The return of a top chef to the city centre is promising to be a rum affair as diners are invited to join the celebration.
Head chef Chris Finnigan is back and in the kitchen at Colonel Porter's Emporium in Dean Street where he has been busy creating an extra-special menu for NE1 Newcastle Restaurant Week which launched on Monday.
And, besides the cut-price menu on offer at the restaurant-bar from August 5-11, diners are also being offered an extra treat to celebrate Finnigan's return: a complimentary rum punch.
The drink is free to everyone who pre-books a table during Restaurant Week to enjoy the menu he has produced which includes vegetarian and gluten-free options, with two courses being available for £10 or three for £15.
The chef, who is from Birtley in Gateshead , has his roots in French cuisine and was classically trained under Raymond Blanc.
Previous jobs on his return to Newcastle saw him establish the US-inspired menu at Lane7 when the 10-pin bowling venue initially opened in St James’ Boulevard and, most recently, he was working at The Impeccable Pig in Sedgefield.
Now he is bringing his culinary skills to bear at Colonel Porter's where his Restaurant Week menu is said to rival that of a top-rated London restaurant.
It includes the likes of twice-baked Roquefort blue cheese souffle with Waldorf salad and walnut dressing among the starters as well as cured sea trout with pickled samphire, pink grapefruit, cucumber and wasabi yoghurt.
Among the mains is braised shin of beef with Brown Ale roasted carrots and red wine jus, and celeriac and wild mushroom mille-feuille with hen's egg while those with a sweet tooth can enjoy such desserts as strawberry, white chocolate, prosecco and lavender trifle or grilled apricots with whipped mascarpone, maple syrup and toasted hazlenuts.
The free rum punch - Colonel Porter's stocks more than 150 rums from round the world - is available to those who pre-book for Restaurant Week.
To do so see here or call 0191 261 7600. And for the vouchers needed - and more about Newcastle restaurants participating in Restaurant Week - see here .
