There's No Place Like Home

Living just a stone's throw away from the sea, I always consider myself to be extremely lucky. I'm at my most comfortable in a big wooly jumper and pair of wellies, joined by my dogs as we walk across the sand. Even when grey skies hang low overhead, heavy with rain that threatens to spill onto the roaring waves below, I love where I live.

North Shields Fish Quay is best known as the home of shipbuilding, fishermen and early morning markets where families and business owners come from far and wide to buy the freshest fish or grab a bargain on the catch of the day. Fast forward to 2013 and the fish quay is enjoying something of a transformation. Fish is still very much at the heart of these winding streets and narrow stairwells, but by mid-morning the initial chaos of fish markets and cars has ceased, coffee is brewing in the local cafes, business is being done in offices and the restaurants are getting ready for the lunchtime rush. Luckily for me and my tastebuds, the fish quay has also seen a number of new independent bars and restaurants pop up over the past five years or so, one of which has become one of my favourite restaurants in the region. 

Irvins Brasserie takes its name from its location - the old Irvin Building was built for fishing pioneer Richard Irvin over a century ago and is something of a local landmark. Standing umpteen storeys high, Irvins Brasserie is the labour of love of chef Graeme Cuthell which occupies the ground floor and boasts a 'peekaboo' view of the small beach and sea beyond. Inside its industrial feel fits perfectly into its surroundings, the Irvin Building was the stomping ground of fishermen and tradesmen, so it's only fitting that the walls are exposed brick, industrial-style low lighting and minimalist decor. Spotlights overheard add ambience, and tonight, for Irvins' Christmas party, strings of fairy lights hung above the windows, while gingerbread cookies hung from miniature trees around the room. 

As if she would allow anything else, my date for the evening was of course Mother Hall (only this time without her multi-coloured plaster cast - a souvenir from her trip to Glastonbury earlier this year). Mother and Daughter duo were greeted warmly and offered a seat at the newly refurbished bar area and a glass of prosecco/salmon blini while we waited for other guests to arrive. I also had to try very hard not to sneak a bite of this... 

The evening kicked off with the popping of corks of a fantastic Planeta Brut and an introduction to our wines for the evening by On Trade Sales Northern UK/Simon Chant before being spoilt with a first course of seafood chowder served in a teacup with homemade bread with plenty of butter (well, it is the season to indulge...) It was without doubt the kind of meal you want to warm yourself up with on a cold night, I couldn't fault it. 

Despite only meeting some of the people on our table less than an hour ago, we were already getting on like a house on fire, tucking into a big pot of shepherds pie and passing plates of it round the table like we were at a family get together. The atmosphere was so laidback and chilled, meaning we all got to meet some fantastic new friends.

Our main course was accompanied by two rich glasses of red which enhanced the succulent meat and fluffy potato with every bite. A hard act to follow, I have to say dessert of caramelised tarte tatin with vanilla creme anglaise came up trumps. 

Just look at that beauty...

Once again our little family tucked in and helped one another, everyone declaring it was just what the meal needed - a good old stick-to-the-ribs dessert. The two dessert wines which came with our dessert weren't to my tastes, but it was still great to get the chance to try them. 

Before we knew it, the clock had struck ten and there was just enough time to sip our two coffees to compare, say our goodbyes/merry christmases/happy new years and head out into the cold December night. Luckily for us, we only had a short walk home, but it helped work off some of those calories. 

As usual, Graeme and his team had a few surprises up their sleeves for their Christmas party and I can honestly say I'd be surprised if anyone was disappointed with their performance. A huge thank you to Graeme and everyone at Irvins, we both had a fantastic evening and although I'll be off to sunnier climes for Christmas/New Year soon, I'll definitely back in the New Year for some more to keep me going until the sun comes back! 

Anyone interested in seeing what all the fuss is about for themselves can check the seasonal menus out  here 

....or say hello on Twitter @IrvinsBrasserie 

Stress Relieving Spa Escape

For some, the idea of getting a massage seems quite self-indulgent or an unjustifiable expense, but for me, it's all about pressing pause on the pace of life, de-stressing and restoring well being. Even the word massage sends shivers down my spine...

One of my good friends Sammy, who has worked incredibly hard to train as a massage therapist, recently opened up her very own beauty and holistic therapies salon, so I couldn't resist popping in to have a look.

Sammy Anne's Holistic Therapies is a gorgeous little shop/treatment room in Whitley Lodge, not far from Whitley Bay town centre and the beach. Easily accessible by car (with plenty of free car parking spaces), bus and metro (heck, you could even cycle there and be really healthy if you wanted to), Sammy's treatment menu really does have something for everyone.

I remember my first massage experience very well: it was a few weeks after my beloved Granda had died quite suddenly and I was feeling really out of sorts as you would expect. I'm sure you've all experienced a similar feeling - you don't want to stay indoors feeling miserable but don't want to face the world either. I wanted somewhere I could escape, where my thoughts would switch off and give me some peace even for just an hour. I decided to give massage a go, but at £40 for an hour's session I knew it wasn't going to be something I could afford to do regularly.  I admit I was a little apprehensive at first, you are essentially stripping half naked and letting a stranger touch you for an hour, but once they start working their magic and knead all the knots, aches and pains away you'll be begging them to carry on for another hour!

A combination of busy living and spending the day at a desk left me with an annoying pain between my shoulder blades and back (I blame my terrible posture). To help me and my muscles relax, Sammy got to work and whipped out her essential oils. Combining geranium, ylang ylang and clary sage with slow 'effleurage' movements and some draining techniques (it was so much more relaxing than it sounds I promise), I slowly felt the knots (or pockets of fluid) drift away and disperse. Sammy is also trained in Sports Massage which came in handy for those stubborn knots. Although at times she applied more pressure than you would in a normal massage, it's not painful at all and you really feel your muscles loosening up.

What is aromatherapy?

Aromatherapy is a holistic treatment based on the external use of aromatic oils to help promote physical, mental and spiritual well being. It's good to try if you find yourself feeling anxious, stressed or low. Aromatherapy oils can also be dropped into a tissue and tucked inside your pillow at night to help you sleep better. 

My skin smelled so nice from the essential oils and Sammy finished off the treatment with an amazing neck and shoulder massage and pressed a hot towel on my back to warm my muscles up. Both my treatment and blend of aromatherapy oils were mixed by Sammy according to my individual needs which we discussed in the initial consultation. So in my massage for example, Sammy used geranium for its delicate floral notes to help ease anxiety and stress, ylang ylang for its calming properties and clary sage to stimulate the senses and help uplift my mood. The same goes for the techniques she used, although not everyone will need those added sports massage moves, they're ideal for sorting out stubborn aches and pains.

Good To Know: Not only is Sammy Anne's Holistic Therapies a local business that is definitely worth supporting, her prices are a lot lower than the well-known city spas so you can spoil yourself or a family member for a lot less than you think this Christmas!

She is also offering a 40 minute shoulder, back and neck massage (which is what I had) for just £20 throughout December. If you've never been for a massage before then I would definitely recommend it. You don't have to be feeling stressed or sad (although it does help you feel better), massage can be a perfect way to treat yourself after a busy week or to grab some much-needed 'me time'.

If you have any questions about aromatherapy or massage I know Sammy will be more than happy to help - you can email her at info@sammyannes.com. I'm booking myself in for another round of sports massage to keep me relaxed and calm in the run up to Christmas!

Fancy a Few Laughs?

Fans of comedy in the region are no doubt already well acquainted with Newcastle's comedy scene, but last night was my first visit to The Stand and those of you who follow me on Twitter will already know that we were treated to a surprise visit from fellow geordie Sarah Millican.

Being the thriving comedy hub it is, The Stand host stand up sessions throughout the week, but Wednesday nights are only £2 so for that price (and of course the chance to see Sarah Millican about three feet away) we snapped seats up.

What we didn't quite expect was the Biblical-esque storm we'd have to compete with just to get there...

All dressed up and wondering if I really did want to risk leaving the house...

With the roads near flooded, the dog cowering under the kitchen table scared of the thunder and the rain lashing down, it seemed the weather was having a joke on us (weeey, see what I did there?) 

Even my guinea pigs were suitably snuggled up for the night

Eventually I decided to brave it, so brolly in hand off I headed to High Bridge Street in search of a few laughs. The club is quite small compared to some venues, but I liked its intimacy. Upstairs is a light and bright restaurant and downstairs is the (teeny weeny) stage and another well-stocked bar.

I wanted to grab the seats right at the front in the hope of being picked on but this lot weren't having any of it.

Our compere for the evening was a Michael McIntyre-inspired comic named Tom Tuck who did a brilliant job introducing us to our acts for the evening. I'm afraid I didn't get everyone's names, but I can definitely report that the region has some funny homegrown talent.

Sneaky Sarah Millican photo stolen from this lovely lady

At around half ten our star guest arrived ready to share with us some new material which was really good. I loved the stories about her parents going on their first cruise and a few good hotel anecdotes (I won't spoil the surprise!)

Thank you to The Stand for my first local comedy experience, I've been telling everyone I know about how good (and cheap) you are - see you again soon no doubt!

Friends, Fairylights and Fine Dining

Much to my boyfriend's dismay, one of my favourite things to do is go out for food. It doesn't have to be expensive, just somewhere with a nice atmosphere and good food. 

Luckily for him, best friend Lisa makes an excellent culinary companion; having been friends for just about forever, I'm pleased to say we've built up quite a repertoire of go-to dinner destinations across the North East. 

Oddly enough, there's a restaurant just a stones throw away from our houses called The New Exchange Brasserie we've always wanted to try but never got round to doing so. So when I spotted an offer for The New Exchange for a meal for two with wine on NEoffers.co.uk, I told wor lass to dress to impress and be ready for our date. 

From what I gather, The New Exchange in North Shields has changed hands over the years, but its secluded courtyard location has remained one of its biggest assets. The patio/courtyard terrace is magical thanks to the stylish rattan tables and chairs and strings of twinkly fairy lights festooned and wrapped around every available surface. Sadly we would not be dining alfresco tonight thanks to the wild North Sea wind that threatened to blow our hair from our heads but it was a pretty sight all the same. 

Walking into the restaurant, I instantly liked its laidback atmosphere and effortlessly cool interior. Exposed red brick walls contrast with soft leather chairs, while the inky night sky hangs above you, seeping into the room from the glass walls and lean-to roof. 

After presenting our voucher, we were shown to our table, where we popped open the cork of our bottle of house white and spilled the contents of our lives to each other until prompted to make a decision from the menu. 

It's probably worth noting that the £19.99 deal from NEoffers.co.uk will get you a bottle of house wine and a main course for two - any additional drinks, starters or desserts are extra. 

We decided to sample the black pudding and chorizo 'bombe' with redcurrant jus and micro greens to start and share apple crumble and custard for dessert. The black pudding and chorizo starter came encased in flaky puff pastry which was a surprise (who can refuse extra carbs?) and we both thought the portion size was generous. 

I'd like to say we were wildly adventurous with our mains (the menu did tempt us with pan-friend sea bass, Barbary duck breast and wild mushroom risotto), but the trouble with dining out with your best friend is that inevitably you'll both like the same thing - so pan friend pork loin with peppercorn sauce, glazed carrots and handcut chips it was! 

Both the pork and the peppercorn sauce was delicious and I thought the sticky sweetness of the carrots was a nice touch too. Unfortunately, our chips had to be sent back to the kitchen as they were still quite hard and threatened to spoil the dish. 

Dessert arrived shortly after our mains and we happily tucked into warm, gooey apple pie and custard served with a side of cinder toffee. Being an avid dessert fan, I have to say I was a little disappointed that the crumble was more of an oaty granola rather than the good old stick-to-the-ribs flour and butter crumble topping you would make at home, but I would still give it 4/5 as we managed to clean the plate. 

VERDICT: The New Exchange was just the right kind of busy for midweek and we're glad we finally got the chance to try it. I'm sure we'll be back, if not just to sip something delicious on that twinkly outdoor terrace! 

The restaurant is a true hidden gem and what better excuse to uncover it than with a voucher on NEoffers.co.uk?

Pssst, quote PROSECCOANDPIE when buying your voucher online 

and enjoy an extra 10% off on me - cheers! 

Pleased To Meat You

Want to know where to find the region's best burger? Of course you do. 

Read on dear friends, and I shall reveal all.

Just look at that meaty, cheesy goodness...

Everybody loves a good burger, no one more so than me, but I'm often put off ordering them from unfamiliar menus for fear of being confronted by tasteless meat encased in hard melted cheese and a lacklustre bun, then being charged over a tenner for the privilege. 

Rumours of good food at The Fat Hippo in Jesmond have long been whispered in my ear, but living near the coast has long kept my food cravings satisfied so I'd never had a reason to visit. Well it just so happens that my friend Emily lives very close to The Fat Hippo and insisted I try it - Emily all I can say is thank you!

The Fat Hippo's menu is short and sweet, but that's not a bad thing. Menus are brought on a wooden clipboard, so we got down to business and decided what we want. We visited on a Sunday so the Happy Hour wasn't on, but it's definitely worth mentioning if you have the midweek munchies. Get one course for £7, two courses for £9 or three for £10 from 5-7pm Tuesdays-Fridays. Not bad at all! 

With jalapeno poppers, fat hot dogs and a chunky peanut butter, bacon jam and cheese burger to choose from, I was suitably impressed by the quirkiness of the menu (I should have known then that my burger was going to be good). 

Before Emily killed me for being so indecisive, I finally opted for the Texax BBQ - a meat feast topped with bacon, cheese, onion rings and barbecue sauce, accompanied by homemade chips. Emily went veggie with the Big Fat Bean Burger (halloumi, red peppers, tomato and garlic mayo) and chips. Oh and add two bottles coke in a proper glass bottle to that order please waiter. 

The 'Before' picture (you wouldn't want to see the ravaged mess that was the 'after')

The restaurant was really busy, but our food arrived within minutes of ordering which was brilliant. Taking a big bite of my burger I was pleasantly surprised to find the meat was tender and juicy with a slight pepper kick. Not a single piece was over or undercooked, the bun was lovely and soft, the onion rings were light and crispy just the way they should be, the chips were thick and lightly salted...everything was just how I like it. 

In between demolishing my own burger you'll be pleased to know I managed to ask Emily how hers was. Despite being a meat eater, she fancied something different and thought the Big Fat Bean Burger was a worthy alternative. Everything came to just over £20 between us which I think is excellent value for money, the staff were lovely and the atmosphere was bustling. I'll definitely be back - this time I don't need an excuse to be in Jesmond! 

You can browse the menu and opening hours online.  

Do you agree with my verdict? If not I'd love to hear your recommendations 

Baby, It’s Cold Outside

How do you feel about onesies?

If I’m entirely honest, my answer before I discovered The All In One Company was ‘hmm I'm not really bothered about them.’ Don’t get me wrong, I love being warm, but I thought it was a bit strange that people went outdoors in what is effectively a large baby-gro. That being said, my mam and I bought our first onesie as a joke Christmas present last year from Primark, turns out they came in pretty handy when our boiler decided to break and we had no heating for most of December! But all in all, my fetching dalmatian-style onesie was confined to the house.

Not my most fashionable look I have to say...

After receiving a PR email about the All In One Company, I have to say I began to look at onesies in a new light. 

The first thing that struck me about them was that they are a local company. Not only do they have a celebrity following, everything is handmade in Ashington, Northumberland by a team of skilled seamstresses, something which I’m very happy to support. I also liked the fact that you could design it yourself, meaning you no longer have to decide between a novelty dinosaur and dalmatian that is ten sizes too big. The company was founded by Kate Dawson in 2008 after she was unable to find all-in-ones for her kids on the high street. They make onesies for all ages and sizes, and everything is made to order so you can be sure your onesie will fit snugly. They’ve actually thought of everything - add a hood, ears, tails, feet, pockets and mittens. You can even add non-slip soles to the feet to prevent slips on smooth surfaces; kitchen floors (see, I told you they’d thought of everything).

The company’s eco credentials are good too – they donate off cuts of fabric to local schools and community projects so nothing is wasted. They’ve also been shortlisted for the Training Award and Apprenticeships Awards at the Northumberland Business Awards, so good luck to them!

The company invited me to design my own; confident they could change my mind, so I put them to the test!

To get started, simply choose whether you’d like a onesie for a man, woman or child.  Next, enter your individual measurements and choose your fabric. I have to say I struggled to choose a design there was just so many fabrics to pick from! It was a toss between the Cath Kidston-inspired strawberry print, a red and white Minnie Mouse polka dot ensemble or the very cool ‘Scandi-chic’ design I’d spied on their newsletter.

If you’re short on time or need a little inspiration then you can order a pre-designed onesie here

Maybe you fancy being the eye of the tiger?

Or a teddy bear?

I can honestly say that the quality, fit and whole experience of buying an All In One Company onesie is fantastic. Yes they're more expensive than the novelty high street onesies, but I tell you, it'll last forever. With the weather turning colder now is definitely the time to invest in a onesie for yourself or a loved one as a Christmas gift, it’s made from polar fleece and is SO warm. My favourite thing is the genius little extras like the ‘I-Poc-It’ to keep your ipod etc at hand and the option to have your name or a design embroidered on it. My onesie was made to order and came less than a week later. It fits so well and everyone I’ve shown it to loves it – I think I might have to order my mam one for Christmas!

What do you think?

I’d love to see your pictures of your designs, or why not share the post below to tell a friend about The All In One Company. 

Payday Friendly Place To Eat

After managing to grab a pair of (very last minute) tickets to see Fiddler on the Roof as a treat for my mam last week, I finally got the chance to visit the iconic Theatre Royal after it's recent restoration. As expected, both the show and the recently-renovated surroundings were fantastic, yet it was the bar/pizzeria attached to the theatre that took me by surprise. 

We decided to have a few drinks in Pasqualino's before the show. Furnished with colourful mismatched chairs and graffiti-style walls, the bar also boasts an extensive drinks menu which we made good use of and made a mental note to return for food. As luck would have it, less than a week later the boyfriend and I found ourselves in town after work looking for somewhere to eat. With payday still in the distant future, we didn't want to pay over the odds. This is probably also a good time to mention that my darling boyfriend is quite possibly the fussiest eater ever, so finding somewhere we can both agree on is difficult. With two courses of any pizza or pasta for £8.95, or three for £10.95 until 10pm, Pasqualino's came to the rescue. 

Pasqualino's was just the right kind of busy for me when we arrived on a rainy Thursday evening: bustling and buzzing without being too loud or overcrowded. Richie knew what he wanted straight away (minestrone soup to start followed by pasta Amatriciana which consisted of smoked pancetta, onion and tomato), whereas I struggled to narrow down my list of choices (nothing new there though). The Orecchiette Pinoli (fresh orecchiette with chillli, pine nuts, lemon zest and broccoli) sounded good, but then again so did the pappadelle maiale (pasta with pulled pork, onion dried tomatoes, marscapone and sage), but I eventually opted for the latter: the Lola pizza (peppers, mozzarella and rocket pesto) and dessert to satisfy my sweet tooth. As Richie wolfed down his minestrone soup starter I sipped my glass of chilled prosecco looking at him with doe eyes until he offered me some. I'm pleased to report that the stock was rich and moreish with a slight kick while the soft vegetables fell to pieces in your mouth. Richie actually declared it was the best soup he's ever eaten. Not a bad start! 

Our mains soon arrived and Richie was greeted by a steaming bowl of fresh pasta while I tackled my ginormous pizza. The dough was thin and crispy just the way I like it and the pesto drizzle lifted the fresh tomato base. Nothing was too much for the staff, checking we had everything we needed and were okay for drinks which was lovely. Naturally I had to try some of Richie's pasta and I'm afraid I have to admit to a slight case of food envy. The pasta was cooked to perfection, swirled into a meaty sauce and generously sprinkled with parmesan. I guess it was only fair that I let Richie have a taste of my dessert - a knickerbockerglory of joy filled with generous scoops of creamy chocolate ice cream, crushed amaretto biscuit and a berry compote. Delicious!

The food at Pasqualino's is wonderfully homecooked food and fantastic value for money that is best served with a glass of wine and friends which is exactly what the girls are planning to do very soon!

To browse their extensive menu and find out more information about this fantastic Italian's - visit www.pasqualinos.co.uk

If like me, there just aren't enough hours in the day and you haven't had a chance to check out the new and improved Theatre Royal, or you fancy doing something different with your Saturday night, see what's on at www.theatreroyal.co.uk (I just booked tickets for the Scottish Ballet and can't wait to go back)