Canny Food's Vegetarian & Vegan Guide to NE1 Restaurant Week
In the search for a wide range of opinions and guides to NE1's Restaurant Week, we've asked three amazing local food bloggers to offer their thoughts and recommendations in the lead-up to the event.
Without further ado, we present the first in this range, our Guest Blog from Canny Food (http://cannyfood.co.uk/), giving all the low-down on Vegetarian and Vegan offerings this Restaurant Week!
The dining scene of Newcastle has changed a lot in the last few years, especially when it comes to vegetarian and vegan cuisine. With a partner who has recently shunned meat and dairy, I have spent a lot of my time blogging about the best places to eat in and around NE1 with this specific dietary requirement.
While there's still a way to go to match the choice you may find in London, the Toon has some great places to eat if you're following a plant-based diet. Even if you're a confirmed meat eater and fancy trying something a bit different, you'd not be disappointed with the dishes served up in these eclectic eateries. With NE1's Restaurant Week fast approaching we've taken the time to look through the offers available from the 8th to the 14th August, where offers range from £10 to £15 per person.
Super Natural Kitchen, Grainger Street
Having recently opened its new cafe on Grainger Street, Super Natural has been feeding the hungry veggies of Newcastle for a number of years. With delicious cakes, healthy salads and 'hot dogs' so good they would probably fool a meat eater, all the family will enjoy a trip to this vegetarian and vegan eatery.
Painted Elephant, Grainger Street
Winning the praise of the Secret Diner - which is no mean feat- Painted Elephant now 'pops up' on an evening in Super Natural's Grainger Street location on an evening. Featuring specifically vegan cuisine, the offer of 2 courses for £10 is a bargain for such interesting and innovative dishes. With produce sourced locally, the menu is likely to change on a daily basis, meaning you may never be served the same plate of grub twice!
The Bohemian, Pink Lane
With hearty veggie burgers, jack fruit kebabs and an Epic Chilli Dog which lives up to its name, Boho is one of the best places to eat with friends who may have a 'phobia' towards a plant-based diet. Offering three tapas dishes for £10, this Restaurant Week deal is a great introduction to the wonderful world of vegetarian and vegan cuisine for the uninitiated.
While Newcastle has great restaurants catering solely for vegetarians and vegans, it is worth noting that others have NE1 Restaurant Week menus featuring dishes that are suitable. This is a fantastic opportunity for those following a plant-based diet to try out somewhere different they may have been unsure about in the past. We've picked out two that were particularly appealing to us.
Head of Steam, Quayside
Open just in time for Restaurant Week, Head of Steam's new pub is offering a fantastic offer that features a main course and dessert clearly labelled as suitable for vegans. We were very impressed that the pudding wasn't just sorbet too, which is often the default for those who avoid eggs and dairy.
The Stand, High Bridge
Like Head of Steam, The Stand have also clearly marked their vegan options. This makes dining out so much easier with a veggie and we wish more restaurants adopted this approach. Tucked away on High Bridge, The Stand's bistro serves up great quality grub time and again. With 3 courses at just £15, it is definitely worth a visit.
We're looking forward to seeing the tweets and blogs over the upcoming weeks celebrating this fantastic event!
Thanks to Canny Food for that, a whole new angle on NE1 Restaurant Week! Read more from Canny Food here - http://cannyfood.co.uk/, or follow @cannyfood.
