Meet & Marrow awarded five star food hygiene rating

Meet & Marrow, run by childhood friends Nicola Patterson and Axel Tucker, opened on Duke Street last month.

The café soft launched on Saturday, February 14, before opening to the public on Monday, February 16.

On being awarded a five star hygiene rating, Nicola said: “We are so happy. It is like an award for doing something right.

“When you are dealing with food, I think some people just think you just have to put an apron on, open the front door and then you are good to go.

“But there was so much to it, you have got to be meticulous with absolutely everything.”

Meet & Marrow on Duke Street in Darlington (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)

And Nicola was full of praise for the team at Meet & Marrow.

“Me and Axel thought of the concept, but it is not a real thing until you get a team in,” she said.

“The team are great and they were all buzzing when we got the sticker. I am absolutely elated and it is now proudly displayed on the front window.”

Nicola said the support they have had since opening from the general public has been “the best thing”.

She also explained what makes the food at the café so good.

Nicola said: “Our chefs are amazing, the food is brilliant, but it is literally just whole foods, cooked with what they are supposed to be cooked with, and your body recognises it. There are no fancy, elaborate recipes.”

And Nicola thanked everyone who has supported Meet & Marrow in its first month of business.

She said: “Thank you so much from me and Axel. When we come in it is such a nice vibe here and every single customer has been absolutely amazing.

“Me and Axel are just over the moon that we took the risk. Axel has been amazing too; we are a very good team. We would not have been able to do it without each other.”

And Nicola has said Meet & Marrow will soon be serving Sunday dinners within the next couple of weeks, as well as meal preps further down the line.