Cook House, Newcastle

The Cook House was one of my first discoveries in Newcastle. My dad, who is my inspiration for going the extra mile to seek out new and interesting places, took us on a mission to the Ouseburn Valley to try the coffee at OCC (Newcastle’s finest) headquarters. It was on this path that we also came across the discreet little shipping container tucked into a side road in the valley, called the Cook House, run by a lovely lady and marvellous cook and entrepreneur, Anna.

This shipping container was one of the first in Newcastle, and since its establishment there has been a surge of new developments founded on shipping containers in many gentrified locations across the UK and Europe, as they act as a great and sustainable way to house small independent start-ups. The wondrous thing about shipping containers is that they all look identical from the outside, but each one can be totally personalised on the inside, and so they become a unique little haven for each company. The inside of Anna’s shipping container was as such. She had essentially replicated a rustic and cosy country-style kitchen/diner nook, complete with an island, an aga and shelves and shelves of kilner jars which displayed her endless homemade brews, shrubs and preserves (she specialises in these). It was as if we had stepped into a friends kitchen. So we came back the next day for breakfast. And, like a friend would do, she offered to cook us almost anything we liked based on the fresh, local ingredients she had picked up from the farm that day. So we stuck with the country vibe and I ordered porridge, which she topped with maple syrup, seeds and sour cherries (a gorgeous combination) and my dad ordered a humble, but classic breakfast of sourdough, (homemade) butter and jam. It was only us, and so it was really the closest thing to home from home. A safe little bubble away from the buzz of the city - a perfect way to start the day.

It was then that Anna told us about her plans to expand and her savings towards a bigger location in Ouseburn that would house more people and where she could get more licensing to offer dinner menus as well as the breakfast and lunch menus that she was currently practicing. I followed her journey over the two years on Instagram, and lo and behold, up popped a shiny, and even more stunning restaurant in the heart of charming Ouseburn. She really did a beautiful job. The interior is simple and wooden, maintaining that classic country-style with a scandal feel, but with decorous floral displays and beautiful, dramatic murals of wildlife, which creates a cosy yet striking appearance.

The menu remains to be very humble but very impressive. Anna’s restaurant was in fact considered one of the UK’s best hidden restaurants, as part of a feature in a BBC documentary. Her menu changes by the day, according to whats fresh from her neighbour, Ouseburn farm, and her own allotment. All the meat, fish, dairy and other ingredients are all also locally sourced. She is constantly experimenting with dishes based on the seasonal produce, exploring mediterranean and asian, as well as British cuisine.

We went for my graduation lunch (another long awaited visit), where the freshly baked sourdough really is the centre of the menu. Almost everything is served on the bread. The menu is a variation of all different toppings, from local cheese topped with caramelised fruit to slow cooked meats and spiced eggs. From all the variations, what stood out to me was the slow-cooked lamb ragu, topped with a dollop of yoghurt. The meat melted in your mouth, and the slow-roasted tomatoes were rich and sweet and perfect. My mum’s egg and caper tartine also looked good, dripping in sauce. I ordered the courgette and buckwheat salad, but replaced the chicken with roasted harissa vegetables and hummus. The staff were very happy to accomodate and change around the menu based on certain likes/dislikes, a sign of a highly qualified team of chefs. It was perfect - a proper mix of peppery greens, and real homegrown carrots, stalks and all. The buckwheat added a lovely crunch, and I loved sampling both the hummus and aioli, both of which added a lovely richness to the salad - anyone who knows me knows how I love my dips.

We were also particularly taken by the extensive list of home brews and soft drinks. I had the kombucha, which is my new favourite drink/substitute for alcohol. It was perfectly sweetened and perfectly refreshing for a hot summer’s day. My sister had the fresh ginger beer, which was very punchy and cleansing rather than sweet. I liked it because I prefer a sour drink, but it is very different to the norm.

The service was exceptional. Very personal and welcoming. We didn’t see Anna unfortunately, but we expected she was busy in the kitchen as it was pretty full. I can’t wait to go back to try the evening or Sunday menu, with even more exciting options based on the same daily ingredients.

Whipped feta with cherries and walnuts on sourdough/Slow-cooked lamb ragu and yoghurt on sourdough/Egg and caper tartine on sourdough/Roasted harissa vegetables courgette and buckwheat salad with hummus and aioli

#Fresh #Seasonal #Healthy #Newcastle #Dining #CookHouse #Ouseburn