E is for Estate Tea Company...

When the connectivity of humans and a spiffy pork dish beats significant illness, dramatic weight loss and gets the blog back on track...

Did you miss me?

The boring stuff... everything was going swimmingly, the food blog was rattling along, interest was growing; it was only a matter of time before Sunday Brunch came calling for a guest slot alongside a syndicated series in The Observer's Food Monthly supplement - then illness hit, which dramatically affected mood and the ability to eat anything that wasn't water or soup or a banana or water. Eight months later and two stone lighter though we are back. With bells on. And what a way to return.

One of the really nice things about the A to Z food tour is not just the level of interest in the guff I write, but also a few people have asked if they could do a letter with me. It kind of warms the cockles. One of my best friends, Jayne wanted to do this - but had a nice idea. We have a mutual friend, though one I've never met before as our devastating repartee is limited to Facebook -becoming social media friends through connections of connections. Kerry, the never before seen Facebook friend, seemed to really like the blog and a suggestion was made that the three of us met up over an E... the next letter rather than the moreish rave stimulant Methylenedioxymetamphetimine.

We met at Estate Tea Company (84 Heaton Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE6 5HL) and it was lovely - a salutary reminder of the power food has in bringing people together, but also a welcome nudge to make things happen, even if they are through unusual paths - who says friends on social media aren't real or aren't of value.

The food - fantastic. Estate Tea Company brunch menu, which is served all day, has evolved over time. Alongside the British classics, dishes are inspired by the countries they source their tea from. They are doing really interesting stuff from udon noodles to gyoza.

I had the pork tonkatsu - a thick, but tender cutlet coated in panko breadcrumbs, crunchy veg and tangy pickle with a lovely rich, thick katsu curry sauce. Obviously this blog is all about me, but for the sake of balance Jayne had chicken miso salad from the specials and Kerry had shigureni beef chazuke - soy-glazed steak on a bed of rice, which is served with Japanese Hojicha tea, poured over the rice creating an umami broth. Food was fresh, looked amazing and was full of flavour. You get a good serving for the price, so I was pleasingly stuffed by half twelve.

The place - I met Tom and the team when they opened Estate Tea Company in Gateshead. They have gone from strength to strength with the move to Heaton. It is a wonderful space with a fantastic range of quality teas, which has a a real community feel rather than simply being a business that does nice food and drink. You know when people talk about spaces and places having a calming energy - well that is Estate Tea Company. I can recommend the Yunnan Black loose leaf.

The score - an Umamitastic 92%

When in Rome... a smooth and floral second flush darjeeling to accompany the meal.

Next - what the F?!