New cafe Wooden Galley serving up mince & dumplings, Sunday dinners, panackelty and more

The Wooden Galley has been brought to the local high street by Danielle Hanson who has named her business in honour of Sunderland’s shipbuilding heritage, as well as her former career as a communications technician in the Royal Navy.

An extension of her Sunderland Food Prep business which she’s operated from her home for the past two years, the new premises means Danielle has a bigger kitchen for making up calorie counted and macro-balanced meal prep orders, while also having space to sell take away comfort foods such as breakfasts, panackelty, mince & dumplings, lasagne, Sunday dinners, pastas and more.

The chef has taken up a formerly empty unit in Hendon, creating eight jobs, and she says the she’s been delighted with the response.

"We opened just before Christmas and considering the time of year, and the fact we’re in a pandemic, the response has been great. We’ve been really busy,” said the businesswoman. “A lot of places are closing in the pandemic, but a lot are opening too. I think if you have the resources and the right product now is a good time. People are willing to spend on food because it’s one of the only treats we have left.”

Related: shining the spotlight on Villette Road traders in Lockdown 3.

She added: “The premises have been empty for a while so I think people are pleased to see a new business open. Villette Road used to have three or four good cafes which have now gone, so I think people enjoy the fact they can pop here for hot foods. The other businesses on the street have been really supportive too.

"People love the hot foods, especially the lasagne, which I personally think is one of the best around.”

As well as the cafe being open for take away foods seven days a week from 9am-4pm Monday-Saturday and from 11.30am on Sundays, Danielle is continuing the food prep business.

Speaking about the rise in popularity of food prep services, Danielle said: "With Lockdown and gyms being closed people are becoming more aware of what they’re eating.

"I think people feel a lot safer using delivery services or popping to their local high street for a meal, than they do using supermarkets.”

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