mighty fine dining

Oh, the excitement when you uncover a gem. I'd heard a wee bit of buzz about this new-ish place in Newcastle, East End Enoteca and had it in the back of my mind as a dining option. So when I heard that foodie friends were coming up from Sydney and Melbourne, well, I knew Newcastle had to turn it up a notch.

So last night eight of us turned up at this fabulous place. Perfect size, perfect atmosphere - and oh, the food. We went with the tasting menu where delicious plates of Italian-inspired produce were continually produced before our ever-so-amazed eyes. Oh my.

Starting with either a Kir Royale or a summer cocktail of Elderflower and Prosecco {or Peroni for some of the boys}, we nibbled on spicy grissini sticks and marinated olives. Then came the food. Lordy - can words do it justice? A lemon tuna paté that was quite possibly one of the most delicious things I've ever eaten was followed by pork meatballs in a sweet tomato sauce, ocean trout and scallops so plump and tasty I'm drooling at the memory, then an incredible pork number, salads, crispy garlic potatoes, pan fried snapper fillets {with more scallops and a carrot puree} and finally a massive rib roast of beef.

Think that's enough? Oh no, there were also delightful morsels of aranchini and a gorgonzola risotto so creamy, so delightfully tasty, so perfectly accessorised with wilted radicchio that I may never eat another risotto such was the lofty taste heights that this number assumed.

We concluded the night {and by we, I mean me} with a cassis panacotta {mmmmm} or affogato and then icy limoncello.

If you're ever in Newcastle, no, hold on, make plans to come to Newcastle and book in with a group of friends. Oh, and we also highly recommend the Tuscan Sangiovese that helped wash everything down so well.

Sated? Oh yeah.