It's nearly the time to eat lots and be merry so I thought I would do a round up of the offerings from Newcastle restaurants over festive period. Please be aware I haven't actually sampled them all but am open to offers this year and in the future :) I tend to be with my family at home on Christmas Day but try to sample somewhere before Christmas, especially if it's offering a twist on the traditional menu. Purse strings are obviously being tightened but I've been quite surprised at prices this year - three courses is generally quite affordable - especially at the higher end. Let me know if you've been to any of these - I'm interested in reviews.
Let's avoid this this Christmas!
1) Six @ Baltic - 3 courses (dinner) £24.95, lunch £22.95, New Years Eve £75
With starters including smoked salmon tartare and my favourite pork rillette, traditonal turkey dinner with duck fat potatoes and roast chestnut risotto for mains, I'm already looking forward to going here with my friends, both for the food and the amazing views - I'm wishing for snow to make it even more spectacular. On New Years Eve - you get champagne and canapes on arrival, then choose from such delights as venison carpaccio, or roast duck breast with vanilla and parsnip puree (the duck is amazing). Baileys pannacotta and chocolate and mint ice cream cake top it off, I could just get the petit fours and be happy!
2) Marco Pierre White - Christmas Fayre dinner £30, Christmas Day £75, New Years Eve - 1st December -7th January
I was impressed with the steak and the amazing liquorice cocktail I had when I visited here for the first time the other week and have high hopes for the Christmas menu. I want to sample the Creme du Barry (Cauliflower) soup with blue cheese beignets (fritters) - good job I did French), butternut squash risotto with chestnut (or the amazing steak) and black cherry and chocolate trifle. New Year's Eve has a four course bonanza of pork rilettes, followed by scallops with fennel bavarois, a saddle of veal and chocolate torte with raspberry jelly.
3) David Kennedy's Food Social @ Biscuit Factory (prices vary)
I am ashamed to say I haven't been yet and am using Christmas as an excuse to go! The Christmas a la carte menu has lots of choice and is mouth wateringly good. Starters include blow torched figs, venison carpaccio and a slow-cooked turkey hash brown! Mains include a beetroot and cumin tarte tatin with buttered chestnuts and truffled brie, locally shot pheasant and three different types of fish (hake, cod and turbot). No turkey in site (apart from the starter)!
For dessert, mulled wine sorbet with clove shortbread, cinnamon ice cream with red wine braised figs and candied chestnut and muscavado rum pudding. I wish I'd eaten before I started writing this! There is also a set menu for parties of eight or more (£32.50) which features food from the a la carte menu, and lunch at £18.95 for two courses.
4) Electric East (Mains from £12/desserts from £5.50)
I thought I'd throw a non traditional menu in because not everyone wants turkey for a whole month. I really enjoy the food and decor here - Vietnamese with great furniture and wall art. For an alternative Christmas night out, try a curry (Massaman, Chiang Mai, Capitan) with your choice of meat and side. Wash it down with a rice beer and choose a dessert to cool your mouth down, personally I like the sound of the Christmas pudding creme brule - two of my favourite things combined!
5) Chef's Academy - Newcastle College (17.50 for four course dinner)
I recently went to a steak night here and was totally impressed - a training facility at the college with a working restaurant which met the standards of any higher end restaurant in Newcastle. Being a few floors up, there's a great view of the city from above and really attentive service. The Christmas menu is extensive and a great price. Starters include prawn cocktail (it wouldn't be Christmas without it, really) and beef skewers, with traditional turkey dinner, fillet of seabass and confit duck let (one of my favourites) for mains. Desserts are dependable - Christmas pudding, apple, plum and cinnamon pudding or homemade ice creams followed by coffee and mince pies. I'm looking forward to it!
Enjoy your Christmas day - hope it's not too stressful!
