Monday 8 September 2014

Running to Zapatista

As I'm sure you all know, yesterday was a very important day in Tyneside's calendar with the arrival of the Great North Run.   This years was particularly spectacular as it saw the 1,000,000th person to cross the finish line - something that makes the GNR the first of its kind.

We are lucky to live a very short walk away from Mile 3 of the course, so after watching the start of the race on the TV we hurried outside to find a good spot to stand and cheer on the runners.


This was my first ever experience of the GNR and I loved every second.  The atmosphere was amazing with lots of people out to show their support.  We had the most beautiful sunny day and watching Mo Farrah run right past us was so special.  


A little while later he was followed by crowds upon crowds of runners, I was so blown away by the sheer amount of people running past us and when the red arrows shot across the sky over our heads I felt so lucky to have such a fantastic race happen right on our doorstep.

Watching people running is pretty hungry work so after a while we decided to leave the competitors to it and amble down to the Quayside and up to Newcastle for an early lunch. 


We headed to Zapatista, a burrito bar just off Northumberland Street that I've heard so many good things about and have been wanting to try for a very long time.

Zapatista offers a fresh and delicious Mexican inspired menu with plenty of choice to allow you to  make your perfect burrito.   

Creating the perfect meal consists of 4 easy steps.   Step 1 is to chose between Burrito, Fajita, Tacos, Nachos or Salad Bowl to form the base of your dish.  Step 2 is to pick your filling with four different meats to choose from or sautéed vegetables.  Step 3 involves choosing your salsa and Step 4 is for those who can fit in some extras!

Simon and I both went for exactly the same lunch (great minds think alike!)   We chose the Fajita which was stuffed with coriander and lime rice, sautéed peppers and onions before adding our sweet shredded pork filling.   We topped our mountain of filling with sour cream and cheese before watching it get rolled up in foil with both ends nearly tucked in.


We decided to eat our food in the main restaurant upstairs which is a fantastic space full of brightly coloured furniture and fun murals. 


Just watching our food being prepared I was wondering how on earth we'd manage to eat such a beast of a Fajita.  I've never seen anything containing so much filling and the fact that you can get these mammoth feasts to take away is mind boggling. 

I have no idea how on earth you'd eat one of these on the go!
 
Sitting down with our food we were really happy to see that each table came with a guide to eat your burrito.   I didn't actually have a clue how to start so followed the instructions and took a firm hold, peeled the foil off one end and then began to tackle the food.


My lunch was absolutely delicious, there was a beautiful combination of flavours packed into a perfectly soft and floury tortilla.  I'm pretty sure lunches don't get any better than this!


Our meals were so fresh, tasty and filling.  We were really impressed and will definitely be returning next time we're out shopping and want a fantastic feast for lunch.

As for the Great  North Run, Simon spent quite a lot of the afternoon trying to convince me that next year I should try and run the 13.1 miles.   Luckily the 2015 date rather conveniently clashes with my little sister's wedding.   So for the moment I shall just have to stick to what I do best .... eating cake and going on adventures.   Darn!
Share:

32 comments

  1. I love watching marathons just not running in them, the atmosphere is brilliant. Burritos I love we have a food market just near where I work. Favourite chicken, chorizo and guacamole. Yummy glad the cheering made you peckish Lucy x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's funny when you're watching you can get kinda swept up in the whole thing and start thinking you might want to do one ... I realised on the treadmill tonight that I probably don't really!

      Delete
  2. Sounds like it was a great day! :) Those burritos look delicious- they kind of remind me of the ones that are here at a fast food chain restaurant called Chipotle (not sure if they're international or not). They certainly take some technique to be able to eat them without spilling all the ingredients out!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think I will have to go again soon just so I can get my eating of them just right :D

      Delete
  3. I don't think I could ever survive running 13 miles... I already have a bit of trouble with 3! I think I am like you – more of a professional at eating cake and burritos ;)

    http://www.rotten-one.com

    ReplyDelete
  4. Mmmm this looks like my sort if place! How much are the burritos and do they have smaller ones for kids? X

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I didn't notice any children's options on the menu but I'm sure they'd make you a smaller one. They were so reasonably priced, £4.90 plus £1.10 for a drink - bargain lunch!

      Delete
  5. Lovely post! I love Zapatista! They often come to where I work and have a stall set up, super delicious & SO filling. x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I've been wanting to go for such a long time. It was worth the wait!

      Delete
  6. look at the size of those Burritos! they look so good too. 13.1 miles would be quite the feat - i may consider it for the future, but i would never do a full marathon! x

    Miho @ Wander to Wonder

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. When I consider that this evening I walked a mile to the gym, did about 3 miles on the treadmill then walked a mile home and was SO tired I could barely lift my feet up to get up the stairs to my flat, I can't see how I could ever run 13 miles!

      Delete
  7. I am really glad that Zapatista is good! I've been eyeing it up on like *every* visit back home but never went in because I didn't want a disappointing burrito (I know, that's weird.) But those look amazing. *A*

    And, ahh, the GNR. I think one of my friends did it... last year? I think so. IDK. I don't run.

    x Nicole Isabella

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yay! Definitely go next time! There are two in Toon now as well, one's recently opened close to Central Station x

      Delete
  8. My cousin did the run this year for CHUF in memory of his daughter who passed away at only a month old. I always look up to anyone who can accomplish such a feat. You are very lucky you have a sister ;) lol! Theres no way I could do it.

    I must try this Zapatista next time I'm in town!
    x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That's amazing ... I was getting very emotional hearing people's stories on the TV. I have so much admiration for people working so hard to do something in honour of someone they lost!

      Delete
  9. omgosh this all looks sooo yummy!

    ReplyDelete
  10. I saw the GNR for the first time 2 days after I moved to Newcastle and it took my breath away to see all those people, it's quite something! Also I love Zapatista, I work just across the road and we go there for lunch quite a lot (when the Unis are closed though!) x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That sounds dangerous! Although I work very close to the Great British Cupcakery and considering how much I love cake it's pretty impressive that I've only been once during my lunch break :D

      Delete
  11. This looks delicious and is making me so hungry! Chris asked me if I wanted to run it too. Somehow I just don't think I have it in me! 5 miles yes...13 I'm not so sure :/

    K xx
    Idreamofcoco.blogspot.co.uk

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. My boss (who ran it this year) was saying to me today that there's no way you wouldn't be able to do it if you follow a good training plan ... I'm just not sure I'd have it in me to make all that effort!

      Delete
  12. I had a few friends doing the GNR this year which always makes me want to do it too. I love going to watch things like that, we always go down to see the London Marathon pass by and it's great to cheer on people doing fantastic things. I do think that going for a burrito is the better option though.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's mad how when you watch it you suddenly think you could maybe run 13.1 miles! It's very easy to get swept away with the whole thing!

      Delete
  13. I didn't et to watch much of the race this year as me and the boyfriend were on dog sitting duty, while his sister was out for the day doing the run. But I am so glad that Mo managed to cross the line in first place even though it was a little too close for comfort :)

    Gems x
    Aww my comment didn't work first time round and now I don't remember it! Something about me being a terrible girl, because I don't have a proper make up bag.
    I love your mac blusher by the way!

    Gems x
    Fashion, Well Done

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ah the last bit was mad, when he overtook and went on to win! Crazy stuff!

      Delete
  14. Blimey that sounds delicious, but looks so huge! I can see what you mean about not being able to eat it on the go, personally I would want a knife and fork, I would get it everywhere haha.

    Elle x
    Notes of Petranella

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I did end up digging a fork in, it got so messy at the end!

      Delete
  15. Aw you're so lucky! We had some people running in it from Bootcamp, but there was no way I could have made the journey, plus I can imagine Newcastle coming to standstill with the volume of people there! You're so lucky living there and especially so close! Did you do the 'M' sign for Mo as he passed by?lol
    Did you go down to the athletic events the day before? Again, I would of loved to watch the mens sprinting.. we sadly had to do with watching it all on the tv!
    Those Burrito's look amazing! I can't say I've ever had one.. kind need and want to now though! :)

    Caroline.x
    notesfromcaroline.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That's one reason we had to go out and watch this year, we're so lucky to live on the run route. When we buy a house next year I should imagine we'll be moving much further out!

      x

      Delete
  16. You certainly picked a fantastic spot and what a brilliant photo of Mo Farrah! And those burritos! I think I'm going to need a few extra weekends in my year to visit all the fab places you keep finding in Newcastle!

    Scottish Outlander

    ReplyDelete
  17. Mexican food is my very favourite. That place looks great! You thinking of signing up to the marathon next year? It just seems such an awfully long way...

    ReplyDelete

© New Girl in Toon | All rights reserved.
Blog Layout Created by pipdig