Food and drink news, latest recipes, wine reviews & more

North sorbet takes top title

A SPIRITED sorbet created by a former miner who resurfaced as a luxury dessert maker after 22 years at the coal face, has been crowned Supreme Champion in the Oscars of the food world. Read

Chef owner Chris Slaughter of the Grainger Rooms

Local food has always been on the menu at Newcastle’s Grainger Rooms restaurant. Now owner Chris Slaughter is taking his passion for local to new heights by launching a food club aimed at fellow enthusiasts. Read

Dave Myres, one half of the Hairy Bikers duo

12,500 flock to our food and drink day

FOOD fanatics turned out in their droves to support The Journal Taste 2 food and drink festival at the weekend with nearly 12,500 people descending on a picturesque country hotel. Read

Centre stage

LINDEN Hall in the heart of Northumberland is the spectacular setting for The Journal Taste 2 food and drink festival taking place tomorrow. Jane Hall speaks to the hotel’s new head chef about why local is best – and the part he’ll be playing in Taste 2. Read

One half of the Hairy Bikers duo, Simon King

Growing appetite for home produce

MORE than 100 of the region’s finest artisan producers will show off their wares at The Journal Taste 2 food and drink festival -– making it the biggest one day event of its kind ever held in the North East. Read

Richard Sim, guest chef at the Meet the Producer event at the Guild Hall Berwick

Meet the chefs

Gastronomic treats galore will be on offer as the cream of the region’s chefs throw their culinary weight behind The Journal Taste 2 food and drink festival in association with Tesco on August 30. Read

Ginola heads back to region

FLAMBOYANT French footballer David Ginola is to make a nostalgic return trip to the North East as he adds an international flavour to The Journal Taste 2 food and drink festival. Read

Hairy Bikers Simon King and Dave Myers at North Shields Fish Quay

Roaring success for hairy bikers

SIMON KING is enjoying an all too rare sojourn back in his native North East. Read

Fun for all family at Taste 2 festival

THE region’s biggest food and drink festival will be the must-be place for all the family. Read

Local chilli producer is red hot

A local chilli producer may be tasting red-hot success after attracting the attention of Tesco. Now other North East producers could follow suit. Jane Hall reports Read

Mark Robertson of the Northumberland Cheese Company

Video sings praises of North trio

IS the North East home to some of the UK’s finest cuisine? Tesco thinks so and has produced a video featuring three of the region’s best known and successful artisan producers to prove it. Read

Enviable pedigree gives flavour of bygone days

TEATIME cake recipes passed down through the generations of one Northumberland farming family are proving a recipe for success for keen cook Trish Charlton. Read

Can you dig it?

Forget old chaps in flat caps putting the world to rights – allotments have become fashionable with new, younger and often female enthusiasts who want to grow their own. Ahead of National Allotment Week on August 11, Jane Hall looks at the renewed interest in homegrown harvests Read

Eat wisely and well and you’ll look and feel good

A HEALTHY diet is your key to looking and feeling fantastic. And the only way to achieve this is to make sure that you are eating a range of fresh foods, from across the main food groups. Read

Baker Colin sets his stall out for Taste 2

COLIN Smurthwaite was certainly using his loaf when he set up his bakery business 16 years ago. Read

Kenny aims to be Michelin man again

TOP chef Kenny Atkinson has arrived back in his home region to take over the helm at Seaham Hall’s White Room restaurant – and walked into the biggest challenge of his award-winning career. Read

Mushroom magic

A unique new food business is mushrooming in the heart of Northumberland – in more ways than one. Jane Hall found out more. Read

North East’s golden taste

JUDGES have shown a taste for the North East in the Oscars of the world of fine food and drink. Fourteen regional producers have walked away with prestigious gold Great Taste Awards presented by the Guild of Fine Food. Read

Sandy Higson of Coquetdale Valley Preserves

A hot favourite with the Magpies

CREATIVE cook Sandy Higson is celebrating after netting a lucrative deal with her sporting idols, Newcastle United. Read

Buffalo Mozzarella with Aubergine, by Tuscany, Whitley Bay

Flavours of Tuscany

A roving restaurateur has teamed up with the region’s top chef to bring the authentic taste of Tuscany to Tyneside – and simple, local ingredients are at the heart of the union. Jane Hall reports. Read