Over the years, Newcastle has become a city filled with a rich culinary offering, but as the world becomes more connected, so too do our taste buds.

Imagine wandering across Newcastle, tantalised by the aromas of the latest global food trends. From the vibrant street foods of Southeast Asia to the hearty, rustic flavours of South American cuisine, there’s a world of culinary innovation waiting to be explored.

In this article, the HUNTERhunter team is diving into our favourite food trends from around the globe that we’d love to see take root in Newcastle.

Alissa – Co-Founder & Director of HUNTERhunter

Eat and drink on the beach

I’d love to be able to go to the beach and book myself a deck chair, an umbrella, and then have all my food and drinks delivered to me. Maybe even a foot massage if that’s not asking too much.

Street parties

Making it easy to shut down streets to encourage more outdoor dining and events, like what Beaumont Street and Darby Street used to do. Street parties have such a great vibe, it would be great to see more of them across the city throughout the year.

Alicia – Newcastle & Central Coast Editor

Pizza by the slice

There’s something about being able to pick up a slice of pizza whilst you’re on your route home following a big night out. Simple, cheesy, and greasy – Che buono!

Salt beef bagel

For anyone who has visited Beigel Bake on Brick Lane in East London, you’ll know exactly why this needs to be brought to Newcastle. It’s London’s version of the infamous Philadelphia Cheesesteak, and in my humble food opinion, it alone is worth the 24hr flight. 

Street food markets

For somewhere that has such an incredible foodie scene, it’s infuriating to not have our own permanent street food markets. Shall we start a petition to bring back Street Feast?

Dal Bhat 

This classic Nepalese dish is served on a thali (metal serving platter) complete with fluffy white rice, hearty lentils, and soul-warming spices – it’s a loving hug in food form and was my dish of choice every day whilst hiking in the Himalayas. It’s usually eaten with your fingers and often the kitchen offers unlimited refills. 

Scotch eggs

Not completely hidden in Newcastle, I have spotted a few of these over the years but have yet to taste one that truly hits the spot. For those new to the concept, it’s a soft-boiled egg, wrapped in sausage meat, coated in breadcrumbs, and deep fried – YUUUUM. Considered in the UK as the perfect picnic treat, you can get these little (or sometimes big) treats direct from the supermarket or fancified at your local pub. 

Amy – Former Hunter Valley & Port Stephens Editor

Cambodian cuisine

Cambodian cuisine is often overlooked in Australia for the food of neighbouring countries like Thailand and Vietnam, but it’s just as deserving of attention and praise. While it shares similarities with other Southeast Asian cuisines, there are a few dishes like amok curry (a coconutty fish curry cooked in banana leaves) and bok lahong (Cambodian green papaya salad) that I’ve been craving ever since I visited in 2017, but haven’t come across in Newcastle.

Japanese fruit sando

Fruit isn’t typically top of the list when it comes to my preferred sandwich ingredients, but when I saw Japanese fruit sandos pop up on my social media, my mind was changed. They’re made from Japanese milk bread (or shokupan in Japanese), a milky-sweet, fluffy loaf with next to no crust, whipped cream, and fruit like strawberries or kiwi fruit – heaven for my sweet tooth.

I’m still yet to get my mitts on one because I can’t find them in Newcastle – I might just have to make the pilgrimage to Sandoitchi in Sydney. 

Spanish dishes

Spanish cuisine has been a fixation of mine for a few years now, and I frequently daydream about devouring flavoursome tapas (often free with drink purchase in Spain) like slabs of tortilla española, patatas bravas, and wedges of manchego alongside a glass of vermouth until late in the evening.

I think it’s criminally underrepresented on our local dining scene, but I’m very grateful for Bocados, who has been flying the flag for authentic Spanish food in Newcastle since 2009. 

I’ve never found padron peppers (mild little green chillies blistered and sprinkled with salt), proper Spanish croquetas (like French croquettes but always made with béchamel and Spanish ingredients like jamón), or crema catalana (a dish similar to crème brûlée but flavoured with citrus and cinnamon) in Newcastle, nor drinks like horchata or tinto de verano.

Jasmin – Sub-editor & Account Guru

Winter markets 

We travelled to Annecy, France in 2018 and happened to visit the Christmas markets: Noël des Alpes (Christmas in the Alps). The stalls are little ‘chalets’ made of timber, and the markets open for just over four weeks, with delicious wintery drinks like mulled wine, plus cheese, crafts, festive food, light shows, concerts, an evening bar, and an ice skating rink. 

I’d love to see something like this pop up during the winter months at one of Newcastle’s beautiful parks, like Civic Park, Foreshore Park, or Pacific Park, for a month’s worth of Christmas in July.

Is there a dish you’re dying to get your hands on here in Newcastle? We want to hear from you!