Mayor of Seaham officially opens a new tearoom with a unique Caribbean twist

Church Street has became the new home of Caruso’s after the tearoom made the move from Bishop Auckland to Seaham.
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Owners Nikki and Lennie Caruso are hoping to bring an Italian/Caribbean twist to the community of Seaham with treats such as jerk chicken and homemade pizzas.

The couple made the switch from Bishop Auckland to the seaside town as they enjoyed coming for days out and they feel like it has a lot going on.

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The unique food is something which Nikki is hoping will attract customers and she has told the Echo where the idea came from.

Mayor of Seaham Councillor Linda Willis (left), Mayoress Diane Adamson with her grandchildren Frank Beatie, Emmie Adamson and owners Lennie and Nikki Caruso.Mayor of Seaham Councillor Linda Willis (left), Mayoress Diane Adamson with her grandchildren Frank Beatie, Emmie Adamson and owners Lennie and Nikki Caruso.
Mayor of Seaham Councillor Linda Willis (left), Mayoress Diane Adamson with her grandchildren Frank Beatie, Emmie Adamson and owners Lennie and Nikki Caruso.

She said: “I was diagnosed with cancer and at the time of my illness, Lennie couldn’t cook anything.

"Lennie’s family come from Montserrat in the Caribbean so he taught himself how to cook and started to make everything from scratch, nothing processed at all.

"Once he mastered how to do that, he began to bake cakes and a friend suggested to us that we should start to sell them.

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"Now we are near the seaside, we decided that it would be a good thing to run with and that’s where it all began.”

Owner Nikki Caruso with locally sourced gifts which are all for sale at the new Seaham tearoom.Owner Nikki Caruso with locally sourced gifts which are all for sale at the new Seaham tearoom.
Owner Nikki Caruso with locally sourced gifts which are all for sale at the new Seaham tearoom.

The tearoom also sells locally sourced jewellery and gifts, with Nikki, who has recovered from her illness, saying her family have always owned newsagents so she grew up with a retail background.

She added: “With myself coming from a retail background and I have a love for jewellery, I thought why not combine the two?

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"We don’t want to step on anyone’s toes with what we are offering, we’re a bit quirky and a bit different.”

Lennie Caruso taught himself how to cook traditional Caribbean food after his wife Nikki was diagnosed with cancer.Lennie Caruso taught himself how to cook traditional Caribbean food after his wife Nikki was diagnosed with cancer.
Lennie Caruso taught himself how to cook traditional Caribbean food after his wife Nikki was diagnosed with cancer.

The Mayor of Seaham, Councillor Linda Willis, was on hand to cut the ribbon and officially open the town’s newest cafe.

She commented: “Caruso’s has a very Caribbean seaside feel and I am sure this will be enjoyed by all who come in for a relaxing coffee.

"On behalf of Seaham, I would like to wish Nicki and her staff at Caruso’s all of our best wishes for a very successful business venture.”

The tearoom opens from 9am-4.30pm from Tuesdays-Saturdays.

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