my life in food

So it seems Liam has been beating me on the blogging front! He is foodie. He is organised. And he is kicking my ass. So, like a small child throwing a tantrum, I thought I'd make a post of some food I've eaten lately. In no particular order:

In a Finnish BBQ Hut at Pot a Doodle Do wigwam site:

Fuck yes, those are bacon-wrapped olives and harissa lamb kebabs. And Guinness burgers, which fell through the grill.

At the Forth Hotel pub in Newcastle:



Bacon, avocado and Dolcelatte burger? One of the best burgers I've ever had.  

Bloody Mary please.

At home, making dinner for friends:

BBQ shredded beef, homemade coleslaw, salad and potato salad.

And just for the hell of it, some recipes I've enjoyed lately:
Healthy chocolate coconut macaroons (so amazing)
Brown rice fishcakes with hot sauce mayo
Roasted broccoli cheddar soup
Jam crumble slices - I made this with this easy yummy fig jam
Green rice with paprika and pine nuts - the compound butter for this is really useful

Get cooking, Liam - you'll love these recipes. Not so bad for you either! x

The Cranberry Loaf Train.

At our previous visit to Kate we went to a lovely tea house called Tea Sutra Teahouse and oh boy, this place really is the epitome of relaxing. Bamboo, tea leaves in jars on the walls, incense and a little floor seating area where you must remove your shoes; perfect.

The highlight of this tea house is by far the tea selection which is served in lovely little tea, pots that are shaped like elephants and the cake selection. 

In contrast to the tea menu, the baked goods selection is small but varied. From a jam shortbread to a carrot cake, there was something for everyone (even for those with gluten & wheat fears). But what stood out as the surprise treat was this delicious orange and cranberry loaf that my friend had ordered. If was simply, the best fruit loaf that i have ever had and i'm the person who detests raisons. Light orange flavoured sponge with a soft crumb, dotted with cranberries and topped with a citrus buttercream. 

Lovely tea!

The seated area. NO SHOES ALLOWED!

We made it as soon as we got back to manchester. I just adapted a lemon loaf cake by changing the juice and zest to orange, added floured dried cranberries (if you lightly coat dried fruit/nuts/chocolate chips with flour before adding to cake batter, they don't end up at the bottom of the cake!) and topped it all with a lemon and orange bog standard buttercream. Hannah wanted to add a little glam to the cake, so we added some of those lemon sweet jelly things. IT WAS SO GOOD.

Oooh, so citrus, so nice.



Homemade wholemeal pizza with caramelised onions, garlic, gruyere and wild boar salami.

EAT! Festival 2011



Free pot of chicken thai green curry and rice.




Wagyu beef burger from Northumbrian Wagyu.



Chargrilled chicken with couscous, bread, hummus and banaghanoush from Paradiso.



Pancake filled with cream cheese, cinnamon and sugar from Gospoda.

 Also eaten but not pictured: lots of delicious samples from various stalls, jersey cream icecream, and an unattractive but delicious lump of pigeon on a piece of toast smeared with pigeon pate. Yum.



Both Newcastle Farmers' Market, first Friday of every month




Homemade spread: grilled halloumi, lemony rocket salad, bread, prosciutto, raw peas, baby grape tomatoes




The last morning: breakfast at Stateside Diner on Pink Lane

 A few more pictures from dear Mr Benedict's visit. I want it all again, especially those pancakes. I'm ravenous today.

1-4th June, Newcastle Trip.

Sample photos from our feasts- baked Camembert with sausages and asparagus, fresh sun-warmed tomatoes and grilled haloumi.  Epic.



Quinoa pilaf on rocket, with Farrouj Meshwi (seriously, you have to make this. Guhhhhh)





Steak sandwich from The Town Wall, Pink Lane, Newcastle Upon Tyne.