... ice-creams
on the Palace Green ... all available during the Lindisfarne Gospels exhibition
...
Gourmet Gospel Burger bar |
It was strange arriving on the wide open space that is the ‘green’ between the Cathedral and the Castle, flanked by the entrance to the Gospels Exhibition in the Library, and other museum buildings to find a burger bar ...
Shop and Undercroft Restaurant posters |
... granted said Gospel Burger van was strategically positioned to one side. It appears that Durham University have taken the concession to offer these meaty delights from local estates and to promote a taste of history on the green.
Fish Lasagne |
A dough trough once used for leavening bread from Aberdour Castle, Fife, Scotland |
Ingram Valley Lamb |
- Ingram Valley Lamb ...
Cranerow Pork banner |
- Cranerow Farm Pork, Apple and Black Pudding ...
- Wellington Estate Angus Beef ...
- or the vegetarian option ... Brinkburn Crispy Goats Cheese ...
all
offering a Taste of Durham ...
...
what a spectacular setting for brunch, just munching a bap or roll filled with
local ingredients, or a fish lasagne in the Undercroft ...
Ham, lettuce, cheese and tomato roll |
There’s nothing like home cooked traditional foods, endorsed under the banner of ‘A Taste of Durham’ ... enticing visitors who had travelled the world to see the exhibition ...
...
while here enhancing their knowledge of St Cuthbert and his community, who
created one of the greatest landmarks of human cultural achievements: the
Lindisfarne Gospels.
During
his life Cuthbert became famous for being a kind, wise and incredibly holy man
... he was a travelling preacher, a seer of visions, healer of the sick and
worker of miracles ...
... who
then lived out is his life as a hermit, albeit elected Bishop of Lindisfarne
for the last few years of his life ...
... he
would have travelled throughout the region, no doubt crossing the farms,
estates and valleys where A Taste of
Durham comes from ...
...
before the monks circuitously through need (those dreaded Viking attacks!), and
over the centuries, brought his body into sanctuary at Durham, and once the
Cathedral was built ... his relics have remained here ever since – a place of
pilgrimage ...
Who
would have thought a burger bar would feed pilgrims coming to the Shrine of St Cuthbert,
or to the many from around the world who have visited Durham to see the magnificent Lindisfarne Gospels book,
together with a unique collection of Anglo-Saxon artefacts ...
... late 600 AD meets 21st
century at the centre of learning then as now ...
Hilary
Melton-Butcher
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53 comments:
A burger bar doesn't seem that appropriate to me, however, it would certainly appeal to many of the North American visitors.
How fun! I'd definitely sit at a burger bun with my little ones, but would enjoy the other specialties of the place.
Okay that food is a little unusual for me - I'll take the burger!
That is quite the melding of the centuries! And those are some fancy burgers. They might even entice me... well, I'd probably go for the vegetarian option. But fish lasagne? I'm not sure I'd try that one. :)
you're making me hungry! :)
I wonder if Chaucer's characters in The Canterbury Tales chanced upon a burger bar. If they did, then they didn't tell that story.
Love,
Janie
Oh Hilary you make me hungary! I'd try the fish lasagne. On our holiday last week I tried several new dishes, it is fun to try different things sometimes. Looks like an interesting visit was enjoyed :)
@ Jo - they're used a lot here .. but I quite fancy the idea of a 'posh' burger ...
@ Rosaria - sitting on the green would be fun .. the little ones could run around too
@ Sandie - I rather like the idea of fish lasagne, but there were other choices in the Undercroft ... however the burgers sound good ..
@ Luanna - it does seem incongruous doesn't it - Celtic monks at a burger bar! As I mentioned to Sandie .. I rather like the idea of fish lasagne, a different take on fish pie ....
@ Betsy - well you provide wonderful delights and I'm always coming away hungry from your blog!
@ Janie - a Chaucer telling of a Burger Canterbury Tale would be a interesting to concoct ...
@ Suzanne - oh great I'll join you with the fish lasagne. I love trying new foods ... also it's good for the kids to see. Sounds like your holiday was fun ..
Cheers to you - burger for lunch anyone?! Hilary
Fish lasagne - I'm sure it's better than it sounds.
Couple hours north of me, I can get a taste of Durham as well. Not the same thing though. Although they do have a similar chapel at Duke University.
The fish lasagna looks good.
What kind of fish did they use?
I don't like lamb, and no goat cheese for me. I'm not a picky eater, though.
Lovely post.
I kind of get the "Gospel Burgers" if they were made of local meats. I would have tried some.
Late 600 AD, huh? I wish my recent trip had included some places from that century. I saw the Roman ruins (earlier) and a lot of Norman stuff (later), but not much in that period when the Anglo Saxons were invading and You Know Who might have been defending.
Even that section of the British Museum was closed off until fall. How unfair was that? The ONE era of British history I really wanted to see artifacts from for my research, and it was closed. :(
Clearly, I'll have to go back.
I do like trying different regional foods. Wherever we go with our van we try to buy local food and drink - it's surprising how often it's not possible to do that.
Gospel burger? Good news, indeed! Maybe not for the cow...
It's a lot bigger on the inside than it looks. Sadly, I doubt I could eat anything on the menu.
It was fun to enlarge the menu and look at the prices. History everywhere and just a pleasure to visit. It looks like the weather was perfect. St. Cuthbert's spirit is alive and well. Thanks again, Hilary.
Oh I see it is just not some burger bar The fish lasagne loos delicious and I had never a burger with venison or lamb Mmm
The lambs are beautiful with their black faces. Love the rolls as well. it is one of my favourite snacks.
@ Alex - I thought the fish lasagne pic looked rather good! Yes I gather there's a Durham in North Carolina ..
@ Julia - oh great you like the look of the fish lasagne .. looks like salmon to me - but I didn't try it sadly .. I was too early.
Some people find lamb too rich .. but I love goat's cheese ...
@ Karen - I agree I do hate all the fast food joints .. absolutely everywhere ...
@ Dianne - I rather wish I had tried one .. but I had some time and went up to the Cathedral for a brief look around and something to sustain me at the Undercroft.
You had a wonderful trip - Wales is full of history .. and definitely there are some Anglo-Saxon sites, but probably more Celtic ones in between the Romans, and Normans.
Oh gosh about the British Museum - but as we've discussed I can visit on your behalf and then you can see what I've suggested ..
.. and as we've talked if you come back - we'll meet up! There has to be time in between your research?!
@ Patsy - you've got a wonderful opportunity to stop at local farm shops on your journeys around - though I can imagine, when you're looking - a shop, outlet can be difficult to find ... or too far ... from your destination ...
@ Milo - well you're right there a few animals will have to be forfeited ...
@ Diane - yes the Undercroft is huge, but the Cathedral is enormous ... Being a vegan (I think your'e that) certainly would make the Gospel Burger van off limits - though something at the Undercroft perhaps might have suited you ...
@ Tasha - the prices weren't bad - considering the food was quality and local ...
St Cuthbert's spirit is certainly alive and well after all these years - and I had a lovely fine day ... it bucketed with rain on my way home the next day!
@ Marja - nope a special burger bar ... which I'm sure tasted delicious ... glad you appreciated the mix of photos ..
Cheers to you all .. lovely Indian Summer Week here by the sound of it .. Hilary
Gosh,
That burger bar sounds like a right good idea to me!!
I'm getting hungry reading the menu and it's 2:11 a.m. over here in Hawaii :)
Cheers, Hilary and, of course, Aloooha! :)
Yumm, hungry! :)
Durham Cathedral is probably my favourite UK cathedral; I also love Northumberland.
I really must go back some time. We saw the Lindisfarne Gospels somewhere else; for the life of me I can’t remember where. It might even have been the British Museum?
Sounds like an amazing place to travel. Someday I hope to cross the ocean for a look. The food sounds amazing, not so sure about fish lasagne.
That would be a weird site, but the pic makes it look like a cute place.
I wonder how St Cuthbert liked his burgers? lol
Only kidding Hilary, what a lovely building with a rich history it seems to me only natural that if visitors come they have to eat!
@ Mark - I suppose with three tinies that's what you do - stay up late and think of burgers! Aloooha! .. it's beautiful and sunny here but not that early!
@ Damyanti - the talk of food always seems to make us hungry doesn't it .. and the thought still looks good!
@ Friko - looks like you'd be a wealth of knowledge for the area .. it was stunning - and I really need to revisit.
The Lindisfarne Gospels are on show at the British Library normally .. this was a special release, when they've included other Anglo-Saxon treasure ..
@ Cathrina - the whole Durham area has glorious scenery, walks (hikes), and lots and lots of history - while the Cathedral and Castle and other ancient buildings rich with content ...
Well I certainly hope you can make it across here one day ...
@ Holly - it was just was incongruous to see ... but the burgers looked upmarket!
@ Jen - by the time he got to Durham he was beyond enjoying the food of life: but as you say you do wonder what Celtic/ Anglo-Saxon/ Roman/ Viking man might have made of our way of life today, let alone its food ...
Interesting thought ..
Cheers to you all - from a glorious sunny England .. Hilary
Commercialism and spirituality make strange bed-fellows. What a fascinating place - yet another one to put on the list of 'must see'.
Although you have to admit, the burgers are in a different class. I've never seen a fish lasagne before. And, for future reference, it's never too early for cake!
It's fascinating that people are still interested in someone who lived so long ago - I bet he never expected that.
A burger bar - I'd never have guessed! Sounds like an interesting event with great and assorted fare. So glad you shared the experience with us!
Have a great week,
Karen
I am a vegetarian, more accurately a pescaterian. The Fish Lasagne looks terrific to me. So does the goat cheese. However, a burger stand in the UK? It's breaking my heart.
@ Janice .. Durham and its surrounding countryside is stunning - but the burger bar on the Palace Green just didn't seem quite right - but I'm sure the burgers were above standard .. should be with those ingredients!
@ Annalisa - you're right the burgers are in a different glass .. and I hadn't seen fish lasagne anywhere before .. but might make it sometime.
I've never been a cake fan - try to avoid them if at all pos ...
Then the myths, stories and writing keep him up alive for us .. and we learn about those days - and I absolutely bet he never thought that - he was a hermit ... and would have remained so at all costs, if fate hadn't intervened and he became Bishop of Lindisfarne ..
@ Karen - one of those strange but true aspects between the Castle and the Cathedral ...
@ JJ - I do eat meat, not not masses of it .. and to my regret I didn't try one of the burgers ...
But glad you'd be happy with the fish lasagne and the goat's cheese - that does look good to me ..
We have lots of burger bars now - and most of them aren't really up to much (at least that's my thought!) ... and I don't like fast food joints anyway ...
Thanks everyone .. burgers at the Gospels - I wonder how they've fared ... and whether it's been commercially successful.
Cheers Hilary
Not fair... now I'm hungry... again!
gospel burgers? How cool is that?
Our church sells pyrogies stuffed with meat and rice and salted cabbage.
I love the sheep They look so beautiful.
Crispy goat's cheese sounds heavenly. Thank you Hilary for your kind words on Soldier's passing. They mean a lot to me.
Fish lasagna, where have I been. Not in a million years would I have thought of that for dinner. And since we live on a lake, we have plenty of fish. Thanks, Hilary!
The goat cheese sounds delicious. It looks like you had a beautiful day to enjoy the "Taste of Durham."
Julie
Hey Hilary,
I'm hoping by looking at some of your food photos, my appetite might return. My human is very worried about me and has to take me to that place where I see a bunch of other animals.
Gary, has frequented Durham. He never made mention of what you so meticulously mention and share with your photos.
Gary has told me that Durham Cathedral is one of the most spectacular structures he has ever been in.
Be well, my human friend.
Stay chillin',
Snoop Bloggy Dog in da Gangsta's Pawadise!
I need to get out more. I didn't know what a bap was and had to look it up.
I'm not sure I could stomach a Fish Lasagna sandwich. But as Alex said, it probably tastes better than it sounds. I would definitely try it. :)
Fish lasagna. Hmmm - that might be good. I don't know what a "bap" is.
I've never had fish lasagna. Is it good? I like trying new things when I visit new places!
@ Bish - sorry! but glad the food tempted you ...
@ A Lady's Life - the pyrogies sound very interesting .. I loved the sheep picture.
@ Inger - so sorry about Soldier and thanks for coming over .. crispy goat's cheese is delicious isn't it.
@ Joylene - yes you're in the right place aren't you .. with jumping fish. I'd love to share a fresh fish from the lake supper (lasagne) - enjoy when you make it.
@ Julie - that day was a good day - both before and after it bucketed!
@ Gary - oh Penny are you permanent chief executive now?! Yet I see you need some help from people in white coats .. hope you recover your appetite.
I wonder if the Gospel Burgers are there normally or will be there in the future ...
I'm going to write more about my trip .. I definitely need to revisit Durham Cathedral though - and I can see why a few who've visited and commented here say it's so fantastic ...
Stay cool both of you .. it's warming up again before the deluge at the weekend ..
@ Teresa - well I'm glad you looked it up ... the roll in the picture is not a bap! Fish Lasagne is a pasta dish ... it is delicious, or should be! Glad you'll give it a go ...
@ Lynn - interesting the different connotations of food (or otherwise) .. at least you know what lasagne is .. while a bap is a soft bread roll.
@ Sherry - fish lasagne is good ... and like you I do love trying out dishes ...
Cheers everyone .. looks like we have a couple more days of glorious sunshine ... thanks for checking in - Hilary
The raspberry and chocolate roulade sounds very tempting.
Another great post, Hilary!
Now I'm hungry for a big slab of red meat. But I'll settle on my ham and cheese sandwich and fresh veggies. It's more nutritious and not such a gut busting meal.
I want to sink my teeth into some of that yummy food. Gorgeous photos and prose Hilary. And the history is interesting.
You get a mention in my current post...hope you can visit.
@ Amanda .. I rather liked the look of the poster - so took my picture .. thanks ... I might well join you in sharing a raspberry chocolate roulade!
@ Stephen - an occasional piece of beef is delicious, but I too go for the simpler options .. the ham and cheese sandwich with fresh veggies sounds good ..
@ Denise – an occasional burger can be very good –and these look delicious ...
Thanks for the mention in your current post .. appreciate the thought!
Cheers Hilary
Fish lasagna? No thanks, but an angus burger will do just fine! I do love the irony of 21st century meets ancient history. What a lovely day for you!
Tina @ Life is Good
Oh, dear...I should have eaten before I came here! What scrumptious morsels you've laid out. I so want that fish lasagne and I'm very glad you didn't show any chocolate...I'd be drooling on my keyboard. :)
By the way, River Fairchild is my new pen name (for Laura Eno) although I'll be using both for some time to come...because I seem to enjoy making twice as much work for myself. ;)
Sounds like a wonderful experience and great food. I hope you enjoyed it immensely.
@ Tina - you can take your pick! I bet their burgers were good though.
Yes that irony of 21st C meets ancient history is rather fun isn't it ...
@ Laura/River ... delighted you'd rather have the fish lasagne - and thankfully you're not drooling on anyone's keyboard with chocolate!
Laura - great to see you here and back ... two lots of blogging - well we'll see .. but lovely to see you again!! As River or as Laura ..
@ Murees - it was hugely inspiring ... so much history up there ..
Cheers to you all .. Hilary
Hi, Hilary,
What a fun concept ... And what a glorious day! Such a treat for all the senses...
Seems like you really enjoyed your summer outings!
Thanks Michael .. good to see you here - and sincerely hope you continue to improve after your accident ... cheers and with thoughts for that speedy recovery - Hilary
It's good that the pilgrims are being so well fed.
Durham Castle, Durham University and Durham Cathedral are my favourite places in these islands. I also love the coast and hinterland.
I wish you’d taken me with you. In fact, I wish you’d tell me when you go again and take me with you.
Goodness, I stopped by and didn't see a new post, but realized I had missed this one. So, all is well.
It was fun to read about the burger bar and how it feeds the pilgrims who visit the castle and all it's treasures:~)
I have to ask what on earth is a "bap?" That's a new one on me. Did I miss the explanation?
BTW I really love your new picture. It makes me smile every time I see it:~)
@ Juliet - well these modern ones = yes!
@ Friko .. I'd love to visit with you - I'd learn much .. so would be delighted to take you up one day .. the one day is the "when"!!
@ Sara - well I'm thrilled you want to comment on one post you've missed - very chuff making ...
It was just 'funny' seeing a burger bar on the Palace Green - made me smile.
A bap is a soft round bread roll .. ie easier to eat!
Thanks re the picture .. it makes me smile too ...
Thanks to the three of you ... cheers Hilary
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