Sea fresh fish

With Yorkshire bursting at the seams with seaside resorts, as well as quaint fishing villages, you'll never be short of some good seafood. And every seaside town along the Northumberland coastline can wrap up great fish and chips.

Pacific oysters are also farmed off Holy Island, the atmospheric religious sanctuary where the monks of the priory used to grow them. There is also crab, lobster and herring which used to keep this section of the coast in business, before overfishing. Further north, salmon is fished from the Tweed, the border river.

Producers

There is an abundance of small, family-run producers, who supply everything from baked goods, beers, honey, kippers and dairy produce. Many of them now supply shops across the UK. Look for authentic Wensleydale and other local cheeses made by numerous small-scale dairies.

Baking

Baking is where the North East really excels. Oats were traditionally grown all over north England, and now feature in many of the region’s baked goods. Try the local oatcakes, delicious with Wensleydale.

Parkin is another regional favourite - a dark, spicy ginger cake made with oatmeal and black treacle.

Stottie cake is not a cake at all, and is actually savoury bread made from self-raising flour, salt and milk. They are especially good when used in chip or bacon butties.

Meat and dairy

Yorkshire is Britain’s largest county, and its famous dales are home to many cows, sheep and pigs. Pork plays an important part in the region’s diet and York hams are internationally renowned for their flavour. The name is now commonly applied to a curing method which has been exported to hams produced in a variety of countries. Few can match the quality of the original - a dry-salted ham with a mild flavour and light pink colour. York ham can be lightly smoked or left unsmoked.

Yorkshire puddings, the essential accompaniment to roast beef, used to be served on a separate plate before the meat to reduce the diners’ appetite.

The cows of the region donate their milk to make Wensleydale cheese – originally made by the monks of the Jervaulx Abbey in the north Yorkshire dales.

Tea

The region has a rich tea heritage, and Taylors of Harrogate is one of the few remaining family tea merchants in the country. The company dates back to 1886 when Charles Taylor, a young Yorkshireman with a passion for tea, founded his own business in the heart of Yorkshire. The legendary Betty’s Tea Room is also located in Yorkshire.

Drink

No trip to Newcastle would be complete without a bottle of Newcastle Brown Ale. Never referred to by its full name, it's best to ask for a ‘Newkie’, ‘Broon Ale’ or a ‘Brown Dog’. Northumbria is also where Lindisfarne Mead originates.

Pease pudding

This dish dates back to medieval times when it was sold on the streets around Newcastle. It consists of split yellow or Carlin peas, water, salt, and spices and is often cooked with a bacon or ham joint.