The Food News You Need to Know for September
Keep up to date this month with our round up of all of the food news in the North East
new openings - here's what's happening this month in the world of food.
Bake It ’Til You Make It
Three of our favourite bakeries to visit now
FAB Bakery
Based in a quiet suburb in West Newcastle (and now with a second store in Gosforth) the name stands for Fresh Artisan Bread Co, but this independent bakery offers much more than just bread (although their sourdough is delicious) specialising in artisan patisserie and Viennoiserie too. We recommend their croissant cubes with regularly changing flavours ranging from hazelnut praline to lemon meringue and everything in between.
Grant’s Bakery
Based in Corbridge and serving up delicious cakes and bakes since 2007, the team here are on a mission to be the best bakery in the North East. Available to sit in or take away, you can expect everything from praline pain au chocolat and croissant swirls to quiche, pies and pasties. They’ve also recently launched a new range of sandwiches, perfect for a lunch time pick-me-up.
RISE Artisan Bakehouse & Café
Passionate about locality and seasonal produce, this neighbourhood bakery in Barnard Castle make some of the best sourdough around. In the upstairs café you can enjoy good quality coffee along with freshly baked goods like scones, delicious fruit tarts and loaves of bread. Speaking of which, keep your eyes peeled for the weekly changing flavours of bread on offer.
In With the New
A brand new pan-Asian restaurant specialising in Thai cuisine has recently opened its doors in Alnwick. Leo on Clayport Street has already gone down a treat with the locals and the menu is filled with all of the classics including pad Thai, drunken noodles and mango sticky rice. There’s a good range of curries here too and plenty of options for a tipple.
Liquid Gold
Northumbrian museum and distillery Ad Gefrin has recently been recognised with three medals at the 2024 International Wine and Spirits Competition after just over a year of being open to the public. Their blended whisky, malt whisky and Thirlings gin all placed in the top three of their respective categories (and distiller Fran Jones has been named on Harpers Wine & Spirits 30 Under 30 List).
Fall in Lov(age)
For those who have had the chance to try Lovage in Jesmond, it will come as no surprise that the restaurant has recently been given an AA Rosette for culinary excellence. A family-run bistro, specialising in modern Mediterranean dishes, Lovage has been a hit in the community since it first opened its doors in 2022.
Easy Like a Sunday Morning
There’s always time for a spot of brunch and in Norton on Leven Road the best place to head is the newly opened Sunday Coffee and Kitchen. Serving up delicious stacks of pancakes, refreshing matcha drinks and colourful açai bowls, this is a little spot of paradise that’s perfect for a weekend treat. Best of all? It’s dog friendly!
Sweet Tooth
Serving delicious chocolates to happy customers for more than 30 years, it’s fair to say that Chocolate Fayre in Barnard Castle has its share of fans (us included). Brand new for 2024, the team are expanding to include the long-awaited Chocolate Fayre Coffee Lounge. Adjacent to the original shop, this will be a great spot to settle in with a hot drink and a sweet treat.
Proper Jammy
You’ll find these locally-made jams and preserves at food markets and stockists across the North East
