As you might remember not long ago I went to the newly opened Laundrette in Newcastle. It was so good I went back the following night with some friends, and have been a few times since for a quick drink. Last week I was invited back with some of the loveliest Newcastle bloggers to try out their Christmas menu. As they always promise, cocktails and carbs are the main ingredients of a visit there, and the Laundrette Christmas menu is no different.

However you like your carbs served, the Laundrette has something you’ll enjoy this festive season, from small load starters, to pizzas, or full load mains, and of course the delicates otherwise known as deserts.  We sampled a variety of items off each menu, so here’s my picks for you to enjoy this Christmas.

Small Load Starters

The wild boar meatballs in spiced tomato sauce were my favourite, and the small size is the perfect winter warming starter. I know people tend to get a few starters to share, but this is one I’d be keeping for myself.

The potted bloody mary prawn cocktail with pickled cucumber is usually one that I would order as a lighter starter, but I have to say the curled up pickled cucumber on the top put me off to look at. Once I picked that out though I really enjoyed the prawn cocktail in the typical sauce.

Dough balls with dipping cheese fondue. Remember these? Well thankfully they’re still on the menu over Christmas and are just as incredible.

Other starters included the buffalo mozzarella, beetroot caprese salad and chicken liver pate with cranberry marmalade. These aren’t ones I would choose myself, especially when the meatballs or the dough balls are on offer but I tried both anyway and they were very nice.

Pizzas

You can’t think of carbs (which I do frequently) without thinking of pizza, something the Laundrette knows too well, and I was chuffed to see that even their Christmas menu has a section devoted entirely to them.

Those amazing meatballs I mentioned just before are also available as a pizza topping, and the wild boar meatball pizza was a favourite on the table.

For an even meatier alternative the pulled pork, salami, peperoni, caramelised onion with a bbq base pizza was also incredible. It was laden with toppings and I don’t think there was much of this one left when we had finished.

For a vegetarian option there was a wild mushroom, mozzarella and rocket pizza, and for anyone who likes chicken on their pizza there’s a polenta and paprika chicken, tomato salsa base, mozzarella and red bell peppers pizza too.

Full Load Mains

If you want something more substantial, or slightly more civilised than shovelling pizza in your face – which trust me you will – then there are some bigger mains you might like.

I finally got to taste the Laundrette 8oz beef burger with cheese, it had all gone the last time I was there and I could see why. It’s juicy and meaty and as someone who doesn’t usually go for burgers I really enjoyed it. There wasn’t too much bun either which is what always puts me off.

There’s a tempura battered chicken burger with chargrilled pineapple on the burger list too.

The prosciutto wrapped cod with polenta chips is another feature on the Christmas menu, and the fish was delicious. I love anything wrapped in prosciutto and this was definitely one that surprised me how much I enjoyed it.

For red meat of course there is the horseradish and garlic marinated flattened 6oz steak with fries. I always like a steak and this one won’t disappoint.

I never go for the vegetarian options, but they do have them obviously, we were given the roasted butternut squash with goats cheese. It did look lovely, but I stuck to the meat options myself. If you want a vegetarian perspective then have a watch of Katie Jane Online’s vlog.

Delicates/Deserts

The last time we were at the Laundrette we ate so much food we had to turn down the deserts, but this time we knew how much food there would be so remembered to leave some room for the last course.

It’s a good job we did as the salted tequila lime cheesecake is seriously good, and huge! Definitely one for sharing.

The burnt caramel apple crumble with vanilla ice cream was also pretty special, and a much more manageable size. Isn’t it cute? Tasted great too.

Other options are the cinnamon bombilini doughnut balls with chocolate fondue – amazing!

And for a more savoury option the Laundrette cheeseboard comes with biscuits, black honey and walnuts. If I’m having desert I never waste it on a cheeseboard, but I know especially at this time of year people do enjoy a cheese platter to round off the evening.

A visit to the Laundrette isn’t complete without some fancy cocktails to wash it all down with, and we were given the festive ‘Absolute Milf’ which was so pretty and tasted amazing. For a more in depth look at the rest of the cocktails on offer have a look at my last post on the Laundrette Newcastle which features plenty of them.

If you visit The Laundrette Newcastle over the coming weeks let me know what you think!

SaveSave

SaveSave

SaveSave

SaveSave

SaveSave