It's time for Newcastle Food Month's annual festival in April and one of the most popular events is the Plate Date. This is where restaurants, bars and cafes offer up one plate of food and a glass of wine for $30. Come along as we preview some of this year's plate dates and find out where to stay during Newcastle Food Month. I'll show you great places to eat within Newcastle's city centre and also in surrounding suburbs.
Plate Dates within easy walking distance of the Newcastle City Centre
1- The Del
At The Del, a pub on busy Darby street, the plate date offering is a collaboration between The Del and Arno Deli. Chefs Steve Smith from The Del and Will O'Brien from Arno Deli are friends so it was natural that there would be some teaming up.
Arno Deli's porchetta features on one of their most popular sandwiches. The porchetta is layered with fennel seeds, black pepper, coarse salt, grated orange zest, rosemary and a tiny amount of chilli. And for April, The Del's Plate Date is a pizza using this porchetta on their house made pizza bases paired with a glass of First Creek Vermentino wine. Available for Lunch & Dinner every day.
2- Arno
Arno Deli owner Will O'Brien is a chef of 26 years and he opened up Arno Deli in late 2021 on the back of a life-changing trip to Italy and Florence where the sandwiches at All'Antico Vinaio changed his life.
Will's sandwiches are so popular that nowadays they go through 15-20kg salumi and 50kg mortadella daily. The sandwich selections change regularly, but the #2 always remains on the menu because it is Will's personal favourite.
The #10 roast beef with rare roast beef, red pesto, salsa verde, semi-dried tomato, lockers, ricotta salata, and aioli is an umami flavour bomb. But vegetarians are well catered for with the #23 avocado, cucumber, and apple. And there are no dry sandwiches here with sandwiches often having up to 3-4 house made sauces on them. The Plate Date is any sandwich with a glass of wine available for lunch every day.
Upgrade: On a hot day the tiramisu latte or a creme di caffe is great to have with your sandwich.
3- Foghorn Brewery
One of the most popular breweries in Newcastle is located right in the centre of town on King Street just diagonally opposite Arno Deli. The site has gone from a mechanic's to manufacturing to now manufacturing beer. Owner and head brewer, Shawn Sherlock has gone from making terrible burgers in Ireland in the 90s to selling delicious steak sandwiches for this year's Plate Date.
These "Kick Ass Steak Sanga" is a steak sandwich that comes with scotch fillet and an house-made brewer's malt BBQ sauce and tomato chutney using malt extracted from the brewing process. This can be either paired with a glass of First Creek wine or a Foghorn Brewery beer (hey recommend having this with their dark ale). Available all day Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday & Friday.
4- Signal Box
Signal Box opened in Newcastle in 2019 and is located the old railway precinct. The idea was to source from local wineries and put the best of Newcastle forward. The restaurant itself is made nearly entirely of steel and concrete to honour the city's history in one of Newcastle's signature colours (cinnamon brown). The large glass windows open up to let the breeze in.
The this year's plate date is one of their most popular starters. It's the Chinese Spiced Squid with a crispy yet tender texture with chili coriander, crispy onions and aioli (usually $23 by itself) with a glass of wine. Available for lunch Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday & Sunday.
Upgrade: if you're looking to round out your meal, the scallops are incredibly popular but the sashimi and the beef carpaccio are favourites. For a full review of Signal Box, see this post.
5- Blanca
You might do a double take when you reach Blanca - no, you're not in the Mediterranean; you're on the Newcastle foreshore. This stunning, whitewashed, Mediterranean-inspired restaurant is known for its hospitality. Pretty much everything on the menu is a winner, but this year's plate date is probably this most popular signature dish, the Saganaki.
The Kalograviera cheese comes out, sizzling hot on a cast iron in a spicy harissa sauce with oregano, chilli and Malfroy's honey. This is paired with either Lavender or Limoncello Spritz. Available for Lunch & Dinner Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday & Sunday
Upgrade: Other tasty picks on the menu are any crudo, oysters, lamb or the burek. The Limoncello tiramisu is also a standout for dessert.
6- Romberg's at Crystalbrook Kingsley
Located high on the 9th floor of the brutalist designed Crystalbrook Kinglsey Hotel sits Romberg's, a rooftop bar with expansive views of Newcastle below. And this year's plate date is a collaboration between Romberg's and Earp distillery.
It is a martini done any which way you like paired with a loaded Gilda. This one has anchovy, olive, piquillo chilli, octopus, chorizo and pickle. Available for Dinner Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday & Saturday.
Upgrade: Stay for other cocktails like the Kingsley Fashioned, a riff on an Old Fashioned made with Macallan 15 year single malt, house golden syrup, Angostura bitters, black walnut bitters and lactic acid that comes in a smoking glass box and is paired with a Romberg's branded chocolate cigar for $65.
7- Maru Hi-Fi
When you walk into Maru Hi-fi you'll probably do a double take. This space is inspired by Japan's Jazz Kissa culture. Those wooden waves on the wall are not just there for aesthetics, they're also sound proofing. If you like your food and drink with music but don't want to have to shout, head here. They have a collection of around 10,000 vinyls and it is open late (2am on weekends).
This year's plate date is a divine creamy spiced tuna tartare with chives and pickled ginger smothered with a blanket of bonito hollandaise and tobiko with a slice of crunchy focaccia toast. This is paired with a Maru gin fizz made with T.K x Earp Gin, yuzu and cumquats.
Plate Dates a short drive away from the Newcastle City Centre.
8- Harrison's, Hamilton
At Harrison's in Hamilton the plate date is a collaboration between Harrison's and Newcastle Airport to celebrate the upcoming Singapore to Newcastle direct flights. They are serving up a spaghettini with Singapore crab sauce and a glass of First Creek Vermentino. The pasta has a tomato-soy and chilli based sauce with crab and is finished with chilli oil. Available Wednesday – Thursday 5pm–8pm and Friday 12pm–3pm.
Upgrade: Harrison's whipped ricotta and melon salad is delightful and is available on the regular menu.
9- Crumb, Lambton
Crumb is the brainchild of Gareth Williams and Ian Richardson and this popular vinoisserie in Lambton sells between 700-1,000 pastries a day and once you try one you'll see why. For their pastries they use a French butter with 84% fat that gives each earth shattering bite a fantastic true butter flavour.
Their plate date includes 2 pastries and 2 coffees to takeaway. They are making 3 pastries especially made for Newcastle Food Month. The first is a burnt honey curd like lemon curd made with milk, cream, butter and white chocolate paired with a sunrise lime curd, meringue and marigold oil. The second is a Pain Suisse with cross laminated pastry and filled with a vanilla custard with caramelised white chocolate cross (my favourite). The third is a raspberry jam and miso caramel filled cruffin with matcha powder on top.
Upgrade: savoury lovers I've got you covered -the chorizo and hot honey pastry is incredibly tasty. It is filled with a split chorizo sausage with ricotta, Swiss and provolone cheeses and drizzled with hot honey and is on their regular menu.
10- Baked Uprising, Maryville
Something is baking in the Backstreets of Maryville Newcastle. While Crumb is about innovative pastries, Baked Uprising is more about freshly baked bread and classic pastries.
Their plate date is a local smoked fish pate with locally foraged seaweed furikake, shaved fennel and cos lettuce on their sourdough baguette with a house pomegranate soda made using fruit from their trees. The fish will change according to what is available. Available all day every day.
11- Cake Boi, Hamilton
This year's NFM ambassador Reece Hignell is the personality behind Cake Boi. The MasterChef alum hails from Newcastle and creates nostalgic cakes, cookies and slices at his store in Hamilton.
His best seller is the Lemon Tart that took 6 years to perfect. Pastry Chef Armaury Guichon said that it was one of the best citron tarts. Indeed it's sublime - silky smooth but skillfully barely set with a thin biscuit crust and is definitely worth the raves.
This year's plate date features 2 cakes of your choice and 2 drinks. Cakes sell out quickly so it is best to get in early especially if you want a slice of the lemon tart or Reece's grandmother's recipe for passionfruit curd and cream layered sponge cake. I also really enjoyed the vanilla slice with passion fruit icing.
12- Earp Distilling Co., Carrington Island
Earp's origins started in Australia when George Earp arrived to Australia from England seeking better health in 1883. Now the Earps are one of the longest continuously running family owned companies in Australia. They started as merchant traders import and exporting everything from grain, matches, whisky, Ford Model Ts and cement during the art deco era. More recently they expanded into ceramic tiles from Spain. Look up and you'll see the botanical art by the family's matriarch Roz Earp rendered in mosaic.
Earp's plate date is all about Carrington's life as the port area. Prawn Ajillo are prawns cooked in a house Napoli sauce with heirloom tomatoes, garlic butter, green sweet chilli peppers and parsley and served with flat bread. This is paired with their #8 Dry Gin & Tonic.
Upgrade: While you're there try one of the blending or distilling classes. And make sure to try their oyster gin made using Dawsons oysters using actual oyster meat for flavour and shell for aromates. If you can't guess the secret ingredient that gives the gin its sweetness and aroma, it's watermelon!
13- Sukimama, Islington
From her lantern adorned window Suki Kwon has built up a loyal following of customers that adore her. Sukimama doesn't have a Plate Date but we enjoyed the food here so much I had to include her in the round up. The menu is tight and bright. Start with the plump Mandu dumplings filled with chicken and sweet potato noodles.
Then make sure to try the prawn toast and sticky, saucy Korean fried chicken. Wash it all down with a lemonade or sherbet watermelon mint soda. Suki also often pops up at Merewether surf club on Sundays.
Where to stay: Crystalbrook Kingsley
The Crystalbrook Kingsley is the official hotel partner for Newcastle Food Month and has a foodie sleepover package. This year's package includes a bottle of first Creek wine, Baked Uprising baguette, Pukara estate olive oil and caramelised balsamic vinegar, Binnnorie Dairy marinated feta and Hunter Belle Dairy Co. Brie Belle cheese in the room. For a room review, see my hotel review here.
Events Held at the Crystalbrook Kingsley
First Creek Wines Cellar Door in the City
During the month of April, First Creek Wines (the festival's wine sponsor) has a wine tasting in the lobby every half an hour on Thursday – Saturday: 2pm – 6pm Sunday: 11am – 3pm. You can taste 4 varieties of wine including the award winning Single Vineyard Wells Hill Chardonnay 2023. Fans of First Creek like their contemporary wines made with low oak.
Cakeboi x Roundhouse High Tea
Reece Hignell aka Cake Boi has teamed up with Crystalbrook Kingsley's new Exec Chef Joey Ingram to create a camp afternoon tea with Reece's signature nostalgic twist. All inspired by London's Sketch restaurant.
Reece designed the sweet tier with Battenberg cake, lemon tart and raspberry opera cake while Joey designed the savoury tier with grilled scallop, lobster roll and croque madame plus plain and custard filled scones with jam and cream on the side.
There will be bubbles, free flowing bubbles, a free flowing rose champagne glass tower and Reece promises camp above all. High tea is held every Saturday at the Roundhouse restaurant on Level 9. $109 per person.
So tell me Dear Reader, which plate dates are your pick? Do you go to many food festivals?
NQN was a guest of Newcastle Food Month but all opinions remain her own.
Newcastle Food Month
newcastlefoodmonth.com.au/plate-dates
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