Lunch @ Cook House - Ouseburn, Newcastle

If you follow us on Instagram or Twitter, you may have seen us raving about a new lunch spot we have discovered in Newcastle. Despite it having been open for over a year, it was only this week that we got round to making the trip, although we are definitely late to the party as the small kitchen is already racking up significant critical acclaim such as being listed as one of the '25 Coolest Restaurants in the UK' by The Times. The restaurant setting is undeniably cool and understated, tucked away in Newcastle's Ouseburn, and comprising of two inter-connecting shipping containers.

 The inside couldn't be a starker contrast from the industrial exterior however, with a cosy chiminea and completely open kitchen instantly making you feel at home. The place is impressively run by Anna Hedworth - not only a brilliant cook but also a food blogger who's recipes you can find on The Grazer. It really did feel like being in her home, and the frequently-changing chalkboard menu was stuffed with a tempting selection of her deliciously simple, fresh and wholesome lunch dishes.

We went for the Smoked Mackerel Pâté and Roast Ham, both served with a lovely simple dressed salad, sourdough toast and homemade pickles. A definite highlight was Zoe's pickled quince which was the perfect sweet/sour accompaniment to her ham, and something we are keen to recreate ourselves! Our dishes were washed down with Anna's homemade cloudy lemonade, and followed by a cup of tea, and slice of her dreamy apple and cinnamon cake.

It's safe to say that we both left feeling very happy and full, and are already planning our next visit! It is so refreshing to see somewhere so different and unique in Newcastle, and with such great food so reasonably priced, we can't recommend it highly enough - get yourself down there!

C & Z x

Cook House. Mon - Sat 8.30 - 3.30. Ouse Street - Newcastle-upon-Tyne. NE1 2PF

http://cookhouse.org

Apple Strudel

This apple strudel serves as a welcome break from the post-Christmas detox. An easy yet impressive pudding, this strudel can be prepared in the morning ready to shove in the oven later on. One important thing to remember is to let the apple mixture cool down completely before wrapping in pastry… trust me disasters will occur if you do not do this, I speak from experience! 

To serve 6 you will need...

4 eating or cooking apples peeled cored and cut into small chunks

100g caster sugar

100g sultanas or raisins 

1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon

Juice and zest of 1 lemon

150g pecans or walnuts (optional)

75g butter

6 sheets of filo pastry

1 tbsp of demerara sugar

Icing sugar cream or ice cream to serve

You will need to...

- Preheat your oven to 180C

- Peel and core your apples, then chop them into roughly 2cm chunks. 

- Add the apples, caster sugar and cinnamon to a saucepan, cover with a lid and simmer for approximately 10 minutes or until the apples are soft but still textured. 

- Remove from heat and stir in the dried fruit and nuts. 

- Leave to cool completely before wrapping in pastry

You can prepare this filling several days in advance and store in the fridge.

- Melt a knob of butter in a small pan,

- Remove the filo pastry from the fridge, lay the first sheet on a flat surface and brush with the butter.

- Lay another sheet and repeat the process until you have used all the pastry sheets.

- Brush the final layer with butter and spoon the cooled apple mixture neatly down the middle of the pastry. 

- Leave an inch or so at the end of the pastry so it doesn't spill out of the end. 

- Wrap the pastry around the filling tucking the ends in neatly and ensuring the seal is at the bottom. 

- Lay the strudel on a baking tray, lightly score the top of the pastry diagonally at equal intervals along the length of the strudel. 

- Sprinkle demerara sugar generously on top, this caramelises, making a sweet crunchy outside.

- Bake in the oven for 35-40 minutes or until golden brown. 

- For the finishing touches sprinkle with icing sugar and serve with cream or ice cream.  

Enjoy Z x