Newcastle
What food is Newcastle famous for? And what souvenirs to buy when visiting 'The Toon'.
What food is Newcastle famous for? And what souvenirs to buy when visiting 'The Toon'.
The table above lists all the local delicacies from Newcastle and souvenirs to purchase on your visit. Click on each name to be taken straight to the part of the blog post for that item.
Craster Kippers by Bellebouche under license CC BY-SA 4.0
Newcastle is well known for their famous cuisine. The food in Newcastle tastes amazing because of the unique recipes they use over the years that have been tweaked to become even more flavoursome. It’s a city where you can eat your way around to try all the good dishes!
It is no secret that Newcastle provides some of the best food in the country as the city has been a culinary hotspot for centuries. With a variety of dishes, you’re sure to find something to your taste in this northeast city.
Some of the most famous dishes include singing hinny, pan haggerty, stottie cake, and craster kippers. If you’ve never tried any of these before then I would highly recommend them! They are well worth it and will be sure to satisfy your taste buds!
Top 7 dishes you need to eat in Newcastle
In this blog post, we will be discussing what delicacies you can expect to find in Newcastle.
From traditional North East cuisine to more continental fare, there are plenty of tasty options available in one of the food capitals of England. Here are a few examples we recommend:
Craster Kippers
It's not unusual to find seafood on the menu in Newcastle, but you'll be hard-pressed to find a more famous dish than Craster kippers. These are smoked herring that have been soaked in brine before being hung for around sixteen hours. The result is a fish that has an intense flavour.
Using over 100-year-old smokehouses in the village of Craster, the company L. Robson and Sons are the main producers of the dish. After smoking the fish has a distinctive tan/golden colour and is usually eaten with some buttery toast and a cup of tea.
Singing Hinnies by Paul Downey under license CC BY 2.0
Singing Hinny
Singing hinny is a famous sweet bread from Newcastle that is similar to a griddle cake or scone. It gets its name from the humming noise that the lard or butter makes as it cooks.
The origins of singing hinny are unknown, but it’s thought to have been around since the early 1900's with a recipe appearing in 'The Times' newspaper in 1928. The recipe has changed very little over the years, and it’s still one of Newcastle’s most popular dishes.
Singing hinny is usually served warm and goes perfectly with a cup of tea or coffee. If you want to try this delicious dish for yourself, then I would recommend heading to one of Newcastle’s many cafes that serve the dish as one of their sweet treats.
Pan Haggerty
Another famous dish from Newcastle is pan haggerty. Similar to potato gratin, it combines potatoes, cheese and onions to create a hearty side dish/meal which is perfect for a cold winter day. I would highly recommend trying this if you get the chance because it’s delicious!
The dish is thought to have originated in the mining communities of Northumberland and Durham in the early 20th century. The dish historically has been linked with the times of poverty in the northeast and Scotland due to the cheap ingredients in the dish and the ease with which it is made. Today the dish is served all over Newcastle with some variations and is enjoyed by everyone!
Pease Pudding
Pease pudding is a traditional dish from the North East of England. Evolved from the medieval dish pease pottage, there have been many variations of the dish over the years, but they all share some commonalities: split yellow peas, water, salt, and spices that are often cooked with bacon or ham.
Enjoyed by Geordies the city over as a filling in a stottie cake, pease pudding is seen in many cafes as a lunch offering.
Chevington Cheese
Chevington cheese is a type of cheese that is produced in Northumberland. First made in 1895, the cheese is made from cow's milk and has a sharp, pungent flavour which makes it a favourite amongst many. Similar to a hard English Brie, Chevington cheese went through a slight recipe change in 2003 and came back with a bang through the Northumberland Cheese Company. Made using pasteurised milk from Jersey cows, the smooth and creamy cheese has won many awards and is worth a try.
Stottie by Mariegriffiths under license CC BY-SA 3.0
Stottie Cake
The stottie cake is a type of bread that has been around for centuries. It can be eaten as a snack or with tea, and it's the perfect way to get your fill without having too much. The round bread loaf is filled with a number of the usual favourites like cheese, bacon, egg, ham, pease pudding, or sausage, and can be found in many cafes and takeaway as a lunch option.
Historically made using the leftover dough after the day's bread had been made, the stottie cake has become a firm local favourite today. The bread makes a perfect sandwich with a combined chewy internal section of the loaf and a crusty exterior (perfect for grabbing with both hands!). Made in family homes throughout the North East, you won't have to look far to find a stottie cake on your visit.
Bacon Floddies
Bacon floddies is a dish that is made up of bacon, grated potato, and onion shaped into a small patty. It is a popular dish in the North East of England and is traditional to the town of Gateshead. The dish is usually served as a breakfast item or as a light lunch. Perfect for an early morning breakfast after sampling Newcastle's superb nightlife the night before!
And some souvenirs to take home...
Newcastle Brown Ale Schooner
Newcastle Brown Ale is a traditional English ale that was first launched by Colonel John Porter in 1927. After numerous takeovers, the ale is now produced by giants Heineken. With the name being granted protection status from the European Union in the year 2000, the ale is unique and not replicated anywhere in the world.
Perceived in the United Kingdom as a 'working man's beer', Newcastle Brown Ale is enjoyed by everyone of all ages. Commonly found on tap at many of the city's pubs and cafes, the ale is strongly associated with the area. The beer is dark brown with a rich taste that has a slight bitter aftertaste. The beer's logo is distinctive with the blue star in the middle making a glass schooner souvenir to take home a must!
Conclusion
Newcastle's food is renowned for being particularly tasty, with a number of famous dishes that are unique to the area. You'll find all sorts of deliciousness on the menu, from seafood to traditional English ale. If you're visiting Newcastle, be sure to try some of the local specialties - you won't regret it! To find out more about free things to do in the area, click on the links below:
Free Things to do in Newcastle
Cycling Routes around Newcastle
I hope this article has been useful in answering the question 'What food is Newcastle famous for?', giving an overview of some traditional local delicacies and items worth buying as souvenirs while visiting. If so please share with your friends on social media.