Upon completion of the 100th issue of the magazine this mature publisher was extremely weary so I decided to recharge the batteries with a short break in the Algarve with my wife Lisa.
With a “red eye” flight out of Newcastle we decided to make a welcome return visit to the DoubleTree by Hilton to spend the night before and found that this kickstarted our holiday in great style.
Rocking up at teatime it had already been a fantastic day. My beloved Newcastle United had defeated Tottenham Hotspur in great style and I had also had a rare win on that afternoon’s Grand National. If Carlsberg did Saturdays…
Greeted by the friendliest of welcomes we checked into our uber comfortable King Deluxe room.
This came with all the “bells and whistles” befitting the DoubleTree brand including King Size Sweet Dreams bed, 37 inch LCD flat panel TV, complimentary high speed internet, air conditioning and in room mini bar.
After a quick change we adjourned to the Hotel’s own Fratellos Restaurant which is the perfect destination for fine dining with dishes from around the world and offering far more than the traditional pizza/pasta fayre.
Over a lovely glass of Pinot Grigio Blush I kicked off with chicken skewers which were beautiful and tender with the accompanying chilli dipping sauce full of flavour.
Lisa enjoyed crispy cod scampi with tartare sauce, house pickles and burnt lemon which she pronounced delicious.
Carrying on the nautical theme I followed up a classic fish and chips with goldenbrown battered haddock fillets resting atop a generous portion of thick-cut, crispy fries. The hallmark of a great hand-battered haddock is the perfect balance between the crispiness of the batter and the tender flakiness of the fish inside. When done right, the batter should be light, airy, and seasoned just right, providing a satisfying crunch with every bite. This certainly did not disappoint.
Lisa opted for pan roasted Sea Bass with Thai style mussels, spiced baby potatoes and chilli and lemongrass sauce. A lovely simple dish, beautifully cooked and lovingly presented.
After a suitable comfort break and in the interest of research we rounded off proceedings by sharing a gorgeous sticky toffee pudding infused with butterscotch sauce. We were on holiday after all!
Mindful of the following day’s 3.30am alarm call we returned to our room but noted the comfortable hotel bar which is ideal to extend the evening. Next time…
In addition to first class food and accommodation the DoubleTree by Hilton is also an excellent venue to host your special occasion with the elegant Holly and Kielder suites perfect for the grandest of parties.
In summary an absolute gem. With another break on the horizon in July we have vowed to return.
For further information visit the website www.doubletree-newcastle.co.uk