There's plenty of snow out there but the roads are clear, so we took the opportunity to have a day pottering about in the 4WD.
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First to have a neb at the newly refitted Northumberland Cheese Farm Tea Room. Lovely job, but good that they're planning on redoing their menu, as brekkie choices are bacon sarnie and teacake. Yep, that's it! So that's what we had.
Then, off to Gosforth, where Charlotte Harbottle's opened a new butchers on Ashburton Road. Great little place, jam packed and nigh on sold out. We believe she's the only female butcher to run her own place in the North East and only the third in the country. Picked up a cracking piece of pork loin on the bone - watch this space ...
Lunch was next to a crackling wood-burning stove at The Fat Hippo in Jesmond, the only place we've found that'll do a rare burger up here. Burger and chips for Steve - beef was full of flavour but needed more caramelisation and a firmer burger bun would have been ideal. Nic went or the beanburger, which was moist and packed with veg and kidney beans with a touch of chilli heat and a contrasting crispy outside. The accompanying deep-fried pickles could have done with a much lighter batter but were well seasoned, not overly salty.
Then to Archers for a treat: Snickers icecream for Nic, a scoop of Pannetone & a scoop of Snickers for Steve.
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Shopping in town, we picked up some Mexican ingredients from our favourite deli, "mmm..." in the Grainger Market: chipotle powder, chipotle ketchup, fresh corn tortillas and bayo beans. Great little place that's about to expand into the next unit. The owners, Simone and Ian Clarkin, are real foodies too, always up for a chat and some advice. Also grabbed a pomelo (we love the Grainger Market!) for later in the week and some fresh crab.
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Coffee had to be at Flat Cap Joes on Ridley Place. Tucked under the "alternative" Elula gift shop, down a rickety flight of stairs, it's a little gem of a coffee shop. Cosy, buzzy and owned by a guy with a passion for coffee. Joe is competing in the UK Barista Championships this year again, with the regional heats at the Centre for Life on 15-16th Feb. We'll be popping along to cheer him on. He whipped up a flat white for Nic and a Yirgacheff V60 for Steve, reliably excellent.
Our evening meal needed to be light! Steve threw together linguine with crab and cherry tomatoes. The brown crab meat makes all the difference to this old favourite of ours. Add lemon, basil and capers. Gorgeous.
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First to have a neb at the newly refitted Northumberland Cheese Farm Tea Room. Lovely job, but good that they're planning on redoing their menu, as brekkie choices are bacon sarnie and teacake. Yep, that's it! So that's what we had.
Then, off to Gosforth, where Charlotte Harbottle's opened a new butchers on Ashburton Road. Great little place, jam packed and nigh on sold out. We believe she's the only female butcher to run her own place in the North East and only the third in the country. Picked up a cracking piece of pork loin on the bone - watch this space ...
Lunch was next to a crackling wood-burning stove at The Fat Hippo in Jesmond, the only place we've found that'll do a rare burger up here. Burger and chips for Steve - beef was full of flavour but needed more caramelisation and a firmer burger bun would have been ideal. Nic went or the beanburger, which was moist and packed with veg and kidney beans with a touch of chilli heat and a contrasting crispy outside. The accompanying deep-fried pickles could have done with a much lighter batter but were well seasoned, not overly salty.
Then to Archers for a treat: Snickers icecream for Nic, a scoop of Pannetone & a scoop of Snickers for Steve.
.JPG)
Shopping in town, we picked up some Mexican ingredients from our favourite deli, "mmm..." in the Grainger Market: chipotle powder, chipotle ketchup, fresh corn tortillas and bayo beans. Great little place that's about to expand into the next unit. The owners, Simone and Ian Clarkin, are real foodies too, always up for a chat and some advice. Also grabbed a pomelo (we love the Grainger Market!) for later in the week and some fresh crab.
.JPG)
Coffee had to be at Flat Cap Joes on Ridley Place. Tucked under the "alternative" Elula gift shop, down a rickety flight of stairs, it's a little gem of a coffee shop. Cosy, buzzy and owned by a guy with a passion for coffee. Joe is competing in the UK Barista Championships this year again, with the regional heats at the Centre for Life on 15-16th Feb. We'll be popping along to cheer him on. He whipped up a flat white for Nic and a Yirgacheff V60 for Steve, reliably excellent.
Our evening meal needed to be light! Steve threw together linguine with crab and cherry tomatoes. The brown crab meat makes all the difference to this old favourite of ours. Add lemon, basil and capers. Gorgeous.
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