Small plates: Devon & Newcastle eateries

I've spent the last few weeks on what has felt like an endless train journey, visiting family in Devon and them travelling to Newcastle for work. I've had no time to stop and pause, let alone sample any of the Cardiff/Penarth area's finest eateries. I do, however, have some brief (hence, 'small plates') recommendations and reviews of two places I was very impressed with on my travels.

The Old Pottery
House of Marbles
The Old Pottery
Pottery Road
Bovey Tracey
Devon
TQ13 9DS
p: +44 (0)1626 835285
e: enquiries@houseofmarbles.com
http://www.houseofmarbles.com/hom/caferest


The first is The Old Pottery, a cafe and licensed restaurant in the House of Marbles tourist attraction in Bovey Tracey, around 30 minutes outside of Exeter.



Cafes in such places can often be disappointing but this was a real find, with a cosy atmosphere, an excellent choice of food and some good wines. There was a real emphasis on local produce with local sausages and salmon on the menu and Brixham dab on the specials board. The prices were also very reasonable with a main course costing around £8.00. There's a tempting cava afternoon tea for two on offer as well, which will set you back a moderate £30 for two.

Pie of the day


Penne with chicken and cream pesto sauce


Thai green curry


Silk Room
Trinity Gardens
Newcastle Quayside
NE1 2HF.
Telephone: 0191 260 3506
http://www.silkroom.co.uk/



The Silk Room claims to be the 'only restaurant and champagne bar in the North East' and there's certainly a clear emphasis on champagne with a range of champers and bubble cocktails on offer. The lemon refresher of Moet and limoncello was delicious and there are options for all tastes and budgets from £8 glasses of Moet or Lanson through to £250 bottles of Dom Perignon.

The starters were well priced and we sampled the Duck & Champagne terrine with English fruit chutney (£6.50) and poached hens egg with proscuitto and watercress (£5.95).





The big draw for the main course (which approximately 80% of the diners opted for when we were there) was a Kobe Wagyu Burger which was priced at £19.99 and came with salad, relish and some delicious fries. Having never tasted this beef before, the price tag made it too good to pass up and we were not disappointed. The meat was beyond tender, more like a very well cooked piece of ground steak than a usual burger, and it was more than filling.



The overall bill for two startes, two Kobe burgers, two beers, two glasses of Moet and a champagne cocktail was £93.00 which we felt was excellent given the surroundings, the food and the experience. If you're ever in Newcastle, I recommend that you wander down to the Quayside and give this place a go.