Mary Rowntree Hartlepool

My wife and I both share a love of Hartlepool’s Historic Headland. On a grey day in January, we decided a walk around the old headland would be a good way to stretch our legs and take in the sea. It’s a strange quirky place with some beautiful buildings. We decided on fish and chips (yes again) and having been informed there was a good chipie we made our way in the general direction.

That’s when we stumbled upon an old church, recently renovated; There was a sign outside reading coffee and scones, Curious we stepped inside. The inside of the building was also beautifully restored, but instead of a church there was a stunning two-story restaurant. I read on the wall the new tea room takes its name from Mary Rowntree. Story has it she was a benefactor of the old chapel.

With breakfast still on the menu we tucked into a full English while taking in the view of the north sea.

Believe me when I say I’ve had a few good breakfasts in my time but this was without doubt the best. I think the picture tells a thousand words. Awarding winning sausage, free range eggs, well you can guess the rest. So if you’re planning a trip to Hartlepoo’s Headland-make sure you call into Mary Rowntree’s tea rooms.

York Place, Headland, Hartlepool, TS24 0QR, Hartlepool, England

FOOD 9 SERVICE 8 VALUE 9 REFER 10 Total: 37 SUPERB

This post was brought to you by the original 'goodfoodquest' beware of people who can't come up with an original idea of their own!

Royal Fisheries in Whitby

During half term, we decided on a trip to Whitby. Such a visit always requires a stop off for lunch at the Royal Fisheries. It’s not often I blog about the same establishment twice, in fact this may well be a first! However, the food (fish and chips) is of such a very high standard, I feel it worthy of a second mention.

Royal Fisheries have grown since our last visit, with a much larger dining area now situated alongside the smaller restaurant. Word must be spreading as they were almost full, We did however secure a table and my wife and I opted for the lunch time special of, tea, bread and butter, haddock and chips and yes-mushy peas! The children chose the same but from the children’s menu and I have to say the child portions were very generous.

The service and value for money makes the Royal Fisheries a family favourite. If you prefer, you can always pay more for the same dish elsewhere in town but I strongly recommend you first give this tucked away chippie a run for your money and use the savings for an ice cream on the pier.

Well worth a second visit.

This post was brought to you by the original 'good food quest'

FOOD 9 SERVICE 9 VALUE 9 REFER 10 Total: 37 SUPERB

Mussel Inn Edinburgh

New Year’s Day (eve) in Edinburgh, the family and I were searching for a different culinary experience for our last evening in Scotland’s capital. After musing through countless menus we finally decide on the Mussel Inn Seafood Restaurant. Peering through the window it looked busy and the simple menu caused excitement. The children are always happy to eat the same dish as their parents, so mussels being a family favourite, we opted for a large pot each (with chips). The food was served quickly and without fuss and was of a very good standard. Seated with a view into the kitchen and the pass, it was great to see the cooks at work.

Some of our experiences with children and city restaurants have proved awkward and hurried. Here in the Mussel Inn the opposite proved to be the case, with a friendly service, comfortable family dining and a bill we thought very good value. So if you’re looking for great seafood and you’re in Edinburgh we can recommend the Mussel Inn. This post was brought to you from the ‘original’ good food quest', beware of other sites, which have used our name.

FOOD 8 SERVICE 10 VALUE 9 REFER 10 Total: 37 SUPERB

http://goodfoodquest.com

I’ve just discovered we’ve been cloned, well, copied so to speak. Another blog is now online using the same name. Can’t understand why they would feel the need to copy what we’re doing. I suppose you could see it as flattery, but what’s the point? They must have realised there was already a ‘goodfoodquest’, if that was me I would have looked at using another name. Please be aware that any of their posts having nothing to do with the original ‘goodfoodquest’ I give them zero.

‘Real Meals’ delicatessen in Saltburn

2011 has been a quiet year for the Good Food Quest, our dinning exploits having been curtailed by other financial constraints and work commitments. However, I have a number of new posts to make, the first being ‘Real Meals’ delicatessen in Saltburn on the Cleveland Coast where my wife and youngest son enjoyed a Sunday lunch with a difference.

The deli is in the main high street and as you amble past you realise it looks a little different, the small café has only a few seats, but has the warm welcoming feel that’s rare these days. I think the open door helped.

We shared a huge bowl of mussels cooked in white wine with garlic, onion and severed with homemade bread. The three of us went into one of our food frenzies as we devoured the shellfish in total silence say for our slurps.

The service was polite and very friendly and made our trip to Saltburn all the more enjoyable. I would recommend to anyone and can’t wait to visit again. http://www.realmeals.co.uk/

FOOD 10 SERVICE 10 VALUE 10 REFER 10 TOTAL: 40

Tops the Good Food Quest Table.

Chesters Grove Garden Centre

I usually visit Chesters Grove - Garden Centre in Chester Moor, (on the road to Chester le Street) for my bedding plants, shrubs and fruit bushes. However, I was recently drawn into the coffee shop by the mouth-watering smell of mince and dumplings bubbling on the hot plate. I have a very soft spot for this dish, hence my tight rule of only allowing such indulgence once a year, and that my birthday. This was a day for change, I laughed in the face of numerous calories, I tweaked the nose of indigestion and ran riot with a Desperate Dan size portion, which from behind, showed only the top of my head. As I jammed each forkful into the widening aperture between jaws and lips, I heeded not the eyes of onlookers. I was in a zone you see, a mince and dumpling zone, a dark bisto place all of its own, a dangerous place for any interruption. I see nothing but the rich well-seasoned mince, the crusty dumplings with their light fluffy filling, and the gravy, oh the gravy, dark as the deepest pool, and velvety thick.

When I finished, it was almost like being awaked from a dream. The satisfaction was in the eating. I have been back three times since this post. Beware the dependency that this dish can cause. A habit-forming slavery to mince and dumplings.

FOOD 10 SERVICE 10 VALUE 10 REFER 10 TOTAL: 40 Tops the Good Food Quest table!

Broom Mill Farm Shop

REAL CHIPS

My wife and I visited Broom Mill Farm Shop near West Auckland, County Durham. We popped in to pick up vegetables for the week and were tempted by the Shepherds Pie and home made chips on the tea room's menu. Always the sceptic, I agreed to give it a try, secretly ready to find fault, but there was none to find. These were genuine home made chips, perfectly cooked, not to mushy firm with good texture. The Shepherds Pie was good too, not sure if it saw a microwave on the way to our table, (and the there was some strange liquid mascarrading as gravy) but still well made with good meat. I believe this stop off was worthy of a blog.

FOOD 8 SERVICE 7 VALUE 7 REFER 7 TOTAL: 28 GOOD