Feature
ABOVE: Beer Cheese on Toast LEFT: Cook House is housed in shipping containers
TA S T I N G N OT E S Cook House can be found at 20 Ouse Street, Ouseburn, Newcastle. Opening hours are weekdays 8.30am-3.30pm or by appointment. www.cookhouse.org
summer
66
2016
chef. I used to hold supper clubs in old shipping containers so having Cook House in shipping containers made sense. Essentially it’s a kitchen in a shipping container.” As a home cook – albeit a fabulous one – she did her homework on the restaurant side of the business. She took herself off to London for a month and worked in the kitchens of the day-time only spot, Rochelle Canteen, converted from an old school bike shed in Shoreditch, and the Quo Vadis restaurant and private club in Soho. “I wanted to check that I wasn’t totally clueless about what I was doing. But it was reassuring actually. It was very good to learn how to organise myself though and keep everything in check.” Even with the month in London, giving up her day job and starting her own restaurant was a big move, she admits. “I started grinding my teeth in the night I was so scared.” However, she needn’t have worried. From day one Cook House took off and now she is looking to expand further, build a smoker and have some bees. She also hosts supper clubs, food events and has just done her first wedding. The fact she does this all single handedly is testimony to the hard work and love she has for her business. She loves eating out though when she gets a chance. The Broad Chare and Dat Bar are two particular favourites. Despite living and breathing food seven days a week, her passion remains undiminished. “I know when I’m eating good food” she says, as we’re chatting away, “Because I start laughing because it tastes so good.” And with that she passes me a piece of candied lovage she has made that morning, ‘try this’, she says, and so I do and it is wonderful. Go hang out in Anna’s kitchen, her food will make you happy… • Check out our behind the scenes video of Cook House shoot at www.ladida.co.uk