Celebrate the region’s vibrant food and drink scene with The Newcastle Cook Book

The eagerly anticipated Newcastle Cook Book, released on March 16, features a collection of recipes and stories from some of Newcastle’s finest restaurants, cafés, delicatessens, pubs, producers and suppliers.

The book, published by Meze Publishing, who were recently crowned Best Newcomer at the Independent Publishing Awards, is the 8^th in the ‘Get Stuck In’ series of regional cook books. Owner of popular fine dining restaurant Peace and Loaf and a 2010 MasterChef: The Professionals finalist; Dave Coulson has written the foreword for the book as well as contributing his Iberico Pork recipe. “Newcastle has improved immensely in the last five years when it comes to the quality of food, and the products people are producing are getting better all the time. “People care more now about what they buy and eat. I think a lot of that is probably down to travel. People go and see new things and they want it, and that has resulted in restaurants stepping up to the mark. We now have some fantastic restaurants in Newcastle.” Food lovers are spoilt for choice by the numerous award-winning, fine dining restaurants and traditional country pubs that Newcastle has to offer. This book highlights the finest, as well as food from local producers and suppliers in areas including Gosforth, Jesmond, Gateshead, Tynemouth, Cullercoats and Houghton-Le-Spring. Newcastle College hospitality section manager, Andy Brown contributed to the book showcasing Chefs’ Academy, “To be included in the book shows the progress we have made over the last five years – it is important that our students see that what we do here day to day will equip them with the skills that are both relevant and respected by our industry peers whose future employees they will become” he says. Among the venues featured are Cake Stories who are ranked #1 on TripAdvisor for dessert in Newcastle, Flat Caps Coffee who are ranked in the top 10 for coffee & tea in Newcastle, Newcastle College Chef’s Academy who serve dishes cooked by aspiring students from the college and Grainger Market – a modern, vibrant market hall in the heart of Newcastle city centre, bustling with over 100 shops including large retailers and many independent, local small businesses. You will also see contributions from The Brownie Bar, Haswell’s Homer Hill Farm Shop, Wandering Fork Supper Club and more – readers will be sure to spot one or two of their favourite eateries, as well as find a few new haunts. The Quilliam Brothers are looking forward to seeing the book in print. “We are very excited to be a part of the first ‘Newcastle Cook Book’. Newcastle is going through an independent culinary renaissance and it is a privilege to play a little part in it." Emma from Cake Stories is a big fan of the Newcastle food scene too; “We're thrilled to be featuring in the Newcastle Cook Book alongside some other great Newcastle eateries.  We're only just starting out but love being part of such a fun and vibrant food scene and we're very proud to be part of a book that showcases it,” she says. With a carefully selected collection of diverse recipes achievable by all home cooks, from Cake Stories’ salted toffee popcorn cake to Dil & the Bear’s Macaroni cheese topped with roast vegetables, bacon crumb and parmesan tuille, Quilliam Brothers’ The Big Q sandwich, River Beat’s cauliflower and hake fritters with Cambodian curry sauce and Boulevard Creative Cuisine’s pork fillet with smoked mushroom dust and wild mushroom fricassee - there’s something to whet everybody’s appetite. The Newcastle Cook Book retails at just £14.95 and will be available soon in all of the businesses featured in the book as well as select local gift shops, book shops including Waterstones and online at www.amazon.co.uk.