North East Eats: Fiume - Washington

Fiume is a bit of a Washington institution.  Growing up in good old Washy, Fiume was pretty much the only restaurant in the whole town, so obviously the whole of Washington has eaten there time and time again. Over the years, Washington got itself a whole host of new eateries, popping up all over the place, but good old Fiume has stood the test of time.  I have to admit, I haven't set foot in the place in a good ten years, in fact I think one of my first dates with Kris was in Fiume when we were but children, so I couldn't wait to go back and bask in the nostalgia.

The restaurant has changed a bit since last I visited, a facelift for the old girl. Gone are the worn down carpets and battered bar for a new, sleeker finish.  We visited on a Tuesday afternoon, bang on 12pm, I've just finished up with a tattoo removal appointment so I was famished and ready to eat.  We were instantly escorted to our table by the friendliest waiter ever, Miguel, if you happen to get served by him you're in for a delightful evening.  Drinks order taken we perused the Festive menu.

To start I spotted a blue cheese and mushroom bruschetta, there was no way I was letting that baby pass me by! It was bloody delicious, what's not to love, blue cheese and mushrooms on a hunk of toast. Hells to the yes!  Kris opted for the old classic, ham hock terrine.  I'm not a huge terrine person so I just let him dig into that one but he assured me it was lovely.

I settled on a good old turkey dinner with all the trimmings, you can't go wrong.  The dinner came with pigs in blankets, mountains of pork stuffing, the fluffiest roast potatoes I've ever tasted, chestnuts (I love chestnuts so this was a welcome surprise) and oddly, a dish of roasted Mediterranean vegetables. This was a very strange addition to a Christmas lunch and I'd have much rather been presented with good old broccoli and carrots, and I don't even like carrots that much.  The best thing about this meal, it came with an extra helping of gravy, no need to ask. That's a winner in my books, I like my roast swimming in gravy.

Kris opted for a fillet of cod in a tomato, chorizo and cannelini bean sauce, and those roasted Mediterranean vegetables again, although I think they went with Kris' dish way more than mine.  the sauce was a wee bit bland, I think it needed a little dash of paprika or something to give it some real depth but it was still very pleasant. 

At this point I was stuffed to the point of bursting but since we'd ordered dessert at the beginning of the meal it would be rude not to have a go.  Mine was a lime panacotta with blueberry compote and a pistachio crumble while Kris went for chocolate tart with salted caramel ice cream.

My panacotta was delicious, so so zesty and the blueberry compote was so delicious I could have ate that on its own. Sadly I was told the chef couldn't get his hands on any pistachio crumble (?!), isn't that just smashed up pistachios? Oh well! 

Kris chocolate tart was delicious, it was exactly what it said on the tin. Dark and rich with creamy caramel ice cream. Yum!

I sat back and rubbed my tummy, fit to burst, when Miguel tottered back over and asked if we'd like to see their new gin bar, Acqua. I accepted, of course, always keen to see what my home town has in store.

Hidden away at the back of the restaurant, it's a bit of a secret destination. If you don't know, you don't know kinda deal. The bar offers a range of gin based cocktails, mixology masterclasses and can host private events.  I can really see this becoming a buzzing part of the Washington bar scene. I for one can't wait to check out Acqua in full swing next time I find myself tottering about my home town.

*I was invited to Fiume for a complimentary meal in exchange for an honest review. 

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Newcastle Eats - Zucchini Pasta Bar

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There's been a wee bit of a buzz about Newcastle newcomer Zucchini since it opened a few month ago. Normally, I'm not one to give into blogger hype, despite being one myself.  I tend to rely on word of mouth, or simple proximity to where I am, at the moment hunger strikes.  For Zucchini, I had to make an exception as it just looked too good to ignore.

I dragged Kris for a blustery walk into Newcastle after work one Saturday, with the lure of all the pasta he could eat and if he was good, a cake and beer too.  Zucchini is located on the 55° North roundabout, tucked away from the hustle and bustle of Newcastle City Centre. 

The restaurant has a wonderful chilled-out vibe. Minimal decor with clean open spaces gives Zucchini a total relaxed atmosphere. I could very easily see me whiling away a couple of hours with a selection of nibbles and a chilled bottle of wine without a care in the world.  It's been a long while since I dined alone but I could absolutely see myself feeling very comfortable as a solitary diner here.

We started out with a few sides, a beer and a glass of white wine.  In my humble opinion every meal should be accompanied by some sort of bread and oil, and this sourdough was just the ticket.  The thick, chewy crust was a thing of wonder. I would have liked a trickle of balsamic but that's just me being a bit finnicky.  I chose the Grissini nduja with creamy Gorgonzola, I mean do I even need to say anything more?! I have the biggest soft spot for nduja and if I see it on any menu, I just have to order it.  Many times I've been disappointed by my choice, faced with either low quality or chilli flakes masquerading as nduja (I'm looking at you, Zizzi) but not today.  Look at that hunk of sexy, spicy sausage hiding under the crisp grissini. I was on cloud nine!  The best part about it, the sides were all a mere £2 each. I'm kicking myself for not ordering more.

On to the star of the show, the fresh pasta; which is made and hand rolled on site, may I add.  I went for the Pappardelle Amatriciana (Guanciale, tomato, white wine & pecorino) which was delicious.  The pasta was perfect, with just the right amount of bite. The chunks of Guanciale hidden within the folds of pasta made a wonderful change from the usual piggy suspect, pancetta. 

Kris chose the simple Tagliatelle Cioa E Pepe (parmesan, pecorino & black pepper).  It was rich, creamy and deliciously decident.  I love pepper and it really was the star of this dish, adding a slight heated punch to every bite.

Despite being absolutely fit to burst, I just couldn't turn down a desert. At just £3 a pop, I'd be daft not to indulge.  I've heard amazing things about their Tiramisu, but sadly it sits right atop my most hated sweets list, so that was out of the question.  Instead I opted for the chocolate mint truffles which came with a cute little hairpiece, which upon closer inspection turned out to be a chocolate mint candy floss.  What a neat little addition.  

All in, our bill came to £22.80.  I simply cannot believe the amazing value that Zucchini is knocking out.  If you consider that only a few days previous I was in Unos (out of necessity, I was on the quayside and hungry for pasta) and paid £25 for two bowls of pasta and two Pepsis. Needless to say, I'll be back to Zucchini, time and time again.  Mine's a white wine and a chunk of nduja, if you please.

Zucchini

55° North

Pilgrim Street

Newcastle Upon Tyne

NE1 6BL

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Garden Kitchen

I'm sure you all remember my last mouth watering post on the Garden Kitchen featuring their novel take on afternoon tea, the Garden Picnic.  I instantly fell in love with the place, everything about it just spoke to me so when I was asked to return and try out their main menu I accepted with appropriate glee.

Upon arrival Kris and I were shown to our table and offered to try one of their delicious selection of cocktails.  Sadly since Kris had the car he was unable to partake but that certainly wasn't going to stop me.  I ordered a delightful rum and blackberry cocktail served in a wee jam jar while my sober guest settled with his favorite Fentimans Dandelion and Burdock. 

We perused the menu carefully, there was so much I could have devoured with gusto, eventually I settled on the welsh rarebit followed by the garden vegetable risotto while Kris went for chorizo and prawn chowder followed by the garden burger.

Our starters were delicious beyond words but the mains were spectacular.  My risotto was studded with the welcome addition of almonds adding some surprising bite to what would normally be quite a smooth dish while Kris' burger was cooked to a perfect pink in the middle.

Upon finishing our meal we were too stuffed to indulge in desert so the lovely staff escorted us down to their newly opened Garden Shed to choose a cake and coffee to take home.  The Garden Shed is the little sister of the already super popular restaurant offering tea, coffee and delightful sandwiches and cakes to take away. Perfect for city folk always on the move.  I chose a slice of lemon drizzle cake while Kris surprisingly went for the chocolatest thing he could find, a snickers brownie.  Sadly I didn't get a chance to snap any pics of these as they were devoured in the car after an afternoon of looking at bedroom furniture but trust me, they were delightful!

If you ever find yourself in Newcastle, stuck for a good lunch I can wholeheartedly recommend the Garden Kitchen or for a more casual lunch on the go, Garden Shed.   Friendly service, fab food and a fantastic environment. This place really has got it right!

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The Next Big Event: Victory Dinner

I've been on a winning streak lately! A lovely Cupcake Heaven book from Cupcake Crazy, a fantastic surprise parcel of Scottish Goodies from Tinned Tomatoes (more on this tomorrow) and last but not least, two tickets to an amazing wartime themed Victory Dinner from the fantastic company The Next Big Event.  The Next Big Event is a company ran by three lovely ladies who specialise in creating themed pop up restaurants such as Dinner by Twilight, The Last Supper and the Victory Dinner Party.  The best thing about these pop up events is all of the guests are placed on communal tables and encouraged to mingle.  What an excellent way to make new friends!

Myself and my date for the night, fellow Pet Lamb girlie Kay set off in our best 1940s themed dresses, seamed tights and attempted victory rolls in our hair. With bottles of fizzy in our bags and tummies ready for our very first taste of rabbit, we were ready for a night of classic, wartime music and lindyhopping fun!  And what a night we had!  Firstly we were seated next to two fellow North East bloggers Carla from Messy Carla and Rachel from Mon Polkadot Cheri who were just the sweetest buttons I've ever met.  The evening soon switched from people nervously chatting among their friends to laughing and smiling with folk they've only just met.  It's funny what a glass of champagne can do to a girl.

Before we even had a chance to pop the cork on our fizzy, our first course was served.  Broad bean bruschetta!  The dish had quite a distinctive taste with a delicious tang of lime which lingered in the mouth.  I'm a total sucker for bruschetta so I was sold on this from day one!

The main course, which was greatly anticipated by myself and my other diners, was rabbit in cider with summer veg.  I've never tasted rabbit before so I was really looking forward to this one.  The taste was a lot milder than expected, I assumed rabbit would have quite a strong gamey taste but, not to sound like a total cliche, it was rather similar to the dark meat on a chicken.  Success!  Now to try squirrel ;)

Now, we were all rather merry by the time the dessert rolled out so please forgive me when I say, I used my cameras flash.  How very naughty of me! I just couldn't trust myself to hold the thing steady in the low light after a bottle and a half of wine!  I'm sure you understand ;)  Normally, I hate trifle!!  I despise cold custard and just abhor the use of sponge with jelly.  It's my most loathed of sweets, but oddly enough I actually enjoyed this one.  Might have been the shocking amount of alcohol I put away but hey, it was the weekend!

After the meal was served and the guests were suitable squiffy, the dancing began.  At first we were treated to a lindyhop demonstration, fine by me, but then we were encouraged to get up and learn a few steps for ourselves.  Now, being the huge uncoordinated goof I am this wasn't the greatest half hour of my life, but by the end of the routine I had memorised enough for me to ever get by should a mass swing dancing session ever erupt in Newcastle!  Kay on the other hand had the whole thing aced, even dancing with the instructor.

As the night drew to a close, and our cabs arrived we hugged our new found friends and the lovely organisers good bye and went off on our merry way home.  Certainly not for more drinks! Oh no ;)

A huge thank you to the guys at The Next Big Event for the tickets and for throwing such a magical dinner party.  Here's to times to come!

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Newcastle Eat Festival: The Pearly Diner

As I stated in my last post, the Newcastle Gateshead Eat Festival has been celebrating the finest food and drink the region has to offer for the last week and a half, and boy has it been a good one!  There has been some amazing events as well as some very weird and very wonderful delights for us to get our teeth into. One of which I was delighted to be a part of, The Pearly Diner.  The Pearly Diner is a world first event, a restaurant with no menu!  Your imagination is allowed to run wild and the sky is the limit, the only problem is deciding what you want to eat.  If you are among the select few chosen to dine at this other worldly event you were to chose the meal that best suits you. It could be your dream dinner, your favorite food or something that reminds you of a better time.  How exciting!

The Pearly Diner was a secret event organised by some of the North Easts finest chefs, places were allocated via a random lottery which sent the lucky few on a strange and fabulous journey.

I was over the moon when I received my allocation email but also a little confused.  I was told to go to a place called The Bridge Bar & Bistro for 7pm where I would receive a sign.  My first thought was how exciting, closely followed by the remembrance that The Bridge Bar & Bistro is a greasy spoon cafe on the Tyne Bridge, not only that but it had closed down after someone had found broken glass in their fry up.  Not the kind of place I'd have expected for such an amazing evening, but I put my doubts to the back of my mind and focused on getting ready. 

We arrived at the closed Bistro at dot on 7pm only to find the shutters down and other pearly diners milling around outside looking confused.  After about 10 minutes of standing around chatting to the ever increasing number of diners we decided to take matters into our own hands and explore.  We eventually found a sticker shaped like a fork pointing in the direction of the Tyne Bridge.  With nothing to lose we all decided to follow the cutlery.

After a five minute trek that felt like miles for myself and the other 5" heeled women, we found ourselves at the Hilton Hotel.  That's more like it! 

We were asked to enjoy wine on the balcony while we waited to 'check in'.  One by one we were lead into a little white shed which housed a very clinical experience.  A lady named Muriel gave us a name tag and asked us to fill our name and chosen meal into a large gilded book.  We were then let out of the shed and eventually gained entry into the Pearly Diner.

I was instantly taken aback by the beautiful room.  Everything was decked out in white fabric and glitter.  I especially liked the paper roses adorned with the meal choices of all the diners along with the salt and pepper pots filled with tiny pearls.

After our newly empty wine glasses were topped up our complimentary starter was served.  The Soup of Life!  We were never told what the soup actually was but it contained a great deal of milky foam, chicken and pasta.

For my main meal I chose a feta crusted rack of lamb with a tomato and olive sauce to be served with fondant potatoes.  I've always wanted to try a rack of lamb but never seem to see it on menus, so The Pearly Diner was the perfect opportunity.

Kris chose a pan fried duck breast with plum sauce and mashed potato.  The duck wasn't as pink as we would have hoped but never the less it was utterly delicious.

My desert was a caramelized apple tarte tatin.  What I wanted to know was what happened to the rest of it.... 

Kris had a chocolate fondant.  His reason, I've never been able to cook one properly.  I always over cook the pudding leaving the centre solid.  Unfortunately, the chef had succumb to the same problem as I.  The search for the perfect chocolate fondant continues.

I'm so, so glad I was able to take part in this delicious once in a life time opportunity!  I just hope the chefs know how impressed everyone was with all of their efforts.  Cooking 26 individually chosen meals ever night must be no easy feat. 

Thanks Newcastle Gateshead!

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