Regional delicacies: a guide for those new to the North East

Have you moved to the North-East for university and want to find out more about its regional cuisine? Well, you may have noticed there are spots around the city selling some of the region’s favourite meals. There are huge differences in cultures across the country. At university, we see the blending of these cultures as students who have travelled up north are given a chance to explore everything Newcastle has to offer, especially its unique dishes. 

Manjaro’s, for example, is a staple of the North-East. Originating in Middlesbrough, the restaurant serves the Teesside 'Chicken Parmo.' Middlesbrough, which is situated south of Newcastle and Sunderland, invented the delicacy consisting of breadcrumbed chicken, béchamel sauce, and cheese. Whilst this may sound like an odd combination, many have tried it after moving up north, and found it shocking that it isn’t more popular elsewhere. Whilst what may seem to simply be a giant cheesy chicken nugget originating from just south of Newcastle, many places such as Manjaro’s and some local pizza shops sell this in the city. Some have found that the Geordies' attempt at a parmo is slightly different to the Smoggies', but still worth a try.

Additionally, you will have found that there are several Greggs dotted around the city centre. You may have wondered if so many small bakeries are necessary, but it is true that you can find large queues at each one on a morning, proving the amount to be reasonable. With cheap prices, and a northern menu filled with extra pastries that other regions fail to serve, Greggs is central to Newcastle’s food culture. Stotties, for example, are often limited to the North-East, being sold in Greggs across the region in places such as Newcastle, Sunderland, and Teesside. The delicious bread is traditional to the North-East, and famously, the savoury cheese filling is the most popular, with locals and travelling students alike enjoying the regional specialty.