilled and the satay sauce was moreish. With a hit of coconut and the required peanuts, we hoovered up the sauce and could have done with more, twice over! A third skewer, we felt, would have rounded this out to a better portion given the price tag.

The New Board Inn dominates the village of Langley Park from its home atop the steepest hill in the area which affords its visitors a beautiful panoramic view. Once inside, the quaint bar side dining and bright sunny dining room may suggest a fairly standard, run of the mill dining experience but don’t let that fool you.

From the friendly welcoming atmosphere to the extensive and varied menu, the vibe is definitely hearty and heartening. The emphasis is on good quality, well executed pub grub and it does this exceedingly well.

Now the New Board Inn is well renowned for its whopper 48oz steak challenge but as the husband wasn’t wearing stretchy pants, he settled for the more modest 24oz rump (£19.50). A handsome slab of meat grilled to perfection to his medium rare request.

Covering most of the plate, the standard steak accompaniments barely fit on too. Flavourful fresh meat that wasn’t too tough was

Our French Onion Soup starter (£3.95) came in its own dinky mug for that winter warming feel of wrapping your hands round a hot mug on a cold day. Thick and 8

complimented by the chunky hand cut proper chips. The steak was served without a sauce which Id have gone for, you cant beat a good old fashioned peppercorn sauce.

Wanting a hearty winter warmer, I could smell the steak + ale pie (£7.95) pie as soon as I had walked in the door. The meat was meltingly tender and well soaked up in the boozy liquid. The rich dark gravy was packed with well cooked vegetables and came with an extra side of veg too. The chunky chips were perfect smothered in the ale addled gravy, so much so I wish there had been more! An absolute bargain for £7.95 and I feel it represented good value for money.

As usual, there was no room for dessert but we were thoroughly impressed with the food we had. It’s not gourmet and nor does it try to be. Fine dining is all nice and well but sometimes you just want a hearty pub lunch or some home cooked goodness to end the day. I think this is where pubs like the New Board Inn thrive.

By reputation alone, we paid a visit and were thoroughly impressed. Enough to keep coming back for the well-executed basics. @new.boardinn

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www.thenewboardinn.co.uk

Light Up The North East With Illuminating Letters After being involved in manufacturing and illuminating giant letters & shapes to the sign & lighting industry across the UK since 2006, one of the directors big ‘40th’ birthday came along so we decided to put our letters on show, which resulted into a few bookings on the night, which resulted into another few bookings which in turn snowballed into a fully fledged stand alone business, supplying giant light up letters and shapes for events across the north east of England, 3 years later we have letters & shapes out on hire every weekend.

the letters compared to others and added the perfect finishing touch. Thank you!”

Our letters are fabricated from aluminium, powder coated paint finish, aluminium composite backs, 10mm clear acrylic stands to ensure stability, the bulbs are LED bulbs, 9 modules per bulb to ensure they stay lit up with zero on-site maintenance for clients peace of mind, no old style bulbs to change on the night, all electrics are pat tested with certificates ready to email to the venues.

Take a look at our Facebook page for latest product information.

“Brilliant service!!! Turned up to my engagement party to see the two hearts I’d ordered set up and looking amazing!

Will 100% use these again in the future!

Thank you very much! Amy who dealt with my request was lovely.”

We currently have a wide range of illuminated lettering to make your event that little bit more special. All of our lettering is fully PAT tested up to date so they are accepted by every venue.

We offer a wide range of shapes, colours & styles. Below is just a few comments we have received from recent customers: “Excellent service our letters were brought and set up without us even knowing, So it was a lovely surprise when we seen them for the first time. Really reasonable to hire 10

LIGHT UP LETTERS NORTH EAST Illuminated letters, numbers & shapes for hire to make your special event that little bit more special.

Light up your event ‘wow’ and ‘excite’ with our light up letters!

All of our lettering is fully PAT tested up to date so they are accepted by every venue.

Call: 07470 179 173 Lightuplettersnortheast

enquiries@lightuplettersnortheast.com

www.lightuplettersnortheast.com 11

must go to

event

Grainger Market’s First Late Night Opening for a Family Friendly Christmas Traders in the city’s Grainger Market are hosting their first night market to encourage buying local this Christmas.

free ticketed event

Market traders will also launch the first Great Grainger Advent Calendar .

Emma Claude-Phillips, owner of The French Oven said; “This free, family friendly event offers plenty in the run up to Christmas. There will be some spectacular entertainment and delicious food to help visitors support their local market and get ready for Christmas.”

On 1st December, the historic market will open from 5pm until 9pm and in addition to a wide variety of Christmas inspired goods, there will also be classes, music, dancing, a bar, street food, freebies, art and discounts on offer.

The event is free, however visitors can take advantage of VIP tickets giving an extra special insight in to the Victorian building, balcony views and including one of the air raid shelters which survive underneath the market floor. Behind the scenes tickets, with some festive treats, are available though eventbrite.co.uk priced at £5.00 (90p fee) for adults or £1.00 (66p fee)for children. More info head to www.graingermarket.org.uk 12

Now Taking Christmas & New Year Reservations Exclusive Maharaja’s Table for 8-12 guests Exclusive intimate rooms for couples Large Parties catered for (up to 40 guests)

For any enquiries or to make a booking call

0191 488 8505

Email: info@jashnrestaurant.com | www.jashnrestaurant.com

The North East’s Most Exclusive Award Winning Restaurant

Swalwell, Whickham Bank, Tyne & Wear NE16 3BP Open Monday to Saturday 5.30pm to 11.00pm and Sunday 5.30pm to 10.30pm

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Written by Katie Vincent

Have you visited the Metrocentre since it revamped and expanded the eateries available in the Qube?

Since our last visit, there was a few new dishes added to the menu as part of a seasonal revamp so it was nice to see a bit of variety.

There’s plenty of choice from the big chains and usual suspects but our favourite is Thaikhun which offers a taste of Thai street food right here in the North East.

To start, Paul went for his Thai staple, the Tom Yum soup with prawns. Jam packed with huge juicy prawns and button mushrooms, the soup hit all the right notes with the warmth from the galangal, the aromatics of the kaffir lime leaves and the heat from the roasted chillies. The broth was quite light and it was a great starter portion.

After a trip to the cinema, we held off the popcorn snacks ready for our lunch at Thaikhun. Desperate to get our munch on, we sat amongst the quirky and eclectic decor and made a start with spiced prawn crackers with a sweet chilli dip… and an icy cold pint of Singha!

I opted for what can only be described as summer on a plate. Por Pia Sod are rice papers stuffed with fresh crisp vegetables and herbs and prawns served up with fresh chillies, cucumber relish and a chilli dipping sauce. The prawns were again huge and plentiful which made the dish a bit of a bargainous hit. The rolls were juicy and packed full of flavour. Bit sloppy to eat by hand with the dipping sauce so I succumbed to pouring the dipping sauce on top and diving in that way. I could eat the Por Pia Sod all day long – delicious.

A taste of Thai street food right here in the North East.

Again, creature of habit, Paul went for a red curry – Gaeng Phed. Served with soft jasmine rice, the dish was a good size and the balance of rice to curry was spot on.

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The beef was tender and abundant, whilst the pineapple added a light sweetness to combat the heat of the sauce. The basil kept the curry grounded on the savoury side rather than leaning towards the sweetness of the fruit.

Goong Phad Prik Gra Tiam is one of the newest dishes on the menu and it was my choice. The dish was prawns coated in a light batter, stir fried with basil, peppers and onions in a chilli and garlic sauce. The sauce packed a healthy punch with the chilli but was spicy rather than hot, if you are a heat wimp. Again, the prawns are juicy and impressively large for the price point. I added a side of Khao Maprao coconut rice which is my favourite. At Thaikhun, the rice is served with grated coconut mixed in, rather than that sickly gelatinous gloop you quite often get. It’s a pet peeve of mine but rest assure the Thaikhun version is fluffy and delightful!

The laid back vibe is always a good draw for me, you aren’t hassled and you can tuck yourself away from the crowd by taking a table for two at the back. The only thing I am not so keen on is the Thai greetings.

It’s a bit gimmicky and I don’t want to hear my waiter greeting me in Thai with a thick Geordie accent – which is probably exactly how Paul’s brother sounds as he has lived in Thailand for years and years now!

With no room for pudding, we had a couple more drinks and went about our merry way.

Regardless of what you think about chain restaurants, they serve a purpose and Thaikhun do that exceptionally well.

I approve!

The thing we like about Thaikhun is the quality. We find the vegetables to be crisp and fresh and the meats to always be tender and well cooked and the prawns to be incredibly delicious – that should be a given in any restaurant but it’s sadly not.

www.thaikhun.co.uk

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@FollowThaikhun

La Vera Italia The problem with some Italian restaurants is they are very unItalian. La Vera Italia certainly is Italian. It is a traditional family owned restaurant based in Sunniside offering Italian food at its finest.

a lot for your money, but you certainly do here!

Having visited numerous Italian restaurants over the years, we have tasted some good and bad Italian food. La Vera is up there at the top.

We didn’t have to wait too long and out came the mains. Lasagne and Tagliatelle Bolognese. Lasagne being my favourite food, I know when a lasagne is a good lasagne, and this was.

Hearty layers of flavourful meat, cheese and seasoned tomato sauce with just enough white sauce. Id certainly recommend this dish.

All washed down with two cold Moretti beers.

It is not pretentious or fussy, but feels warm and welcoming – almost like you have stumbled into somebody’s house for dinner. It has a laid back atmosphere and friendly feel.

On arrival you are greeted by a waiter and taken to your table. We were handed a menu with a wide range of hot and cold starters and main courses.

The other main was the Tagliatelle Bolognese, again another hearty dish, not too much, just a nice amount a good balance between the meat and tagliatelle.

The three course happy hour runs from 12pm -6.45pm, this includes a selection of starters, pasta or pizza and coffee or dessert all for £5.95! This is great value for money.

With hardly any room left, we just about managed a dessert and I’m glad we did..

Sticky Toffee Pudding and a Coffee Ice Cream Sundae. A nice ending to a lovely meal.

Although we missed happy hour, the prices are excellent value. We opted for Garlic Mushrooms and Mussels in Chilli and Garlic for starters. The garlic mushrooms were just right, this simple yet elegant mushroom dish makes for a delicious first course. The Mussels were hot! Great if you love chilli! The quantity was superb, as normally you don’t get

The food at La Vera is like a piece of Italy on your plate. You know when you eat at there you will be served great food at great prices!

@La-Vera-Italia-Sunniside

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Served on a bed of roasted red peppers with balsamic reduction..............£5.95

King Prawns

A little piece of Italy Pollo on your plate!

Cooked in garlic or chilli sauce.........................................................£7.45

Mussels French

Pollo Picante

Red peppers, garlic, chilli, oregano, tomato.......................................£11.95

Cooked on white wine and creamy sauce............................................£5.95

Pollo Crema

Mussels Tomato and Chilli Tomato, Chilli...............................................................................£5.95

Onion, mushroom, red peppers, cream..............................................£11.95

Pollo Diana

Mushroom, French mustard, demiglace, touch of cream.......................£11.95

Pollo Pepe

Demiglace, black pepper, English mustard, touch of cream...................£11.95

Bread

Pollo Funghi

Garlic Bread..........................................................................£2.95 Garlic Bread with Cheese..................................................£3.45 Garlic Bread with Tomato................................................£3.45 Garlic Bread with Cheese and Tomato.........................£3.95

Mushroom and cream sauce............................................................£11.95

Pollo Milanese

Chicken in breadcrumb..................................................................£11.95

Carne

Pasta

Bistecca

Penne Alfredo

Sirloin steak served plain or with a sauce from the selection below........£13.95

Filetto

Chicken, onion, mushroom, tomato, touch of cream.............................£7.95

Fillet steak served plain or with a sauce from the selection below..........£18.95

Penne Amatriciona

Bacon, onion, tomato, touch of cream................................................£6.95

Penne Arrabbiata Tomato, chilli, garlic.......................................................................£5.95 Tagliatelle Bolognese.........................................................£6.95 Spaghetti Carbonara Bacon, cream, touch of black pepper..................................................£7.45 Penne Pomodoro.................................................................£6.95 Tagliatelle Ortdona Mixed vegetables...........................................................................£6.95 Lasagne...................................................................................£7.45

La Vera Italia

A traditional family ownedExtra each SAUCE SELECTION...........................................£1.50 • Peppercorn sauce • Pizzaiola sauce • Diana sauce • Dolcelotte sauce Italian restaurant in Sunniside, serving homemade Italian food Il Pesce made with authentic ingredients!

Fish Soup

Mixed seafood and shell fish..........................................................£15.95

King Prawns

Laid-back eatery with wooden floors and neutral decor

Tomato or chilli sauce...................................................................£16.95

Seabass Grill.......................................................................£14.95 Seabass Foil Seabass fillet, shell fish, cherry tomato.................................................£16.95 Salmon Fillet Pan fried fillet of salmon served with a saffron sauce.............................£12.95

Deluxe Pasta

Happy Hour

A little piece of Italy on your plate!

Salads and Sides

Tagliatelle Mare Monti

Kings prawns, mushroom, tomato....................................................£11.95

Spaghetti Pescatora

12:00pm to 6:45pm

Shell fish in a tomato and garlic sauce..............................................£11.95

Ravioli

Ricotta and spinach........................................................................£8.95

Chips........................................................................................£2.25 Mixed Green Salad..............................................................£2.95 Chopped and Seasoned Potatoes...................................£2.95 Mash........................................................................................£2.95 Mixed Vegetables................................................................£3.25

Risotto Frutti Di Mare Everyday Mixed seafood.............................................................................£11.95 Risotto Gamberetti Tiger prawn and asparagus.............................................................£11.95

13 Sun Street, Sunniside, Newcastle NE16 5LR Telephone: 0191 447 7330

£5.95

Three Course Special

Choose from a range of starter, pasta or pizza, and finish with a filtered coffee or Ice Cream *see inside for details

We’re Now Serving

TRADITIONAL SUNDAY LUNCH / SERVED BETWEEN 12.00 & 5.00PM A little piece of Italy on your plate!

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recipe

Cookies for Santa!

For us the perfect chocolate cookie must be soft and fudgy with a great double chocolate taste. Does this sound like your ideal cookie too? We heard these are Santa’s favourite, give this recipe a go and make Santa some cookies.

Ingredients (makes 12 cookies)

3) C ream the butter and sugars in another

bowl. Add the melted chocolate and mix together.

• 1 25 grams dark chocolate (minimum 70%cocoa solids) • 150 grams plain flour

4) B eat in the vanilla extract and cold egg, and

• 30 grams cocoa powder (sieved)

then mix in the dry ingredients. Finally stir in the chocolate morsels or chips.

• 1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda • 1/2 teaspoon salt

5) S coop out 12 equal-sized mounds and

• 125 grams soft unsalted butter

place on a lined baking sheet about 6cm apart. Do not flatten them.

• 75 grams soft light brown sugar • 50 grams white sugar

6) C ook for 18 minutes, testing with a cake

• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

tester to make sure it comes out semi-clean and not wet with cake batter.

• 1 large egg (cold from the fridge) • 3 50 grams dark chocolate chips (or semi sweet chocolate morsels)

7) Leave to cool slightly on the baking sheet for

4-5 minutes, then transfer them to a cooling rack to harden as they cool.

Method 1) Preheat the oven to 170°C/gas mark

8) O nce cooled, tie together with a Christmas

3/325ºF. Melt the 125g / 4oz dark chocolate either in the microwave or in a heatproof dish over a pan of simmering water.

bow and serve with a glass of full cream cold milk - Santa’s request.

2) P ut the flour, cocoa, bicarbonate of soda and

Tweet us your pics!

salt into a mixing bowl.

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@magazinetaste

Osaki is a Pan Asian Restaurant serving culinary delights at the Lotus Lounge Yarm. Started by a young chef and an amazing young team behind him.

Book your table at the Lotus Lounge on 01642 355558.

Fairfax Court, 32-34 High Street, Yarm, TS15 9AE e.info@lotus-lounge.co.uk w.www. lotus-lounge.co.uk

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The Kingslodge Inn Written by Katie Vincent

Dominating the former Finbarrs restaurant, Kingslodge Inn have arrived and made their mark in a sleepy corner of Durham city centre.

The Crisp Black Pudding & Bacon with poached egg and peppercorn sauce (£5.95) was a hearty and warming starter to kick off our visit.

The egg was as runny as you’d want it to be, mixed in with the pepper sauce, it made mopping it up with the crisp black pudding easier, and oh so tasty. It is not the prettiest dish to photograph though, I can tell you that! My companion did say a slice of bread at the end wouldn’t go amiss for all that yolky goodness!

Hidden in a little oasis of calm, backed with woodland of Flass Vale, the pub is only 10 minute walk from both the bus station, train station and student accommodation.

We tried out the newest member of the Inn Collection family to put it through its paces.

The warm and welcoming pub is a mecca for those of us who are local but cant face the hubbub of city bars for a quiet bite to eat or some Saturday afternoon drinks in peace and quiet. Kingslodge really has cornered the market there!

My favourite starter has to be the Antipasto (£7.95). A nicely presented selection of cured meats, garlic and olives all served up with crisp bread slices, oil and vinegar.

The olives where my favourite bit, they had an aniseed note to them which made them moreish. I’d happily have sat and at them all day long! We did find the toasted breads to be perilously hard and would have preferred some softer focaccia to soak up the olive oil and balsamic. It was a generous portion and very definitely shareable as a grazing board.

With a tried and tested pub grub menu, the kitchen team have done a cracking job to stop comparisons being drawn to its predecessor by a loyal following, stamping their own mark on the food. Heads down and focusing on the food, we opt for starters and mains which leave us full enough to skip dessert.

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substitute, don’t be afraid to ask, I do think the dish would have been more substantial with the courgette as I don’t think it was replaced with extra peppers but that was my choice!

The grilled halloumi was spot on though, I think any salad could always do with twice as much cheese though. Mmm cheese!

The mood changes when it comes to Saturday afternoon beers and bait, chips and comfort food is called for. We can definitely give the Steak, mushroom and ale pie (£9.95) and the scampi and triple cooked chips (£9.95) a big thumbs up. Generous portions of comfort food, just what the Doctor ordered coming up to these cold months!

The Quesadillas (£9.95) is a gargantuan portion of vegetarian goodness. Chickpeas, jalapeños and veg are topped with cheese, baked and served with salsa and basmati rice. A pretty subtle kick from the jalapeños makes it spicy but not overpoweringly so, the salsa helps cool things down. My companion couldn’t manage the eat the full portion but it was thoroughly enjoyed. It would be nice to see an option to add a meat in to the mix for an additional cost.

We haven’t sampled the desserts but can vouch that a few extra drinks work just as well to close your visit! With free parking on site and secluded outdoor seating areas, it is the perfect place to visit whether you are from near or far.

Desperately trying to channel the last bits of summer sun and holiday memories, I have been sticking to the Mediterranean Salad (£9.95) which is packed full of roasted peppers, halloumi and olives on a bed of salad leaves and mint. The kitchen were only too happy to skip the courgette from the salad for me so if there’s something you need to

Be sure to pop along on a Sunday evening when they hold a games night. Think old school board games from your childhood, so much fun as an adult! @TheKingsLodgeLnn

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www.kingslodgeinn.co.uk

The Fizzy Tap launching 2017 The Fizzy tap is a Piaggio Ape Classic van that is being converted into our unique mobile Prosecco bar.

We will be located and are (as I know) the only mobile prosseco bar of this kind in the North East. However we anticipate interest from Fizz lovers from around the UK so you never know where will be popping a cork!

We will be installing two flash cooling units that will allow us to serve Glera Frizzante (Prosecco) on tap from kegs. We will also have on our menu a select cocktail list, provide prosseco by the bottle and because we have two cooling units we will also be able to offer customers the option of a premium lager as well as the prosseco.

We are already taking bookings for 2017 which is great and should be fully launched early December 2016. So if you’re looking to add some Festive Fizz and fun to your Christmas and New Year celebrations please do get in touch. Also keep an eye out on your Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages for more information and special offers!

The Fizzy Tap will be perfect for Wedding receptions, private and corporate parties along with festivals and any event where you’re looking to add some extra sparkle. The van is small and versatile enough to fit well in many different locations indoor and out.

@TheFizzyTap

www.TheFizzyTap.co.uk

COMPETITION!

ENTER FOR A CHANCE TO WIN

AN OVERNIGHT STAY FOR 2 WITH DINNER, BED AND BREAKFAST ANSWER THIS QUESTION...

HOW MANY ROOMS ARE IN SEATON LANE INN? A) 13 B) 47 C) 18 visit www.seatonlaneinn.com to find out

To enter simply email us the answer to

info@taste-magazine.co.uk

Terms & Conditions: All Entries must be over 16 years old, Only one entry per a person**. Don’t forget to supply us with your full name and contact details. All entries must be in by 31st December 2016 **Your details will be passed to Seaton Lane Inn upon entry, if you do not wish for us to pass this on please advise on your entry

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@SeatonLaneInn

Arriving DECEMBER

2016

AN EXCITING AND UNIQUE PROSSECO VAN COMING SOON TO THE NORTH EAST! Available to hire for: Weddings, Parties, Corporate Events & Festivals Contact Craig info@thefizzytap.co.uk | 07595918646 WWW.THEFIZZYTAP.CO.UK

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Rub Smokehouse & Bar Written by Katie Vincent

Do you own stretchy pants? You’ll need them if you visit the all new Rub Smokehouse & Bar in The Gate. Huge portions of delicious house-smoked meat and American themed scran are the call of the day here.

other hands is an overwhelming assault on the senses. I got so lost in the list I just shut my eyes and picked. There’s an immense choice of drinks and very helpfully – pictures!

I’d love to go back just for drinks and nibbles and work my way through the cocktail list but I am not sure if there’s a dedicated drinks area – which would be a crying shame!

We visited just after Rub opened, giving it a few days to bed in. The interior is a little like a kids play pen with it’s cartoonish bold colours and simple lines but you know what, it’s a nice change from seeing faux industrial smoke house chic. The seats aren’t made out of refashioned scaffolding poles and there’s not a whiff of hipster. Nice. The in-house smokers are called Hank and Marvin which tickled me more than it probably should!

Watch out for the oinking pigs – that means there’s an order up on the pass. Oink!

We got started with Pigs in Blankets (£4.95) with a spicy mayo and Pork Crackling (£2.95) with an apple sauce. The sausages were the clear winner for me but the crackling would make a great snack with beer. I can imagine these going down well if there’s a group of you, to tide hungry souls over.

As the Husband had his eye on a whopping burger, we split a starter. The Honey Chicken Strips (£5.45) came in quite a surprisingly large portion. Definitely great value for money, it would easily make a lunch dish on it’s own or a great sharer. The honey BBQ sauce was sweet and had a gentle smoky heat to it which made it quite moreish. As I am not a fan of chicken on the bone, I was pleased to see a chicken starter that wasn’t wings. Buffalo wings, why you gotta taunt me eh?

The food menu is split between nibbles, starters and then the varieties of mains.

There’s something for everyone, from salads to burgers and You just need the very biggest a good burger of burgers at that.

The drinks and a beer! menu on the 24

Rapidly feeling full, our mains arrived.

The Husband had not only opted for the most enormous tankard of beer I have ever seen, he matched it with a burger of gargantuan proportion. The 51st State Burger (£19.95) has been renamed the Angel of the North, it’s that big. Rammed with juicy burgers, steak, onion rings, bacon and eggs you’d think that was it, but no. There’s a corn-dog stuck in the top to hold it all together! As if the burger wasn’t big enough, it comes with fries too!

The worry of putting so much stuff in to a burger could be the quality could slide, and no want wants to pay that much money for a pile of meh food but fear not. The burgers were juicy and flavourful, the steak tender and the eggs had the perfect runny yoke. It did need to be dismantled to be eaten though!

I had set my sights on the Chicken and Waffles (£13.95) as the chicken is served as fillets. Again with those bone issues! The chicken was abundant and moist inside it’s crispy coating. The sauce was a little on the skimpy side but that’s personal preference.

A liberal dash of Franks Hot Sauce made the dish zing. I was stuffed by the end and couldn’t manage to finish. It was absolutely delicious though. The best chicken and waffles I have had were made famous by Adam Richman at the Hash House A Go Go but being a million miles away from the restaurant, this definitely hit the spot!

With absolutely no room for dessert, we called it a night. With very fully but happy tummy’s!

We were concerned that the quality might suffer at a place offering such huge generous portions but we were very impressed. You have to like the style of food they put out to want to go, but what they do, they do it bloody well. It’s not fine dining but every so often you just need a good burger and a beer!

@rubyourselfie

www.rubsmokehouse.com

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COOKBOOKS 1)

Looking for the perfect Christmas present for the food lover in your life? We think cookbooks are a wonderful gift! We take a look at some of this years best.

Make delicious meals easily with one of these Taste Top 5!

2)

3)

5)

4)

1) Lean in 15 - The Sustain Plan: 15 Minute Meals and Workouts to Get You Lean for Life | Amazon £8.00 2) Gino’s Hidden Italy: How to Cook Like a True Italian | WHSmith £10.00 3) Mary Berry: Foolproof Cooking | Amazon £9.00 4) Jamie Oliver’s Christmas Cookbook | Waterstones £12.99 5) Nadiya’s Kitchen | WHSmith £10.00 26

A hidden gem in the heart of Newcastle

Opened 2014 with a fresh approach to sandwiches, Situated on the corner of one of the busiest streets in Newcastle (well on match days anyway!) we have persevered to bring you a selective and bespoke menu which can satisfy the most basic, or the most advanced requests.

Sandwiches Coffee Meal Planning Outside Catering

18 Leazes Park Road NE1 4PG

info@baitnewcastle.co.uk

Call 07946 355374 27

Dont forget to pick up a loyalty cards

Twitter @bitofBAIT

The festivities conclude on New Year’s Eve, with a three-course meal and an evening of fun and dancing until 1am with Gem NI. Christmas fayre food is available on all other days at The Seaton Lane Inn throughout December offering the perfect way for guests to celebrate with friends, family and colleagues.

General manager, Paul Brown, said: “We’re really excited about making Christmas 2016 as much fun as possible and that our regulars and new guests alike get the chance to relax and let their hair down. We’re pushing the boat out with our range of musical evenings and delicious food to get everyone to get into the party spirit!”

Get in the festive spirit with the Seaton lane Inn

For those who want to stay over for Christmas or New Year, or after one of the weekend party nights, The Seaton Lane Inn has 18 modern en-suite bedrooms, which have been awarded the 4-star Gold award from the AA, and provides a complimentary Full English or Continental breakfast as part of the overnight stay.

And you’re very #WelcomeInn to join them!

The Inn holds an AA Dinner Award in recognition of the quality of its home cooked pub food made with locally sourced and seasonal ingredients wherever possible, including the catch of the day from the nearby port of Hartlepool.

The Seaton Lane Inn is marking the festive season in style, with a packed programme of celebratory events throughout December.

The fun kicks off on Friday 16 December with a Christmas party night with a mixture of party music from Jolene to get guests up and dancing. Then on Friday 23 December musician Shona Perfect guarantees to get everyone grooving.

Both evenings include a two-course meal alongside the entertainment.

For more details, ticket prices and to check availability at one of The Seaton Lane Inn Christmas events, please go to www.seatonlaneinn.com/christmas

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The Urban Bakery is an artisan bakery where we make everything by hand. With home made inspiring salads, savouries and sandwiches made daily just the way you like them. Enjoy a coffee in our bijou cafe where you can sample one of our mouthwatering cakes fresh from the oven.

We also cater for events and create yummy birthday cakes.

URBAN BAKERY 10B BEACONSFIELD ROAD, LOW FELL, GATESHEAD NE9 6ER TEL:0191 4871771 Photography by Bobzilla.

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Turkey meatball broth with greens

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Easy to scale up to serve more, these meatballs could be made with chicken or pork mince, but turkey is a good lean meat and is often available from Riverford over the winter months. Its leanness makes it prone to drying out, so adding milk-soaked breadcrumbs keeps the meatballs moist, as does poaching them in the stock. The onion, carrot and celery add an extra flavour, but a good stock is really essential here – we of course recommend the chicken stock we sell, if you don’t make your own.

recipe

Ingredients Serves 2

• 1 large or 2 small onions, finely diced

• 50g white bread, blitzed into crumbs

• 1 large carrot, peeled and finely diced

• 1 tbsp milk

• 1 celery stick, finely diced

• 250g minced turkey

• 300g shredded green cabbage (e.g. Savoy or

• 1 large egg yolk

January King)

• 1 tbsp finely chopped sage

• 1 litre chicken stock

• 1 tbsp finely chopped parsley

• Salt and black pepper

• Sunflower or light olive oil, for frying

• Small handful of finely grated Parmesan, to serve.

Method 1. I n a large bowl, stir the breadcrumbs into the milk. Add the turkey, egg yolk, sage and parsley. Season with salt and pepper and use your hands to mix and squidge it together well.

5. C heck the seasoning and serve sprinkled with the Parmesan.

Variations • This works equally well with shredded kale or even Brussels sprouts.

2. R oll into walnut-sized balls. Heat a thin layer of oil in a large, deep frying pan and fry the meatballs to lightly brown them all over (cook in batches if they don’t all fit).

• Try minced chicken or pork.

3. T ransfer to a plate. Add the onion, carrot and celery to the same pan and cook for 15–20 minutes on a low heat, until tender but not coloured, stirring now and then. If the veg looks like catching at any point, add a splash of water.

Recipe by www.riverford.co.uk/recipes

Check out Riverford’s new recipe channel on Youtube!

4. A dd the meatballs, cabbage and stock. Simmer for 5–6 minutes, until the meatballs are cooked through (cut one open if you’re not sure) and the cabbage wilted.

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Fancy Winning a FREE pamper party with 5 of your friends?

Why not experience our pamper party with a difference. Get together with a few of your friends and learn some professional tips from the experts. Working on each other you can choose from a master class in gel nails, a make up lesson, a facial or a back massage.

What’s included: Two glasses of fizz and nibbles, soft drinks if you have a designated driver. We can accommodate approximately 10 guests, maybe more maybe less depending on requirements. We have free secure parking. Products used are Dermalogica and Thalgo. If you want to add to your fizz, please fell free to bring your own and we can top you up! Robes and slippers are provided. Duration of the session is two hours, all the mess and clearing up can be left, taxis can be ordered if you want to carry your night on, or to take you home.

How it works: Before you come, get together with your friends and decide what you want to learn a technique in. Send us the details and we will get everything prepared for your session. choose from the selection of treatments and get into pairs. if you don’t like the touchy feely bit, just watch the demo and help yourself to a glass of fizz or soft drink and some nibbles. Some treatments lend themselves to working on yourself,so that’s an option too.

Once you’ve completed your beauty workshop, depending on the time, join us in the hair salon to wash each others hair, again our expert will be on hand to help with some salon techniques.

To win the FREE pamper session for you and 5 of your friends simply go to facebook ‘Like’ our page, plus ‘like and share’ this post, comment your feedback and tag your friends you would like to attend with! Then we will randomly select a winner, drawn live on Monday 21st November at 2pm...........Good Luck!

Prices normally charged are £35 discounted offer £25 for bookings in November for up to 10 people Our salon is large and depending on numbers you can have it exclusively to yourselves. Close the blinds, pull down the shutters, get the robes and slippers on.

ALD-Hair-Beauty-Barbering-Training-Academy

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Hair, Beauty & Barbering Training Academy We are committed to provide learners with the highest quality training in their chosen vocation with a wide range of courses for a variety of ages.

We also have a client based salon with fully experienced Beauty Therapists, Hairdressers and Barbers who provide an excellent service!

Looking for a career in hairdressing, beauty or barbering? We can help.

Apprenticeship and study programme courses are available for 16-24 year.

Young Learners, Pre 16 students are welcome as a vocational option through your school or alternative provisions.

Funded Adult Learning Courses available for all ages All Year Enrolment ďż˝ Student Loans Available Excellent links with Employers ďż˝ Established for over 12 years

10% OFF

10% OFF

Unit 3, Swan Street, Gateshead. NE8 1BG Telephone. 0191 477 7764

Unit 3, Swan Street, Gateshead. NE8 1BG Telephone. 0191 477 7764

Available for new clients or referrals only

Available for new clients or referrals only

a hairdressing service with our Style Directors

a Caci facial with our Therapist Ruby

Unit 3, Swan Street, Gateshead. NE8 1BG T. 0191 477 7764 M. 07540411916 33

Re-vamped marina pub, leaves your mouth watering Having worked in St. Peters Basin we frequented the Bascule – as it was known, The pub has had a stylish make-over since our last visit. On arrival, the restaurant was quiet, just a few people spread about.

Greeted by approachable staff and shown to our table. As designers, we noticed the attention to detail spending the next 15 minutes discussing the decor, the interesting wallpaper, lighting and design aspect of the venue before even looking at the menu.

Written by Chris Boak, Dave Ross & Russell Snow

be bringing my parents in the near future.

Russell found the staff knowledge of the menu and location great to help with his choice.

Northumberland Free Range Chicken, which was served with wild mushrooms. I ordered it because of my love for mushrooms, “These where extremely tasty and perfectly cooked, perfect accompaniment for the chicken dish”.

Value for money and a place I would be visiting again in the not to distant future.

As mentioned we visited this venue in the past having worked local and where not sure what to expect, but have to say “the quality and cost was not a disappointment” we all would visit again with family or friends. An ideal place to bring a client, a hidden gem just outside the city centre.

It was nice to see the chefs preparing all the dishes fresh with an open front kitchen, which gives The Merchants Tavern the feel of a restaurant.

The menu features all the dishes you’d expect to see. We all choose to go straight for a main meal, as this was a lunchtime visit.

Under new ownership, this stylish gastropub overlooking the marina is gaining a reputation for the food it serves up. Not only does The Merchants Tavern champion North East produce, it is also committed to offering beers from the region’s microbreweries. The venue has a rolling programme of culinary evenings and have recently started to host events from street food enterprises, like The French Pop-Up which was happening on that evening after we had visited.

The chicken skin butter served with their bread is a must! The Merchants Tavern aren’t producing your standard pub food. I ordered locally sourced Northumberland Sausage Co. Sausage & Mash with beer onion gravy. (£9.95) which was mouth watering, topped with cabbage which just give it an extra flavour.

Dave ordered, Merchants Ales Battered North Sea Market Fish, with triple home cooked chip. This did not disappoint, excellent portion size and great value. (£11.95). “Simple things made great!” Said Dave. “Somewhere I will

@merchantstav 34

@MerchantsTav

Twenty years old this year, McKenna’s is the family run bar and restaurant at Newcastle’s Northern Stage theatre.

On the bar, we celebrate the very best of local and international drinks in our huge selection of beers, gins, wines and weekly changing cocktails.

More than simply pre-show meals, McKenna’s offers breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, drinks, coffee and our famous Tapas dishes in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere. We believe firmly in serving quality dishes from locally sourced ingredients – we have a personal relationship with every one of our suppliers, and we never buy produce from anyone we don’t know by name. With extensive Christmas menus, a welcoming festive atmosphere and 100% homemade dishes we are a perfect destination for family parties, dinners and staff nights out.

We are also a popular venue for weddings, drink receptions, private dining, meetings and any kind of a party.

A true hidden gem, we are right in the heart of Newcastle (two minutes from Haymarket) but with a secluded and relaxed atmosphere, with views of the historic Newcastle University campus.

0191 242 7242 www.mckennasatnorthernstage.co.uk mckennas@northernstage.co.uk McKennas at Northern Stage Barras Bridge, Newcaslte NE1 7RH McKennasCafeBar

McKennasCafeBar

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Hotel du Vin Written by Katie Vincent

Despite being a sister hotel to the busy Malmaison, the Hotel Du Vin’s excellent Sunday lunch is often overlooked.

There’s an excellent sommelier on hand to help you with wine pairings and knowledgeable bar staff to talk you through the selection of beers. There’s a healthy selection of local brews from the Wylam Brewery.

With an intimate and exclusive vibe, we headed along to sample their delights.

Whether it is for lunch, an event or even just a coffee in the courtyard, the small boutique hotel feel makes you feel welcomed and looked after.

On to the food - I rarely order the soup as the market table is more than sufficient for me. Bursting with crisp salads, charcuterie meats, fresh seafood and the most delicious selection of fresh breads. My mouth is watering just thinking about it now!

For a £22.95 for a set 4 course Sunday lunch, you are spoiled for choice.

A fresh soup, the laden market table, a main course and a pudding. Delicious.

For main course, you have your usual selection of roasts with all the trimmings, both a pie and fish of the day and even a burger if that tickles your fancy.

I’m a creature of habit - prawns with warm bread, beef (well done) and then the cheese with a coffee outside whatever the weather. If it ain’t broken.....

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If you are looking for a special occasion Sunday Lunch or just a nice treat on a grim grey winters day, head to the Hotel for impeccable service and top notch delicious food.

It would be nice to see a concessionary price for people who just want a main course but I feel the full 4 course extravaganza is the way to go.

@hdv.brand 39

www.hotelduvin.com

The Kingslodge Inn celebrates its first Christmas And you’re very #WelcomeInn to join them!

General manager, Leanne Jeffery, said: “This is the first Christmas for us and we’re really pushing the boat out with a brilliant choice of events for everyone to get into the party spirit.

The Kingslodge Inn in Durham city is celebrating the festive season in style, with a packed programme of events on its first Christmas.

The fun kicks off on Saturday 10 December with music from The Pretty Weeds, a female fronted band packing a whole lot of soul with tunes from the likes of Stevie Wonder, Bruno Mars, The Jackson 5, The Beatles and many more. Guests will then be entertained by rock, disco and funk from The Flytes on Friday 16, and pop, rock and soul from The Casinos on Saturday 17.

Each evening includes a three-course meal alongside the entertainment.

“We’re excited about marking Christmas 2016 with as many regulars and new guests as possible and we’ll be welcoming people throughout the festive season.”

For those who want to stay over for Christmas or New Year, or after one of the weekend party nights, The Kingslodge Inn has 23 bedrooms and provides a Taste of Durham breakfast as part of the overnight stay.

The Inn, which is open 365 days a year serving food from breakfast until 9.30pm, holds an AA Dinner Award and the Taste Durham Highest Quality Assured Award in recognition of the quality of its home cooked pub food made with local and seasonal ingredients wherever possible.

On Friday 23 December folk band The Gilded Thieves will play a range of covers as well as breath-taking originals from 7pm until midnight and the full menu available for hungry guests.

New Year’s Eve will see guests transported back to the ’50s with Ruby & The Mystery Cats, a rockin’ quartet, who play wild and energetic rockabilly, blues and rock ‘n’ roll music. With overnight stays available and a fabulous three-course meal, this is the perfect way to see Inn the New Year!

For more details, ticket prices and to check availability at one of The Kingslodge Inn Christmas events, please go to www.kingslodgeinn.co.uk/Christmas

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Celebrating 13 years as Newcastle’s favourite sandwich bar!

Serving fresh & exciting food, where bread is only the beginning!!”

0191 222 1133

Lunchtime order (for collection), preferably before 11.30am

19 Ridley Place, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 8JN FIND US ON

Mon - Fri: 8am - 3pm Sat: 8.30am - 3pm

“Frankie Friday”

Watch out for your Golden Ticket every Friday.

The lucky winners who find a ticket in their bags get a “Free Lunch” worth £5.00.

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Awarded Five Stars For Food & Hygiene Management

recipe

Baked Apple Tart, Sour Cream Ice Cream Ingredients

Sour cream ice cream • 375g water • 150g glucose • 325g sugar • 12g ice cream stabilizer • 1500g sour cream • Citrus reduction • 50g sugar • 50g lime sugar • 100g orange juice • 50g lemon juice

Baked Apples • 10 gala apples • Unsalted Butter, as needed • Vanilla Sugar, as Needed • Orange Juice, as needed Financier • 300g egg whites • 375g sugar • 63g almond flour • 125g Hazelnut flour • 150g plain flour • 50g honey warm • 250g buerre noisette (brown butter)

Apple chips • Granny smith apple • Stock syrup • Lemon juice 42

Method Baked Apples Preheat oven to 300f, core, peel halve and slice apples very thin. Brush a large baking dish, 15” by 10”, with butter. Evenly arrange the apples in the dish. Drop nuggets of butter on the apples.

Sprinkle with sugar. Pour enough orange juice to fill the pan the height of the apples.

Cover with aluminium foil and bake on high fan until the apples are soft but not mushy, approximately 90 minutes. Allow to cool and drain excess liquid. Store in the fridge.

hand blender. Process in an ice cream machine according to manufacturer’s instructions.

Citrus reduction Combine all ingredients in a small pan. Bring to a simmer, reduce heat and continue to cook to syrup consistency. Cool and refrigerate Apple chips Preheat oven to 200f, slice the apple on a mandolin as thin as possible. Soak the apple in the stock syrup and lemon juice for 10 minutes. Wipe off excess syrup from the apples and lay out on silpat lined tray. Bake until dry about 2 hours. Remove from silpat and store in an airtight container.

Financier Batter In the Bowl of a stand Mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, whip the egg whites with about the sugar to soft peaks. Switch to the paddle attachment and add the remaining sugar, nut flours and plain flour on medium speed. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and continue to mix. Add the honey and slowly stream in the butter. Continue to mix until completely combined. Chill and store in the fridge.

Assembly Cut a circle of baked apples and transfer to a small pie dish sprayed with non-stick spray.

Soften chilled financier batter. Fill a pastry bag and pipe a layer of batter on top of the apple. Chill, preheat oven to 375f. Bake until the financier is golden brown. Allow to cool slightly and invert on to a plate. Serve warm with a scoop of ice cream topped with apple chip, garnish with citrus reduction.

Sour cream ice cream Bring the water, glucose and the 325g of sugar to a simmer. Combine the 50g of sugar with the stabilizer and whisk into pot. Bring to a boil.

Remove from the heat, strain and cool over ice bath. Add the sour cream and blend with a

@merchantstav

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@MerchantsTav

San Lorenzo Written by Katie Vincent

If you are familiar with the area, you’ll well be able to remember the previous incarnations of the old pub in Rickleton village in Washington.

timing. We were checked on at the right times and not once did we have to get their attention, the staff just got it spot on despite the room being full.

Recently revamped, San Lorenzo leads the building in its current guise as a modern Italian restaurant. Gone is the homely, cosy authentic Italian decor and in comes a stripped back, clean and modern San Lorenzo. Dark wood, light walls and branding dotted throughout, the dining room is dominated by the theatre kitchen.

The Minestrone soup (£3.95) came served with fresh warm bread. A purse friendly price for a bowl jam packed with vegetables and pasta. The tomato broth base was flavourful and gave a warming authentic hug. It will be a perfect winter warmer. So filling, the portion was spot on and apparently just as good as any Minestrone my companion had eaten in Italy. The Calamari Fritti (£5.95) was delicious and a great portion size to start.

The batter was crisp and the squid itself was butter soft. The only thing lacking was the lemon and garlic dip. I’d have preferred to see a larger amount for dipping in to as

Checking out the restaurant on a midweek teatime, we were lucky enough to snap up the last table which was a surprise. This was probably due to the fact that the happy hour here runs until a very generous 7pm. Perfect for workers heading out for food on their way home. 2 courses for £9.95 or 3 courses for £12.95.

With an impressively large menu and daily specials, we were overawed by the amount of starters we had to choose from. Some dish choices lacked by comparison (Not that many pastas to choose from) but it was a well thought out menu with something for everyone. Once we made the difficult decision of choosing, our attentive wait staff kept our glasses topped up and had perfect 44

I found myself chasing the smear of garlic around the plate. It looked like I was really trying to get my moneys worth!

The heritage tomatoes were fresh and firm and sliced generously. It would make a cracking starter if it came with some fresh bread too!

The Spaghetti Bolognese (£8.50) was my choice and as I was wearing a white shirt I don’t know what possessed me! I came home wearing more than I ate I think! The bolognese was rich and boozy with a clear hit of the red wine used to make the sauce whilst the meat was tender. The pasta was Al Dente and the sauce clung to each strand perfectly, which is half the problem of me wearing it!

Pleasantly full but wanting just a tiny bit something sweet, we settled on sharing a Dolci dessert. A smaller portion of a dessert served along side a hot drink of your choice.

The Chocolate Brownie + Latte (£5) was the perfect end to the meal. The brownie was chocolate heaven. Served warm, the crisp top was hiding the oozy unction chocolate beneath. It would definitely be death by chocolate if we had ordered a full one!

The Carnivora Pizza Premio (£10.95) was jam packed with meat. The ultra thin crispy base was packed high with bolognese, pepperoni, chicken, pancetta and parma ham along with peppers and onions. The base was the star of the show but couldn’t quite hold up to the moisture from the bolognese. The pizza was definitely a knife and fork job as it was far too sloppy to eat by hand and keep the toppings on! As my companion wasn’t afraid to dig in and get his hands dirty, the pizza was devoured in double speed!

The small bite desserts are a great option for someone who wants a little something, but not a full portion! The restaurant emptied quite quickly after the happy hour diners had finished so we ended our meal and a sedate pace in our own little corner of the dining room.

A great improvement and an asset to the area, San Lorenzo was a great choice for us (free parking!) And we will most definitely be back.

There’s just too many starters to work our way through to not come back!

We split a Caprese con Bufala (£5.95) between us and it was a nice fresh addition to the meals. The mozzarella was dense and creamy, dressed with oil and balsamic.

SanLorenzoWashington

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SanLorenzoNE

Newcastle café toasts the festive season with new menus

Photo credit: Sean Elliott

An Ouseburn café, housed within the UK’s largest art, craft and design gallery, is celebrating the yuletide season with a special set menu and brunch.

The café is also helping shoppers to unwind with a special Christmas Eve Bucks Fizz brunch. Diners can enjoy classic brunch dishes such as poached eggs on toasted brioche bun with Scottish smoked salmon and hollandaise sauce; or brioche French toast served with fresh banana and syrup – all washed down with a flute of Bucks Fizz.

The Factory Kitchen, located within The Biscuit Factory, is serving a festive set menu throughout December as part of the gallery’s wider Festive Weekends programme, which includes a line-up of maker demonstrations, a choir, pop-up hot chocolate lounge and local artisanal gift sellers.

The festive menu is available from 1 December and is available 12pm - 3pm, Wednesday to Sunday. Two courses are priced at £17 and three courses are £20.

The menu, created by head chef Michael Waugh - who previously worked with Marco Pierre White and staged at Noma in Copenhagen - includes dishes such as butternut squash and chestnut soup with toasted seeds and freshly baked focaccia; and slow cooked shoulder of mount grace farm pork, braised red cabbage with apple and cranberries and duck fat roast potatoes. The meal is accompanied by a choice of English tea or filtered coffee.

The Bucks Fizz brunch is available on Christmas Eve only, between 11am and 1pm, and is priced at £9.50 per person.

For more information on how to book, visit www.thefactorykitchennewcastle.com.

For more details about the Festive Weekends programme, see www.thebiscuitfactory.com.

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The Pip Stop Written by Katie Vincent

Sitting at the top of hill in Maiden Law, between Stanley and Lanchester, The Pip Stop is your go-to one stop shop for all things alcoholic.

Turning a Morgan dealers garage from yesteryear in to a connoisseurs mecca, the small team behind The Pip Stop have made their mark on the drinking scene.

With a firm nod to the buildings history, the shop stocks a huge range of hand selected wines, specialist beers and local brews. The spirit selection is pretty damned impressive and the staff can talk you through your purchases with great knowledge.

If you are looking for a bargain, the Pip Stop own branded wine is always a good purchase and if that doesn’t cut it, the sale section of the store is located in a boot of a car! It has to be seen to be believed!

With on-site parking, be sure to call in to see Ben and his expert staff and bring plenty of money, it’s hard not to want to buy 1 of everything.

@ThePipStop 48

@ ThePipStop

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Pleased To Meet You Written by Katie Vincent

Tucked away on Newcastle’s most revived street - High Bridge, Pleased To Meet You has carved a name for itself on both the dining and drinking scene.

features and an industrial nod we headed through to the restaurant for the main event. Seated in the centre of the bright and airy dining room, we wasted no time in ordering. Between the four of us dining, three of us chose cold starters and the husband went for a hot starter.

With an impressive food menu and an even more impressive Gin list, I visited to check out their summer menu.

Readers of a certain age may remember the building as the Turks Head and it’s massive, open windows which made it a great place for a summer drink. Thankfully PTMY have retained the feature with stylised floor to ceiling windows that pull back for that all important breath of fresh air we all need after a few too many drinks.

Murray’s grilled focaccia, summer tomato salad and shallots was a great summer starter.

Light and fresh, the dressed tomatoes were sweet and firm and added a softness to the grilled focaccia which suitably soaked up all the juices.

We arrived early on a Sunday to beat the crowds which rapidly built up during out stay, both in the bar and in the dining room. After a quick drink in the modern bar area that clashes period

The Chicken liver parfait with sourdough croutons and gooseberry ketchup was a spot on portion of the incredibly rich and luxurious parfait. The Gooseberry cut through the smoothness of the liver and helped cleanse the palette. The sourdough croutons stood up well to being smothered and devoured.

As our starters came out, we were told the risotto had been forgotten about so it would be another 10 minutes before that was ready.

Surely the sensible thing would have been to hold our cold starters in the kitchen ready for a complete service?

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Once it arrived, the Lobster Risotto was a fairly good starter. The lobster meat was sweet and stood out amongst the risotto, which was more like rice and sauce than a thick and gooey risotto, which was what was expected. There was a lot of sauce the rice was sitting in rather than having absorbed it. Tasty nonetheless and it didn’t last long on the plate but I think it had been rather hastily made which is a shame.

To finish only two of us ordered dessert.

The Strawberry and Vanilla Cheesecake was a feast for the eyes. As tasty as it should be, the meringue, fresh strawberries and ice cream were a nice addition to the dish and helped it with not being too sickly.

The actually portion of the cheese cake was quite slender so it bulked out the dessert especially as the fish wasn’t filling!

The local Cheese Board was a little lacklustre with an abundance of crackers that seemed disproportionate to the amount of cheese! It was a nice way to round off the meal though for those of us without a sweet tooth and kept us full enough to get through several more drinks back in the bar!

For mains, we went light and summery again.

The oven baked white fish with buttered greens and herb breadcrumbs was a hit. The base for the fish was packed full of bursting tomatoes with a hit of sweetness which was topped with the greens and the fillet itself.

The breadcrumbs added a crispness to counterbalance the softness of the fish and the tomato sauce.

The restaurant setting and ambience was impeccable and the service was friendly and courteous throughout just extremely slow. We thought the quality of the food on whole was brilliant and good value for money.

The potato gnocchi with fricassee of peas, broad beans and sprouting broccoli was an absolute gem. The large fluffy dumplings had been pan fried in a buttery sauce which kept the dish being too dry. The gnocchi themselves were incredibly light and soft, I would go so far to say they were the best I have had in a restaurant! The tomatoes, peas and broad beans kept the dish light, using seasonal veg to keep the summer vibes going.

I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Pleased To Meet You for a relaxed dining experience.

@ptmyncl 51

www.ptmy-newcastle.co.uk

recipe

Things to do with mincemeat Last time we made a mincemeat recipe that by now will have had a few weeks to have soaked in all the flavours, and will now be ready to use. I want to give you a couple of recipes that can be thrown together in less than half an hour, for those times over Christmas when guests arrive unexpectedly, with little to no notice.

Of course, you can use your mincemeat in traditional mince pies, but there will be hundreds of recipes for these, so I’m doing something different. A twist on a mince pie using Filo pastry, which takes literally minutes to do, and some mincemeat and chocolate muffins, perfect for those wintry days in front of the fire.

Chocolate and mincemeat muffins Ingredients • 200g self raising flour • 100g caster sugar • 75ml milk • 1 large egg • 100ml vegetable oil • 7 5g dark chocolate chips (or dark chocolate chopped into small pieces) • 3 tablespoons mincemeat 52

Filo Mince Pies

brush the melted butter around a muffin tin.

3. Cut the filo pastry into small rectangles, about 10cm x 6cm.

Working quickly so it doesn’t dry, brush two sheets with butter, lay them on top of one another so they overlap like a cross, then push them into the muffin tin.

Ingredients • Filo pastry • Butter • Mincemeat

4. Repeat with the rest of the tin, then spoon a tablespoon of mincemeat into each filo cup.

5. Brush the tips of the pastry with the rest of the melted butter and then put into the oven for 5-6 minutes, until the filo is nice and crispy.

Method

6. Serve with some gently whipped cream, flavoured however you want.

I added some Clementine zest, Limoncello and vanilla bean paste for a beautiful accompaniment!

1.

Preheat an oven to 200degC. 2. Melt 50g of unsalted butter in a small pan. Use a pastry brush to

Method and add a heaped tablespoon of mix to each one. Bake for 20-25mins until golden on top.

1.

Preheat oven to 175degC. 2. Mix the flour and sugar together, then mix the milk, oil and egg together in a bowl, beat together and slowly add to the dry mix to bring it together.

5. Make a basic but fantastic water icing with just icing sugar and clementine juice to decorate leave one out for Santa instead of a mince pie, he'll appreciate it!

3. Add the chocolate chips and mincemeat and fold through until mixed (be sure not to overwork or mix more than you need to).

I’d love to hear your feedback if you make this dish, so let me know @davidjamestate on Twitter, or visit my blog, NE9 Food.

4.

Line a muffin tin with muffin cases 53

Tango Durham Written by Katie Vincent

Standing proud on Elvet Bridge, Tango was Durham’ first dedicated burger restaurant. Coming from the same group as Zen and Gadd’s Town House, Tango has a fine heritage behind it.

You can’t come to Tango and not try one of their signature burgers though and being the spice fiends that we are, the El Retorno Del Diablo (£11) is always a winner. The juicy, medium beef patty is layered up with spicy hot chilli jam, crispy bacon, jalapeños and cheese.

It certainly does clear the sinuses. The toppings aren’t too abundant or sloppy so it makes eating it an easy task with hands. No knife and fork needed here.

Every time we visit Tango it seems the menu has changed. Sometimes for the better, sometimes for the worse when your favourite dish vanishes. The evolution of the menu does give you great reason to keep going back though!

A definite must try for spice lovers.

When you can combine a burger and satay sauce together, I can’t resist it which is why I love the Zen Chicken burger (£11.50) a flattened, marinated chicken breast is topped with shredded veg and a sweet chilli and satay sauce.

Bit messier to eat than the beef burgers but delicious nonetheless.

A side portion of the satay sauce is always a winner for dipping your chips in too.

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A definite must try for spice lovers!

Speaking of chips, Tango offer your regular sweet potato or regular fries alongside your burger or you can boost them for £3 to something little more fancy. I made the foolish mistake of paying for the Angry chips. For £3 they had merely squirted hot sauce and mustard over my chips… both of which were on the table when we sat down.

I thought this was an absolute rip off, but maybe I just chose a bad Boost option, who knows.

Just be mindful when they up-sell!

We keep coming back to Tango as it’s a great place to grab some food, a cheeky cocktail and people watch on a Saturday afternoon. Being a student City, the plethora of people walking passed really is worth watching!

For all the building is stunningly old and quaint, the dining area isn’t too big so be sure to rock up early to snag a table – you won’t be disappointed.

@TangoDurham1771 55

@TangoDurham

Vujon Written by Emma Phillips @cannyfood

Located on the historic and lively Quayside is one of the city’s longest established restaurants, Vujon. Their kitchen takes pride in creating high quality, contemporary Indian cuisine, and having weathered the changing culinary landscape in Newcastle for over 25 years they must be doing something right!

Vujon comes from the Sanskrit word ‘BHOJON’ which means a gourmet dinner and the restaurant aims to offer guests an exceptional dining experience in elegant surroundings, located over two floors.

Tikki Chloe - a spiced potato patty served on a delicious chickpea chaat. The traditional Railway Curry is popular, and with good reason. Melt-in-the-mouth mutton is slow cooked with potatoes and garam masala to produce one of their signature dishes. We also tried out Kadhi Murgh, a recipe originating from the north of India. Chicken is mixed with spices and peppers and slow cooked to allow the aromatic flavours to develop. It received high praise from our fellow diners.

There is also a range of delicious desserts available, if you still have room after the generous starters and mains.

Vujon has received many accolades, including the prestigious Innovative Restaurant in the North award at the British Curry Awards. Their chefs serve up a variety of classic Indian dishes which are presented to the highest standard. There are vegetarian and vegan options to choose from, which is something the team are proud of with the growing shift towards consuming less meat. The ingredients used in the kitchen are seasonal and locally sourced wherever possible. As the dishes are freshly prepared to order, those with specific dietary requirements can usually be catered for.

Vujon’s may offer the standard curry house classics, but the team have been keen to develop contemporary dishes over recent months. With an Early Evening Menu priced at just £12.90 per person available Monday to Friday, there’s no excuse not to visit one of the city’s finest Indian restaurants.

From the rich and creamy dishes such as Korma and Biryani you’d expect to see to the spicy curries and tandoori dishes they specialise in, each dish is full of flavour and cooked to perfection.

We were treated to a veritable banquet which included an array of vegan-friendly delights such as Chana Masala, Sambal and Aloo

@Vujon_NE 56

www.vujon.com

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Sunniside’s Italian Style Coffee Shop 8.30am to 2.30pm throughout the week and Saturday morning. Its an ideal place to grab breakfast or lunch on the go!

Sunniside has some great places to eat and drink, in October this year, the established Italian restaurant, La Vera Italia, opened an Italian style coffee and sandwich shop called Sunny Sarnies.

But if you have a little more time, you can sit in at the rustic breakfast bar and enjoy your home-cooked food and range of hot and cold drinks.

This is independently owned by an Italian family which offers amazing fresh food made in front of you.

With a large car park at the rear, you can just walk-in and order or they also accept telephone orders large and small to cater for that family party, daily staff lunch break order or that important meeting. I’ve also been told a delivery service and outdoor seating area is planned for the future.

Looking at the shop from the outside, it has a vintage look and feel, with a classic bicycle and red Vespa scooter just in the door way.

The place is filled with amazing smells of fresh baked goods. We arrived early in the morning, so opted for traditional bacon sandwiches in fresh white stottie bread.

The menu is mouth-watering with a range of hot and cold food available from

An excellent addition to the La Vera business! @sunnysarnies 58

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The Miners Arms Written by Katie Vincent

We visited on a busy Friday night for food and a few drinks. With an ever changing specials menu and a pretty solid regular menu of pub classics, we were seated and greeted by Johan, the owner, who heads up a tight ship with his restaurant and bar team.

Johan had talked us through the Specials board and we both chose from that for our main course. The Hearty Irish beef stew with champ mash (£9.95) hit the spot and didn’t last long on his plate. Certainly true to their word, the large chunks of beef were soft and tender as were the assortment of veg. The stew itself was incredible.

It was perfect for dunking some chips in, it was just lush, for want of no better word!

With the Husband being ever the creature of habit, he chose the Grilled Black Pudding and creamy peppercorn sauce (£5.45) to start. He’s had this the world over so it’s not surprise it was his first choice. Thinly cut, local black pudding was served up with the peppercorn sauce, a balsamic drizzle and unlike most others – a dressed side salad. The salad made the starter feel more composed and substantial.

I chose the Thai green curry with chicken (£9.95).

An extremely generous portion of a well spiced curry broth covered enormous chunks of chicken that seemed never ending. The asparagus in the curry was cooked well as was the rice. As there was such an abundance of the delicious curry sauce, I’d have liked either more rice of a small naan bread to mop it all up to make sure none of it was wasted.

I went for the Classic Prawn Platter (£5.45) which whilst tasty and fresh, certainly lacked in the platter department. Ambitious title aside, it was however a good prawn cocktail again served with a dressed salad rather than the wet limp iceberg lettuce you usually get stuck with. The warm + toasted granary bun was a much more pleasant partner to the prawns than a couple of slices of ‘plastic bread’ as I like to call it!

With no room for a pudding, we opted for a liquid dessert – an extra drink in the bar with the locals.

Great banter and atmosphere in the drinking side definitely helped confirm we need to come back.

@MinersArmsMed www.minersarmsmedomsley.co.uk

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Fat Buddha Sunderland Written by Katie Vincent

like its Durham and Newcastle sisters, the Fat Buddha beaded walk way had made its way to the beach too.

On a gloriously sunny day, we found ourselves at the Seaside hunting out lunch that wasn’t fish and chips. The queues were horrendous and with 2 hungry souls to be fed after a long walk, we needed a new plan!

Choosing from the lunch time special menu with mains at £5.95 and a dedicated children’s menu at £3.95, it is an inexpensive way to eat out and watch the pennies, I was impressed with how many options were available as part of the lunch selection. I might be biased but my favourite Fat Buddha dish was included so all was right with me!

The all new Fat Buddha Sunderland at Seaburn has opened up in the prime seafront location. With views out over the sands and the sea, we headed in for a Thai lunch.

The dark interior provided a cooling respite from the sun outside and we weren’t surprised to see all the window side tables had been snapped up. Dining with such a great view is always in demand.

The building has an outdoor decking area for drinks and al fresco dining as well as a more defined bar area before heading in to the dining room. Just

Starting with a Chicken + Sweetcorn soup (£3) and Chicken Satay (£3.20), they were a good size to lead us in to the main course. Not too big, but not scrimped on either. The soup was piping hot and full of shredded chicken and the satay sauce was rich and clung perfectly to the marinated chicken skewers. I could have done with more satay sauce but that’s just because I love the stuff!

For mains, the husband went for the Thai Green Chicken Curry (£5.95) which included boiled rice. The curry was jam packed with huge chunks of chicken in a well spiced 62

coconut broth. The veg was firm and crisp and the rice was well cooked and fluffed. The rice to curry sauce ratio was a bit out of kilter but that’s down to personal preference I guess.

I ordered my favourite Honey Chill Chicken with fried rice (£5.95) and it was a really good portion for a lunch time special. It certainly didn’t feel like a short amount. The spicy sweet stick sauce covered the battered chicken pieces just as I’ve come to expect from the other FB restaurants.

All in all, a quick impromptu stop for lunch and we are thoroughly impressed with the all new Fat Buddha. It hadn’t been a planned review trip so do excuse the hasty photos.

If you just got a main meal, it is actually cheaper than getting fish and chips and a can of pop! It would be beautiful at dusk as the sun is setting over the beach, to sit in the window.

www.fatbuddharestaurant.com 63

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IN10SITY RECIPE: WINTER SOUP CREAMY CARROT SOUP Most creamy soups are filled with fat – but not this one. Indulge with this healthy carrot soup. Serve with a side of lean chicken breast or grilled fish and a small salad for a balanced meal.

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Add carrots and stir, cook for another 4 minutes. Add the water and bring to a boil.

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Ingredients (servings: 2) • 1 teaspoon olive oil • 3 garlic cloves, minced • 1/2 small onion, diced • Dash of sea salt • 4 cups carrots, diced • 5 cups filtered water • 3 Tablespoons White Miso

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Saucy Burger Sunderland Written by Katie Vincent

Hiding out in the first floor of Liberty Browns in Sunderland, Saucy Burger has slipped under a lot of peoples radars and arrived on the NE dining scene without too much fuss.

Arriving slightly early for our booked table, we got the last parking spot in the car park and seemingly the last table too! Unless you are passing, I’d recommend booking as they were quoting a 45 minute wait for walk-ins during our visit.

Conveniently located off Wessington Way on the outskirts of the city, we fought through the Saturday crowds to try out the burgers.

With a raw, industrial retro vibe, the small dining room has been styled to the max on their theme. Complete with pig sty shelters over the booths in the back, we settled in to a table for 2 to browse the menu. Burgers are most definitely the order of the day.

Having seen the size of the burgers coming out, we decided to split a starter to see how they faired. The Nachos (£4.95) came as a surprise as the portion was enormous. I’d applaud anyone who can tackle them on their own and then down a burger! Pretty standard affair for the topped nachos for the price but I was disappointed to see the guacamole was from a squirty tube. Very disappointed.

Especially as you could see the marks from 68

Burgers are most definitely the order of the day. the nozzle! Someone in the kitchen could have given it a swirl with a fork to break it up a bit.

happy to slather it all over the burger. If you haven’t tried peanut butter on a burger, you need to. Seriously! The tempura bananas added an unusual twist to the top of the burger, to be complimented by the maple syrup and peanut butter.

The Mac Daddy (£9.95) was packed to the gills with tasty goodness. The juicy burger patty was perfectly pink and topped with a breaded helping of macaroni cheese. The crumb on the mac patty was made up from bacon Frazzle crisps. Who wouldn’t be in to that? Without a side salad, it looked a little lost on the tray but the burger made up for it. Certainly filling and certainly enjoyed. The meat isn’t the focus by a long shot but the complete package is an OK thumbs up.

With no space for a pudding, we didn’t get a chance to sample one of the outlandishly tempting Freak-shakes.

We took advantage of the £12.95 special deal of Starter, dirty burger, fries and drink.

As only 1 of the burgers we had were on the list and having split the starter, it worked out reasonably well priced with the meal deal saving factored in.

Splitting people’s opinions on what is acceptable for a burger. I chose the Pretty Waffle (£11.95) burger. The burger was topped with smoked bacon, salad and a sticky maple glaze. The peanut butter that was meant to be served on the patty was missing and was brought out to me in a side pot. Probably a more generous amount than it should have been, I was more than

There’s a HELL of a lot of comparisons to be made to other similar burger ventures in the area, intentional or not, but everyone has their favourites. @saucyburgersunderland

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@Saucy_Burger

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WHAT’S ON...

A small selection of local events worth taking a look at in the coming months.

Enchanted Parks 2016 at Saltwell Park 6th December - 11th December Saltwell Park, Gateshead Tickets Available www.enchantedparks.com

North Pole Express 2016 26th Nov -24th December (various dates) Experience Christmas on board the North Pole Express and visit Father Christmas in his purpose built Grotto at the North Pole.

Pre-booking essential. www.tanfield-railway.co.uk

Father Christmas’ Evening Gibside Grotto 16th December - 23rd December Father Christmas has made a special journey from the North Pole to visit Gibside during December and has added some special evening events too. Meet Father Christmas in his magical grotto and receive an early Christmas gift. www.nationaltrust.org.uk

Coca-Cola Christmas Truck Join the most famous truck as it comes back to the North East at TESCO on Wednesday 23rd November from 1pm until 9pm. Great chance to get up close and take a picture before it departs.

Tesco Newcastle Upon Tyne, Brunton Lane, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE3 2FP

Kielder Winter Wonderland Leaplish Waterside Park, Kielder Water & Forest Park.

19th November - 21st December Tickets Available www.kielderwinterwonderland.com

Santa’s Grotto at intu Metrocentre Gateshead.

12 November - 24 December FREE

Alnwick Garden Christmas Market Alnwick.

19th November - 22nd December FREE Entry www.alnwickgarden.com

Ice Age, Skate and Christmas Dinner package Centre for Life, Times Square, Newcastle Upon Tyne.

12th November - 31st December www.life.org.uk

Wine with Wadsack at Wynyard Hall Wynyard Hall.

1st December 7pm-10.30pm www.guestwines.com

Information source: open facebook events, image source includes: www.newcastlegateshead.com, all time and dates correct at time of print.

Do you have an event coming up?

Let us know and we’ll feature it! email: info@taste-magazine.co.uk

Christmas Events

Markets

Durham City Christmas Festival

Tynemouth Farmer’s Market

2nd - 4th December 9.00 - 16.00 Palace Green, Durham

Tynemouth Station. Every third Saturday of the month! Postcode: NE30 4RE

www.durhamchristmasfestival.com.

Newcastle Quayside Sunday Market Dobbies Ponteland Santa’s Arrival

Newcastle Quayside. Every Sunday

20th November Dobbies Garden Centre NE20 9BT Newcastle upon Tyne

Hexham Farmer’s Market

Team Valley Christmas Market

Postcode: NE46 1XQ

Hexham Market Place. Every second & fourth Saturday of the Month 9am - 1.30pm

Thursday November 24th - 4pm to 9pm

Chester-le-Street Farmers Market

Friday November 25th - 2pm to 9pm

Chester-le-St Market Place. 1st Tuesday of the month from 9am - 3pm

Sat Nov 26th - 10am to 5pm Sunday November 27th - 10am to 5pm Entry charges are:

Gibside Market

£2.00 for adults, £1.50 for Concessions & OAPs, All children up to 16 are FREE.

Gibside Chapel, Rowland’s Gill. First & third Saturday in the month, 10am - 2pm Postcode: NE16 6BG

Gateshead Indoor Christmas Market 11th December 11.00 - 16.00

Newcastle Farmer’s Market

Gateshead Stadium

Top of the Grainger Market. 1st Friday of each month, 9.30am - 2.30pm. Postcode: NE1 7RU

Christmas Narnia

Jesmond Food Market

10th - 11th December 10.00 - 17.00

The Armstrong Bridge. 3rd Saturday of the Month, 10am - 3pm. Postcode: NE2 1HB

Newcastle Castle, The Black Gate, Castle Garth, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE1 1RQ

Consett Market

Living North Christmas Fair

Main Street, Consett, Every Thursday, Friday, Saturday

1st December - 4th December Newcastle Racecourse

Grainger Market Late Night Shopping 1st December 17.00-21.00 Grainger St, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 5AE

Newcastle Christmas Market 12th - 18th December Grey’s Monument, Grey St and Grainger St.

Victorian Christmas Market 10th December 16.00 North Shields 72

Wine with Wadsack at Wynyard Hall December 1st @ 7:00 pm - 10:30 pm Share a glass with ‘grape guru’ Joe Wadsack He’s the robust red of the wine world, and in December TV celebrity Joe Wadsack of BBC’s Food & Drink, brings his unique brand of wine talk to a tasting dinner at Wynyard Hall in partnership with Guest Wines and Luxe magazine. Joe, an award-winning broadcaster and wine writer, will take you on a witty wine journey through a life lived in the world of food and drink on Thursday December 1.

Take a look at our website for tickets and information on future events

We now have a pop-up Bar You can now buy wine online

Your very own wine bar tended by enthusiastic, qualified wine lovers!

A great attraction to any event!

We have a focus on interesting wines one that have a story. One of our main focuses has been English Wines.

From festivals to fetes, garden parties to weddings, corporate and private events, anywhere is possible!

tel: 07879 779 390 hello@guestwines.com www.guestwines.com 73

Book your Christmas do today at THE Seaton Lane Inn Email christmas@inncollectiongroup.com or call us on 0191 581 2038

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5%

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for you

for our community

New Coop membership launches 21st September!

Make sure you are a member and swipe your card instore

1 Dewhurst Terrace, Sunniside, Newcastle NE16 5LP Open 6:00am 11:00pm daily!

Sunniside

Follow us on:

@coopsunniside1 75

@coopsunniside

Christmas Menu Butternut Squash Soup - Brown Butter, Sage and Nutmeg Creme Fraiche Crispy Pork Terrine with Sauce Gribiche Salad Of Bitter Leaves, Blue Cheese, Pear and Walnuts Beetroot Cured Salmon, Salmon Pate, Root Vegetable Slaw and Soda Bread Butter Roast Turkey, Chestnut and Prune Stuffing, Pigs in Blankets Crispy Pork Belly, Black Pudding Mash, Creamed Cabbage and Bacon Wild Mushroom Gnocchi - Walnut Pesto Fish and Game Specials Available on the Black Board Christmas Poached Plums with Streusel and Vanilla Ice Cream Apple and Blackberry Crumble - Custard Chocolate Fruit and Nut Slice, Chestnut Mascpone and Cherries Montgomerys Cheddar, Quince Chutney and Oat Biscuits

2 courses £25.00 | 3 courses £27.50 Open Wed, Thurs , Friday and Saturday evenings from 6pm

Taking bookings for Christmas evenings from 1st December

205-207 Chillingham road, Heaton 0191 265 8436 starkskitchenandcoffee@gmail.com

starkskitchen.co.uk @Starks_Kitchen /Starks-Kitchen @Starks_Kitchen /starkskitchen

Hire Us! Exclusive Use for Christmas Party’s (upto 25 people)