Food Glorious Food!

With its lush, green valleys and wide-open spaces, clear coastal waters and abundance of clean, fresh air, it should come as no surprise that North East England produces such tasty local food. And with a plethora of gourmet chefs, award-winning bakers and artisan cheesemakers, fish-smokers and even chocolatiers, you can be sure of savouring some really special treats on our Food Trail.

The buzzing inhabitants of Chain Bridge Honey Farm’s 1,800 hives are probably among the most prolific food producers in the North East, supplying yummy heather honey for home-baked treats and natural beauty products.

At the Doddington Dairy , Neill and Jackie Maxwell blend the milk of their own dairy cows into such tempting ice creams as Utter Chocolate, Raspberry Cranachan and seasonal specials such as Newcastle Brown.

Lindisfarne Oysters were first grown by the Sutherland family as a sideline to their thriving beef and arable farm. Since then their refreshingly delicate taste has made them a success story in their own right.

Susan Green uses the finest traditional baking ingredients for the divine home-made desserts sold under her Proof of the Pudding label. Steamed Marmalade Sponge with Orange Liqueur anyone? Mmm…

In the tiny Northumberland fishing village of Craster , L.Robson & Sons is a fourth-generation family business specialising in the traditional method of oak-smoking kippers and salmon, using a time-honoured mixture of whitewood shavings and oak sawdust to achieve that unforgettable flavour.

All the lip-smacking real ales created by High House Farm Brewery have been named after one of the farm’s trusted collie dogs or other animals and, dare we say it, you’d be barking not to try some.

For a special treat, afternoon tea at Terry Laybourne’s glorious Jesmond Dene House Hotel is a must. Even better, stay overnight and have dinner and breakfast too!

Dating from the 13th century, North Shields Fish Quay is the perfect place to enjoy locally-caught fish while watching the boats go by. And you can’t get more local than the North Shields Fish Pie in Café Black Door at the Magnesia Bank.

One of only three chilli farms in the UK, Trees Can’t Dance concocts tongue-tingling sauces, rubs and marinades that will put a fiery glow in your cheeks.

As well as a Michelin Star, The White Room at Seaham Hall Hotel has a Good Food Guide score of six, a Harden’s Restaurant Guide Remy Award and three rosettes from the AA. Taste the food and judge for yourself!

Archers Jersey Ice Cream comes in a range of seasonal flavours, including champagne rhubarb grown in the farm garden from seed.

Almost all of Chocolini’s chocolate treats are crafted by hand by the shop’s own chocolatier, using only the finest Belgian chocolate and ingredients. And if some of the boxes look good enough to eat, it’s because they’re made of chocolate too! 

It’s hard to find a more civilised setting than the magnificent French-style chateau that’s home to Café Bowes . And a browse through the museum’s dazzling collections is the perfect way to walk off the delicious scones

Make sure you’ve walked up an appetite before calling at Burtree Farm shop . The award-winning Sticky Toffee Pudding is impossible to resist!.