Newcastle chef Kenny Atkinson and some of the region's culinary treats get to enjoy a taste of national attention this week as the TV series Islands to Highlands reaches Northumberland.
James Martin's new ITV series, which features the star of the kitchen on a food-focused tour of the UK, brings him to the North East in this Wednesday's episode where he's in for some mouthwatering treats.
The celebrity chef teams up with fellow cook Atkinson, who runs Michelin star restaurant The House of Tides on Newcastle Quayside and who was a regular guest when Martin hosted Saturday Kitchen.
The pair are seen teaming up a gastronomic jaunt which sees Martin indulge in some creative cookery on the beach and visit another star North East chef - James Close - at Michelin award-winner The Raby Hunt in Darlington where he ate food he declared as the "best I've ever eaten".
And viewers are in for a visual treat during Martin and Atkinson's stop-offs in coastal beauty spots in Northumberland which take in Coquet Island and Holy Island - where they sample Lindisfarne Mead, which revealed on its Facebook page that until now it had been "sworn to secrecy" about its appearance on the show.
And en route Martin tries his hand at cooking up some local delicacies such as Singing Hinnies and uses crab from The Smokehouse in Seahouses alongside local lobster to make a Singapore-inspired seafood dish which he rustles up on the beach. And stottie cake gets a look in too.
All three chefs tweeted about the episode which was filmed last year, with Atkinson saying: "What an amazing day we had" and Martin referring to the "ace Kenny Atkinson" and adding that his visit had given him the chance to "eat at one of the best restaurants yet."
Close said that while The Raby Hunt is being showcased, he is "looking forward to seeing the glorious North East" on TV.
The Northumberland episode, which airs from 2pm to 3pm this Wednesday on ITV is available to watch on catch-up.
