Laura and Jake Siddle named their fine dining restaurant Faru after the Old English word for journey.
And it’s certainly been quite the adventure since the couple took their first steps to achieving their dream of opening their own place. The couple are both alumni of Middlesbrough College, where they trained in catering and hospitality.
However they were in different year groups and didn’t cross paths until working together at the Michelin-starred House of Tides. After nine years at the Newcastle restaurant, they took the plunge and opened Faru in April 2023.
Eighteen months on and the Durham restaurant has already bagged an esteemed place in the Michelin Guide. To add to this success, they have now scooped a top industry honour with the front-of-house team named the UK’s best at the Staff Canteen Awards.
Now in its fourth year, the awards saw 262 nominations across the eight categories and almost 50,000 votes cast. Winners were selected by the public.
When asked what she thinks sets their front of house team apart, Laura, 32, told Teesside Live: “I say this all the time, but I think it’s because we’re from the North-east and all the staff are from the North-east.
“I’m really strong at saying to our staff, don’t change your personality – just let it come across. We do a six-week training course for all front-of-house staff and one thing I encourage them to do is to be themselves and find some common ground with customers.
“With taster restaurants some people may find it a bit intimidating but our job is to put them at ease. I just think it’s that North-east charm and the fact we are so friendly, polite and talkative.”
Since opening the Silver Street venue, Laura, who is originally from Stockton, and Jake, 31, from Thornaby, have used to trial and error to find what works best for the business. They use seasonal produce and offer two taster menus, in modern, understated surroundings and a vibrant open kitchen.
Recent initiatives include a £40 taster menu, which they started around two months ago. “Mid-week dining in Durham is fairly quiet and we thought it was a good way to draw other people in,” said Laura.
“You have also got to take into account the climate at the moment and the fact a lot of people don’t have spare money lying around. This allows people to come in and experience a taster menu for £40.”
During the summer they also introduced Sunday lunches which have proved hugely popular. “We originally started doing just two a month and they were selling out so quick,” said Laura.
“We thought, in Durham, there are not that many places where you can get a really good Sunday lunch. So we decided to make it a permanent thing and it’s gone insane.
“A Sunday lunch is a really good way to get people to come in who maybe wouldn’t want to try the taster menu. We find many people do say they will come back to try it.”
Laura said the training at Middlesbrough College gave them both a great grounding for their careers in the culinary world. “I think going to college and doing that course sets you up because it gives you the basic knowledge and shows what you might come up against,” she said.
“At Middlesbrough College the kitchen facilities were amazing. They had their own restaurant so you got a real feel for what it’s like in a working kitchen and all the people skills you need.”
For more information and reservations visit the Faru website here.
Original article: Teesside Live
