Autumn is a season of bounty and culinary traditions around the world take full advantage of seasonal produce, often incorporating cultural milestones and events to make dining even more of an occasion. If travelling to far flung locations isn’t on the cards this autumn, there are plenty of opportunities to taste the world right here in the North East!
In the UK, seasonal menus feature hearty dishes incorporating game meats, wild mushrooms and fruit fresh from the orchard. Rustic farm-to-table cuisine is a staple of The Courtyard in Pegswood near Morpeth, where chef Matt Hudson’s focus is on sustainability and tradition with a ‘nose-to-tail’ approach; try their pan-seared venison, served alongside truffled venison hot pot with carrot pureé and game reduction. At Hinnies in Whitley Bay, Geordie-influenced classic dishes follow the seasons; their pan haggerty is a regional delight, served with mustard cream, autumn vegetables and a poached egg.
If you know where to look, nature’s bounty is easily found on your doorstep during this abundant time. Gemma Gee, aka The Cramlington Forager, hosts foraging walks around the Northumberland countryside; her autumn events include a beginner’s guide to wild plants, fruits and mushrooms at Attlee Park, Bedlington (29 September) and a journey into coastal foraging and herbal medicine on Cambois beach (6 October).
On the continent, seasonal ingredients often mirror our own but unique flavours and cooking techniques are the real treat. Hexham’s Bouchon Bistrot specialise in classic country-style French cuisine with plenty of je ne sais quoi; try their rustic and earthy classic cassoulet with half duck confit, Toulouse sausage and haricot beans for a warming autumnal treat. Oktoberfest is a German celebration which marries folk traditions with beer and Bavarian food and the UK has embraced the tradition with gusto; Newcastle’s Broad Chare host their popular week-long Oktoberfest event from Friday 2 October with a special menu including staples of the season like goulash soup, currywurst, bratwurst and apple strudel, all accompanied by steins of beer (lederhosen optional). The menu at Newcastle’s Lubber Kitchen takes its cue from Central and Northern European bistros; expect to find dishes featuring seasonal veg whipped up into recipes taking inspiration from a broadly European canon of cookery; while on the coast at SaltHouse in Cullercoats, you’ll find a menu of Spanish-inspired tapas with fresh fish and changing weekend specials which reflect the country’s year-round sunny disposition.
Looking further afield, Miso in the Ouseburn Valley is inspired by Japan’s izakaya bars and has gained a sterling reputation for authentic and lip-smackingly good dishes; their steamed chicken or vegetable gyozas are always a popular choice, and other dishes reflect seasonal harvests and seafood. In China, mooncakes are a mid-autumn festival staple, pick up a pastry filled with dense sweet fillings of red bean or black sesame paste from Breadpoint in Newcastle.
To round off all this savoury fare, take advantage of the glut of fruit produced across orchards and fields across the UK and indulge in a couple of traditional North American sweet treats. A couple of our favourites are artisan bakery supremos The Running Fox, who incorporate apples and seasonal fruit into pies, crumble cake slices and other specialities; and Newcastle’s Sorcerer Coffee, who serve up a delicious pumpkin pie with whipped cream.
