NEWCASTLEGATESHEAD FOOD FESTIVAL (April 2007)

As part of NewcastleGateshead Initiative’s programme of events for 2007, the organisation is staging a food and drink festival in April.

EAT ! will run from April 6-15 with an interesting mix of events aimed at celebrating the very best food and drink the region has to offer. It also hopes to raise the profile of the hospitality industry and build connections with local schools, community groups and catering colleges.

Highlights will include the sight of a traditional fishing boat unloading fresh fish on the Quayside on Thursday, April 5, to be cooked in neighbouring restaurants as part of a traditional Good Friday supper the following day; a “guerrilla” restaurant which will open for just six nights before closing for good on Saturday, April 14; and a Black, White and Brown Menu Night on Tuesday, April 10, with selected restaurants celebrating North East England’s produce and food heritage. The name derives from Newcastle United’s famous team colours and the area’s iconic Brown Ale.

Wines of the Times on Wednesday, April 11 will see 20 wine retailers, suppliers, micro breweries and restaurateurs bring their very best to the table for an enjoyable mass tasting of 100 wines and beers in Newcastle’s Guildhall.

On Friday, April 13 around 20 of the region’s top food producers will showcase a wide range of local produce at a Food Heroes Tasting Market in Northern Stage Square, King’s Walk, Newcastle University. Stallholders will include Lindisfarne Oysters, Chain Bridge Honey Farm, Carroll’s Heritage Potatoes and Doddington Dairy. The event runs between 10.00am and 5.00pm and local chefs will be in attendance.

As a fitting finale to the festival there will be a celebratory dinner in the Discovery Museum Great Hall on Sunday, April 15, with five courses featuring local and international foods. Proceeds will go to The Children’s Foundation.

Running alongside all the attractions is a week-long gastronomic festival at Jesmond Dene House Hotel and Restaurant in Newcastle between Sunday, April 8 and Monday, April 16. Terry Laybourne, who co-owns Jesmond Dene House and runs the Café 21 restaurants, said:” We have some of the finest British and European chefs taking part in the festival at Jesmond Dene House and that highlights just how far the region has come in the past few years. I believe that our local cuisine is something to be proud of.”

For further information about EAT ! log on to the website www.NewcastleGateshead.com/eat.