Graze the night away with a platter from The Letter Q | Food Bites

Order now and it could be within arm's reach on your next home movie night.

This is just one of many platters offered by team at The Letter Q, opened by Deb Sowerby and her daughter Kendall Sadler eight years ago. They have pretty much every occasion covered - football, picnics, corporate lunches - as well as cafe items, freshly made take-home meals or just a coffee to go.

Like so many others, The Letter Q had to diversify to survive when COVID-19 turned the world as we know it upside-down. Catering accounted for two-thirds of The Letter Q's turnover, with clients including John Hunter Hospital, the University of Newcastle and the Mater.

Read more: The Letter Q fuels Kotara's local coffee culture

"Happily, we are still here," Deb told Food & Wine.

"Our online ordering platform was quickly modified, allowing contactless ordering and payment.

"Our business has continued to be strongly supported by the local community. Some of our major catering clients have reduced their number of meetings but together we have met challenges allowing us to modify their weekly standard orders.

"Weekend catering has changed our off-site component of the business however this has been more than compensated by the increase in platter orders.

"Our take-home meals, introduced in March, continue to be popular. Also, we have gained new corporate clients and provide individual lunch boxes, antipasto, snack boxes and more. These products were offered as a solution to meet their need to provide a COVID safe meal to their teams."

COVID-19, Deb says, also forced her to "bring forward a few products that had been in the works for a while".

"We add and subtract menus items seasonally. Earlier this year we were planning our autumn/winter offer which included 'Game On', a cocktail food platter to share watching sport at home, and 'Movie Night', an indulgent chocoholics' dream including Nutella donuts, chunky chocolate cookies, chocolate dip strawberries and a variety premium chocolates.

"It seems we've been lucky with the timing."

The Letter Q is at 47 Joslin Street and is open seven days. To order a platter, go to theletterqcafe.com.

XS Espresso, an award-winning Sydney cafe chain, has opened at Jesmond Central shopping centre. On the menu are waffles, Lotus Biscoff pancakes, Nutella lattes, Belgium chocolate cookie dough and an all-day brunch. XS Espresso is also home to Campos coffee and serves dinner and dessert until 10pm. To celebrate the opening of XS Espresso Jesmond, from Thursday to Saturday (September 3 to 5, 7am to 10pm), order a coffee and you'll receive a free doughnut.

The Lemon Grove Hotel at Wallsend, the Maryland Tavern and The Delany Hotel are doing their bit to say thank you to healthcare workers. The Marvan Hotels stablemates have launched a 50 per cent off deal for healthcare employees throughout September.

All you need to do to take advantage of the offer is to display your Health Workers ID card.

The Lemon Grove Hotel's publican, Wayne Stewart, says the promotion "gives us a chance to show our gratitude to these tireless healthcare workers, who put their families at risk every time they attend work".

"A gesture like this is a small token of gratitude compared to the sacrifice healthcare workers make every time they attend their workplace."

Muse Kitchen Lorn has opened its doors. The all-day menu has been created by head chef Josh Gregory and inspired by a classic French bistro style. Ralf Gulikers, who has previously worked at Blaxland Inn, Margan Restaurant and Restaurant Botanica, has been appointed restaurant manager. Trading hours are Wednesday to Sunday, 8am to 4pm, and Saturday, 8am to 10pm. Muse Kitchen Lorn can be found at 1/27 Belmore Road.

Dylan Abdoo and Elle Brown of Newcastle Greens have again won a gold medal at the annual delicious. Harvey Norman Produce Awards - this time for their Calvin Lamborn Pea Varietals. The awards champion Australia's best and most innovative produce and producers with an emphasis on provenance, seasonality and sustainable production methods.

Read more: Newcastle Greens: The cutting edge of culinary suppliers

Some more good news. On October 24 Flotilla at Wickham will host Jane Thomson (Fabulous Ladies Wine Society) and Leigh Dryden (Decante This) for a Burgundy and Champagne tasting experience that explores the 2018 vintage. You'll enjoy Champagne Vadin-Plateau on arrival at noon followed by a three-course lunch. Book online at eventbrite.com.au.

Read more: Newcastle wine professionals join forces under The Funky Drop banner

The Bavarian Charlestown is embracing the seasonal shift with a new food and drinks menu, and a range of new cocktails on tap. Spring Fest is a two-hour food, beer, cider and cocktail package ($69 per person) - think classics like pretzels; chicken schnitzel; and apple strudel with house-made vanilla ice-cream. Drinks include all-Australian beers and ciders and a new range of refreshing cocktails on tap, like the Strawberry Margarita, Lychee Paradise, Apple-Tini and Elderflower Garden.

Korean cuisine is one of the simplest, healthiest and friendliest in the world. Its dishes are perfect for sharing and it's fun to cook.

In Korean Food Made Easy, Caroline Hwang demonstrates how, with just a few easily sourced ingredients, you'll be able to create your first banchan and the gut-affirming kimchi, which works with just about any vegetable. Then you'll graduate to the ever-popular Korean barbecue recipes, galbi, one-pot stews and dosirak (the perfect packed lunch).

Korean Food Made Easy is out now through Murdoch Books, RRP $39.99. Food & Wine has a copy to give away. To enter, send the words "Korean Food" with your name, address and number to freelunch@newcastleherald.com.au.

Entries close on Monday at 9am.

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