You all know me, I love going out to eat. And while it’s great to go to a restaurant, cafe or pub, there’s something to be said for pop-up foodie events. I’m talking about one off menus in cool locations with fabulous drinks and an amazing atmosphere. And we’ve got a brand new pop-up dining event biz joining the Teesside food scene, Secreto Scoff. Owned by Tom Dawson and Liam Barkes, these good food lovers promise seasonal dishes, local selectors and a heck of a fab time at their events.
Following on from their successful launch event (complete with delicious street food), I was invited to their second soirée at Base Camp Boro. Setting the street food aside, this one was all about sit down, fine dining-esque food with a touch of edge. I was so bloomin’ excited and for very good reason. Here’s a little rundown of the evening!
The coolest setting
As I mentioned, Secreto Scoff’s second event was held in Base Camp Boro (Exchange House, Exchange Square, Middlesbrough, TS1 1DB). This is a super cool, forward-thinking independent space for all forms of arts, music, market, workshop – you name it, they can probably host it! With stage space for the DJ, a projector and screen for a cosy fire, walls of artwork, and a super open area, this was the ideal spot for some top notch eating.
Starters
The lovely lads treated us to a taste of everything that was on the menu (when I tell you we had to be rolled home, I’m not joking!), which meant we got to try both starters. But first of all, we absolutely demolished an appetiser of house foccacia with brown butter. There’s nothing better than a bit of bread before a meal, especially when it’s super soft foccacia with a slightly salty butter. It was absolutely scrumptious!
For the veggie starter, we chowed down on sweet potatoes with miso and ginger, topped off with beautiful caramelised onions. I flipping love sweet potato, so this was totally up my street. It was perfectly soft with just a little kick from the miso and ginger. The caramelised onions were also an amazing touch – you can never go wrong with caramelised onions! The whole thing was spot on and fantastic as a veggie option!
The other, non-veggie option was another with Asian flavour influences – chilli king prawns with peanuts and lime. This had Matthew’s name all over it as a die hard fan of prawns, so he had the majority. But I can say that the prawns were really juicy with a little kick from the chilli and lime. The peanuts also added a fantastic texture and just a little nutty hint. It was totally sensational.
Cocktails
Alongside the incredible food, there was a selection of paired cocktails and my gosh, the list was just incredible. It included the classic Espresso Martini, a Devil’s Margarita which is topped off with red wine, and a sweet, flavoursome Rosemary & Maple Bourbon Sour. But my favourite was the jaw droppingly good Lemon Cheesecake – a blend of vodka, limoncello, gingerbread syrup, lemon juice, and lemon curd in a Biscoff-rimmed glass. It was like pudding in a glass and I could’ve drank at least five more! I need to recreate this at home.
Matthew was head over heels for his White Russian, particularly because he tried to make his own at home and they weren’t great (soz M). It was the perfect sweet treat with vodka, kahlua, chocolate bitters, and whisked oat milk. And it was definitely one of those cocktails that was almost too easy to drink, if you catch my drift…
Mains
After some gorgeous starters and cocktails, it was time for the main courses, kicking off proceedings with the veggie choice. This was a stunning wild mushroom, spinach and blue cheese wellington with a little side of carrots. Listen, I’m not a fan of mushrooms at all, but this dish was just unreal. It was probably my favourite savoury dish of the night (we’ll get on to sweet soon!). The pastry was gorgeously flaky, I loved how the blue cheese came through with the spinach, and even the carrots were amazing.
The other option was a tummy-warming tomato and shredded chicken stew with pappardelle. This was the ideal dish for a chilly night while we watched the flurries of snow out of the window. The shredded chicken was tender and full of flavour that warmed the cockles. The pasta was also spot on and the whole thing was superb. I could image having some in a takeout cup at a Christmas market!
Desserts
So by now, we were obviously starting to feel full, but as I’ve said in the past, there’s always room for dessert. In fact, we actually kicked off our final course with a little cheese plate, which included three cheeses, a chutney and crackers. And one of the cheeses was a jet black, charcoal cheddar, which was my tip top fave. It was incredibly creamy and delicate, despite its unusual hue, and it paired so well with the chutney. It had a bit of bite, so this and the soft flavour of the cheese were lush.
While the cheese was fantastic, the apple crumble was the starring moment of the night for me. As soon as I saw the steaming bowls leave the kitchen, I had a little hope it would be apple crumble. I couldn’t help but do a happy dance when it arrived at the table! I love apple crumble so much and this one was just flawless! The apple pieces were soft and piping hot, and the crumble topping was the perfect thickness. It was sweet with a touch of tartness, and just downright sensational.
Then finally, the night was rounded off with homemade dark chocolate and sea salt cookies with a cream dip. These were a brilliant way to see the night out. The combination of dark chocolate and sea salt was mind blowing, making the cookies so rich. The cream was a great little accompaniment too, and it was so fun to dip the cookies.
Phew! As you’ll be able to tell, we were absolutely stuffed, but so happy. Everything we’d eaten was phenomenal and we enjoyed every part of the experience. The tunes were fabulous, the atmosphere was electric, and the food was everything I could want it to be and more. The guys behind Secreto Scoff have absolutely nailed it and I can’t wait to see their next event!
And here’s a little ‘hot off the press’ secret… Base Camp are going to continue to host Secreto Scoff’s events with one happening at the end of each month! So if you want to be in the know, make sure you follow Secreto Scoff and Base Camp Boro on Instagram!
Which dish do you think would’ve been your fave? Are you excited to book a place at the next Secreto Scoff event?
This meal was gifted by Secreto Scoff in exchange for a review. All opinions are my own.