We’re heading into the festive season and there’s a lot going on at Peace & Loaf – in the restaurant and in the kitchen.
It’s been great to have people coming in following my stint on Great British Menu. I loved being part of the competition and it’s nice to see people have been tuning in and then want to come and try our food.
I’m heading down to London soon to team back up with Dan Fletcher and Danny Parker, my fellow regional chefs from this year’s show, for an event at Sky Garden on Fenchurch Street hosted by Dan. It will be good to be back in the kitchen with the boys and cook the dishes from the show again.
It was lovely to see my friends Hamish and Vanessa, who provide garden produce for our kitchen, in the last edition of Appetite. They’re such amazing people, with a great passion for food and growing, and we love working with them at Peace & Loaf.
Back in the kitchen, we’re bang into autumn and winter with the best of things like squash, heritage carrots, chervil roots and warming, winter flavours on the menu. We’re also working with Collingwood Seafood of North Shields now and they’re smashing it out of the water (excuse the pun) with the fish they’re supplying. Squid is bang in season right now and the monkfish we’ve got in is also phenomenal.
In the restaurant, we’ve recently promoted Linden Green to restaurant manager and he’s doing a fantastic job. The team front of house and in the kitchen is so strong right now and we value every one of them so much.
At home, I’ve been lying low ahead of the Christmas season. I’m cooking this year and there are going to be a few friends and family around the table expecting a good meal – proper pressure! We’ve also got my brother’s wedding on Boxing Day, so there’s a best man’s speech to prepare along with a wedding pie. It’s going to be a busy one, but I’m sure it will be great fun at the same time.
Happy Christmas!
Dave Coulson, head chef and co-owner of Peace & Loaf in Newcastle offers an insight into life in (and out) of the kitchen. This month – the countdown to Christmas begins. Peace & Loaf Jesmond Road, Newcastle, NE2 1LA, tel 0191 281 5222, www.peaceandloaf.co.uk