Popular high end Newcastle neighbourhood restaurant The Cherry Tree has invested in a refresh and subtle change of direction in the run up to Christmas 2016.
The last few months have seen the arrival of a new chef, a new kitchen team, and new menus; along with a refinement of the logo, and launch of a new website and marketing materials.
The changes at the stylish restaurant in Osborne Road, Jesmond, have been made in preparation for the busy Christmas and New Year’s Eve festive season. Special menus have been created and bookings are already being taken – including for the six-course New Year’s Eve party celebration.
Head chef Farhad Rakani has identified and kept customer favourites on the menus while refining and adding some new dishes since he joined in June.
He returns to the region after an absence of around five years when he and his wife moved to London. There he trained with some well know culinary names, gaining experience in top kitchens including Boisdales of Bishopgate, a restaurant with two prestigious rosettes.
Like The Cherry Tree, this restaurant provided private dining facilities and had regular music and a piano bar. The food was traditional with a modern twist.
Farhad was appointed head chef at another renowned restaurant in a London suburb where, within two years, he elevated its position to number one of 84 establishments in the area. However, the North East called to him and his wife and the family returned in the summer.
Farhad said: “I could see The Cherry Tree’s potential; I thought it was somewhere I could change a few things and make a big difference. It’s in a great area and already has a good reputation for food and music. I just need to make some adjustments to make it really great.
While Farhad loves French and Mediterranean cuisines, his own style is ‘modern British’ where he takes ideas from a range of culinary backgrounds and gives them his own twist.
“We have to create dishes not available anywhere else. We will retain customer favourites and some signature dishes but we’ve added new things coming into the festive season. Our quality has to be the best; our steak must be the best and we have to offer the best fish.”
Like many good chefs, he places great emphasis on knowing his food suppliers and sourcing his produce regionally wherever possible.
The Cherry Tree provides unusually generous and flexible space in the private dining room and on its mezzanine floor; these are proving popular in the festive build up.
For more information on facilities, musical events and the menus at The Cherry Tree visit the new website at www.thecherrytreejesmond.co.uk