Offering a range of innovative dishes from South East Asia, the restaurant also has an original interior to match, featuring colourful Vietnamese furnishings and artwork, a luxurious lounge and an extensive outside dining area.

If you’re a fan of curries, then you’ll be pleased to hear that the restaurant will be serving up its very own exotic curry evenings.

The new event will give diners the opportunity to sample its delicious range of curries, inspired by far-flung destinations like Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand.

If you fancy taking your tastebuds on a mini adventure, then why not give the first exotic curry night, on Monday 20th February, a try?

To book, call 0191 221 1000. For more information visit the Electric East website.

High pitched singing, convoluted lyrics and those intriguing theatre binoculars - these were all the things I had come to associate with an opera from digesting all that popular culture has thrown in my direction over the years. I expected it to be difficult to follow, and dare I say it, tediously boring.

I was wrong.

The performance I attended, Ruddigore, held at the beautifully restored Theatre Royal was something of a surprise. And a good one at that. Similar to a musical, the stage was a bumbling blaze of singing, dancing and acting from start to finish.

View from the stage at the Theatre Royal

The opera centres around Sir Ruthven Murgatroyd, a doomed aristocrat who must commit a crime every day or risk facing the wrath of his ghostly ancestors and endure a painful death.

He shuns his responsibility as Baronet of Ruddigore  - leaving his brother to contend with the curse instead.

It’s not as dark as you might think – throw in the erratic character of Rose Maybud and a love tryst, and you’ve got a breezy if somewhat chaotic plot from Gilbert and Sullivan that makes for an entertaining spectacle.

One of my personal highlights was a moment of magic on the stage, when a cast member vanished beneath a cloak. Watching a series of portraits come to life was another transfixing and somewhat unexpected scene. There was definitely more to this opera that met the eye…

Ruddigore programme

Uplifting and exuberant, Ruddigore was an engaging performance and a fabulous first acquaintance with the genre.

For more information about Opera North, who were behind this production of Ruddigore, visit the Opera North website.

Situated in the Beamish conservation valley, the pub offers lovely panoramic views by day – or as was the case when we visited – enviable views of the starry night sky.

Inside, smokey fumes from a log fire caressed our noses as we were seated to our table next to the orangery.

A chalky blue and cream decor dominates the pub’s interior, complemented by rustic furniture and Victorian style memorabilia. We were particularly taken by a display of match boxes, which appeared to date back to the early 1900s.

As for the Black Horse’s menu, this is brimming with hearty dishes which use local, seasonal produce – we couldn’t wait to tuck in.

For starters, my boyfriend opted for fried calamari with a tossed house blend of peppers. The calamari was beautifully cooked, with a subtle fiery kick. The accompanying dip also had a spicy overtone. An excellent start to the meal.

I plumped for something a little bit different – the pan-fried pigeon and pheasant ragout, en croute, with red wine jus.

The pigeon was tender and complemented the gamey taste of the pheasant really well. The accompanying baby onions also added a lovely contrast to the rich jus.

Next up was our mains. There was lots to choose from, including chargrilled bacon loin steak, Aberdeen Angus steak burger, lamb confit served with ratatouille, and sweet potato and mixed vegetable tagine with spiced cous cous. A selection of rib eye, sirloin and fillet steaks were also available.

It was the beef and Bombardier pie that caught my boyfriend’s eye.

The generously sized pie was served with creamy mash and home-grown vegetables, including carrots, cauliflower and swede. The pastry was thick, but by no means doughy in texture, meanwhile the Bombardier beer in the gravy added depth to the dish.

My hefty slice of pan roast salmon was meticulously placed on top of a serving of dill and caper crushed potatoes, with baby onions and peas rounding off the picture perfect plate.

The salmon was moist and flavoursome, although I felt that the crushed potatoes were a little overpowering – a smaller helping would have sufficed.

With chocolate sponge pudding and chocolate custard; date and apple sticky toffee pudding and creme brule all on offer on the dessert menu, we were spoilt for choice.

Feeling somewhat greedy by this point, we decided to share the chocolate mousse gateaux.

This was something of a surprise when it arrived. We were presented with two slices of cake, ice-cream containing delicate flakes of chocolate pieces, as well as a wafer like chocolate creation and two marshmallow textured cubes of yet more chocolate. It might sound a little OTT on the chocolate front, but it was truly scrumptious.

Overall, the meal was delicious and far superior to usual pub grub fayre.

With its cosy ambience and friendly staff, the Black Horse Beamish makes an ideal destination for a meal that’s a little bit special.

For more information about the Black Horse Beamish, visit its website.

Reiss currently has a sale on, with up to 70% off some items, which means we can emulate Kate Middleton’s wardrobe for a fraction of the price!

Here’s a few snaps from the event for some shopping inspiration…

Without my regular, luxurious soak, I felt like something was amiss. My body polishes and soothing balms lost their allure. So when a tube of Elemis Spa @ Home pro-collagen body cream squeezed through my letterbox, I thought it was just another item to add onto my shelf of redundant bathroom goodies.

Undeniably, winter can be cruel to your skin, zapping away its moisture and leaving it somewhat lackluster and pasty, so I thought it was time to take some action.

I used the new Elemis cream over the course of a month in a bid to see what, if any, transformation would take place. The cream combines a unique complex of mexican skin tree, silk protein and amino acids with marine extract padina pavonica. And that’s not all – it also contains a trio of oils, including babassu, castanha and bilberry seed oil to help combat environmental damage. With such exotic sounding ingredients to its name, I expected results.

The scent is the first thing I just have to mention. If it was possible to bottle ’luxury’ as a scent, then this smell would be it. Reminiscent of a beauty spa, it’s simply gorgeous.

The cream is easy to apply and melts away quickly, leaving behind no residue – handy if you want to give your skin a blast of nourishment while on the go. Leaving skin silky smooth, the cream also managed to rid my upper arms of their pesky bumps.

Over prolonged use, my skin felt softer, particularly on my thighs and arms; no easy feat with my skin banished beneath suffocating cardigans and tights on a daily basis. In terms of its body firming properties; I’m still undecided if it’s made a difference, but as someone in their late 20s this might not be overly relevant to me – yet.

Overall I would give this Elemis product 3.5 out of 5, marked down slightly because of its price tag (£49). For more information about the Spa @ Home range, visit the Elemis website.

Elemis Spa @ Home

Inside, a swathe of plums, teals and reds dominate the decor with ornate picture frames to the exposed brick wall. The setting is both stylish and comfortable, and on the Monday evening we visited, the restaurant was buzzing with diners.

After tucking into our poppadoms and colourful pickle tray (the smooth, cold mango chutney is worth a mention at this point) we took some time to ponder over the menu.

Pickle tray

Unlike other Indian or Punjabi restaurants you may have encountered, the LuigiKhan’s menu features a smattering of Italian dishes, too. Its selection of hot and cold starters include garlic mushrooms and even a mixed grill. As for the mains, there’s pizzas, steaks and poultry dishes on offer.

This eclectic offering is the perfect solution for those who shy away from spicy food but want to appease their companion’s love for all things hot, or for those who want to balance their starters and mains.

I did exactly that. For starters, I opted for potato skins, saving the spicy explosions for my main course. The potato skins were nice and crispy, and crucially, light.

Meanwhile, my boyfriend’s chicken tikka boti arrived in a blaze of gorgeous amber and was so succulent and moist. The portion of four pieces, marinated in Asian spice, accompanied by fresh salad and a cool dip, was just right.

Chicken tikka boti

Next, we were presented with our main dishes. My chicken tikka jalfrezi – barbecued chicken in fresh onion and tomato sauce with fenugreek, diced peppers and onion garnished with fresh coriander – was a beautifully presented dish and not too spicy. The chicken was delicious, and even managed to trump the chicken tikka boti I had earlier pinched from my boyfriend’s plate.

For his main, my boyfriend opted for the king prawn madras from LuigiKhan’s Indian Classic selection, again this was a flavoursome dish and fairly hot. Other classics include masala, dansak and dopiaza, to name but a few.

Chicken tikka jalfrezi

Our portions of pilau rice were fluffy and our garlic naan bread was so big that we ended up taking some home afterwards!

Next, we turned our attention to the dessert menu. From profiteroles and raspberry and lemon cheesecake to gajar halwa (a carrot based dessert with fresh cream, almonds and pistachio) – there’s a sugary delight to suit all taste buds.

Garlic naan bread

I couldn’t resist the chocolate fudge cake; a hefty slab of sponge with melted chocolate and vanilla ice cream – deliciously dreamy.

Our waiter also recommended the falooda – a traditional dessert with kulfi, tukmori seeds and rose syrup. The waiter described it as sweet noodles. It tasted fragrant, with a texture not dissimilar to rice pudding. Apparently, LuigiKhan’s is the only restaurant in Newcastle that serves up this dessert and it’s worth a try if you’re looking for an alternative to your usual slice of cake or sharp sorbet.

Falooda with kulfi

Suitably stuffed, our meal at LuigiKhan’s had exceeded our expectations. The cuisine, combined with the friendly service and cosy setting, makes for a splendid evening by all accounts and we’re already looking forward to our return visit.

For more information about LuigiKhan’s, visit its website.

The stylish setting

Autumn has made its blustery debut this week. But before you curl up in your chunky knit and shy away from the dark early evening sky – reclaim that summer spark with a trip to your local spa. Here, Newcastle Sparkles rounds up a few of the top promotions available this season…

Serenity in the City

Situated in the heart of Jesmond, Serenity in the City makes a blissful escape from the hustle and bustle of city centre life.

Wicked Wednesdays is indeed a guilty pleasure – letting you indulge in not one, but two treatments and still line your purse with some extra pennies.

For £30, choose from party lashes, a file and paint, precision brows,  a manicure, Lycon Brazilian or a spray tan.

At the pricier end of the scale, you can splash out on luxurious treatments like the Elemis Skin Specific Facial or the Sea salt and Aromatic Oil wrap and scrub.

For more information, visit the Serenity in the City website.

Savannah Lifestyle Salon and Spa

Savannah’s team of expert therapists will help to soothe your body and mind with a range of rejuvenating treatments like the Perfecting Plant Peel facial, the Rosemary Mint Awakening Body Wrap or the Lava Shell Massage.

Savannah currently has an autumn promotion on the go, where you can book any two services or treatments and receive a third one half price (available from Monday to Friday until 25th November 2011).

Visit the Savannah website for full terms and conditions.

City Retreat Salon and Spa

The Elemis Oxygen Skin Calm Facial, Elemis Ocean Spa Wrap and the Rose Hydration Cocoon are just a few of the treatments on offer at the award-winning City Retreat spa.

Best of all, the spa boasts a Champagne Nail Bar where you can indulge in a glass of bubbly while your hands and nails are shown some TLC.

Its autumn spa retreat, priced at £85, features a one hour session in its private spa suite (comprising sauna, shower room and relaxation area), followed by a one hour Signature Hot Stone Back Massage with a shoulder, face and scalp massage. Belgian chocs, a fresh fruit platter and Champagne round off this heavenly pampering experience.

For information on other autumnal promotions, visit the City Retreat website.

The Northumbrian Chocolate Company is run by Emma Burnett from her family home in Northumberland.

Its philosophy is simple: “we temper by hand the finest Belgian couverture and combine it with fresh cream, natural flavours and the best raw ingredients to bring you simply good chocolates that do not have to hide behind fussy packaging”. The truffles look gorgeous, too.

Copyright: Northumbrian Chocolate Company

Artisan chocolatiers Roz and Karen are behind Coquet Chocolate, also based in Northumberland, and their chocolates are made from high quality cocoa products.

The pair also offer personalised chocolates for special occasions, together with corporate gifts and wedding favours. They also run chocolate workshops up in Rothbury – an opportunity to try your hand at making ganache and tempering chocolate.

Copyright: Coquet Chocolate

Krystyna Dodd is the chocolatier behind Curiously Wicked, and she’s even won a top award from the Academy of Chocolate for her creations.

Her unique Chocolate Apothecary range features a blend of Belgian chocolate with oils, with flavours including dark chocolate with lavender oil and white chocolate with rose oil.

Copyright: Curiously Wicked

Chocolate Week runs from 10th-16th October. For more information visit the Chocolate Week website.

Fashion Match, which takes place on 6th October at the Newcastle Falcons home ground, promises to be a glitzy, star-studded event.

Newcastle United, Newcastle Falcons and X-Factor winner Alexandra Burke are all billed, together with the Geordie half of the Hairy Bikers.

Guests will enjoy a Champagne reception on arrival followed by a lavish dinner created by some of the country’s top chefs including North East restaurateur Terry Laybourne of the 21 Hospitality Group, John Williams (The Ritz, London) and Kenny Atkinson (Rockcliffe Hall), to name but a few.

A runway spectacular from luxury fashion retailer Cruise will follow, offering guests a glimpse of its autumn winter 2011 collections.

Pop starlet Alexandra Burke is set to perform and there will also be a charity auction to round off the evening. Funds raised from Fashion Match will go to Marie Curie Cancer Care; the ‘Adopt a School’ project; Newcastle United Foundation and Children North East.

For more information, contact Newcastle Falcons on: (0191) 214 2830 or email: events@newcastle-falcons.co.uk

Tiger Tiger, located within The Gate complex in Newcastle, launched its new Lucky Voice karaoke experience earlier this month.

The new sound-proofed karaoke rooms occupy what was formerly the Kaz Bar on the first floor of the venue and I have to confess, the new space looks très chic.

The private state-of-the-art pods each accommodate between 12 and 15 people and offer a more intimate singing experience for you and your close friends.

Inside, the rooms boast touch screen technology, with over 6000 different songs to choose from- including all the latest chart hits – and at the touch of a button, you can also place a drinks order which will be brought straight to the pod.

There’s even a swish bar area for socialising in between your singing sessions.

Lucky Voice knows that we’re all watching the pennies at the moment and to help, it runs several promotions throughout the week.

Worthy Workers – that’s doctors, nurses, teachers, fire fighters, police officers and anyone else who dedicates their working life to the public service – can enjoy two hours free singing every Sunday and Monday.

Those who reside in close proximity to Lucky Voice Newcastle (be it for work or pleasure) can take advantage of half priced karaoke sessions every Wednesday. Termed as ‘Noisy Neighbours’ – postcodes beginning with NE1, NE2, NE4, NE6 and NE8 will qualify.

Students can also enjoy a sing-along with their friends on a Monday night for just £2.50 per person. Bargain!

For more information about Lucky Voice at Tiger Tiger Newcastle visit its website.