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Byline: BARABA HODGSON

HAVING won legions of fans with the likes of duck fries and gourmet bites, chef Alex Hindson is exploring the flavours of India in his latest street food venture, which opened in Newcastle this week.

The founder of Hatch 76, which serves up a street food take that reinvents the humble sandwich, has now launched Hullabaloo Naan Wrap Kitchen upstairs in the Stack container village.

And his focus this time is on Indian street food that comes served with his trademark twist, of course.

First customers trying the new menu will find among the likes of naan wraps and Bombay loaded fries, the new "panchos" which offer a twist on nachos by using popppadoms.

Alex, who runs Hatch 76 in a groundfloor unit in Stack - as well as its mobile business in the 1976 French J7 Peugeot van in which he started out - said: "I love Indian food.

"But you find it tends to be a takeaway you eat at home while watching The X Factor on a Friday night.

"I wanted to do more Indian street finger food, more wraps, which you don't need a knife and fork for and can eat with one hand while holding a beer."

Hullabaloo opened in Stack on Monday in the upper level unit previously occupied by Texas Smoker - which moved in an adjacent bigger restaurant space - and then Mivesi.

As ever, Alex is keen to bring the customer and the kitchen close together. Whereas the previous restaurants' kitchens were towards the rear of the unit, he has brought Hullabaloo's towards the front so people can watch their food being prepared by Michael McConnan, who will be running the show.

"It's all about seeing the food being made and customer and kitchen interaction," he said.

I wanted more finger you can one holding Alex Of the bright green decor and vibrant wall art, created by Newcastle-based interiors company Collective Design, he said: "I wanted to do something fresh and creative; something different."

On the menu, customers will be able to choose the likes of grilled tikka chicken naan wrap for PS6.50; a marinated paneer cheese version for PS6 and a PS7 lamb kofta and Chennai beef - all with raita yoghurt; mango chutney; chilli sauce and salad.

The panchos range from plain for PS4 to any of the naan flavours costing from PS5-PS6 and they are served with Indian salsa, mango chutney, raita yoghurt and chilli pickle.

to do street food... which eat with while a beer Other options include Bombay loaded fries from plain ones for PS3 to a range of toppings, Hindson from tikka chicken to beef priced from PS5-PS6, and snacks such as paneer cheese nuggets with minted yoghurt for PS4. Hullabaloo also sells soft drinks and lager and Alex is looking to add Indian beers and craft ales.

will be running the seeing the and customer kitchen by he do and different." The panchos plain for PS4 to flavours PS5-PS6 served salsa, a from beef and snack"I wanted to do more Indian street finger food... which you can eat with one hand while holding a beer Alex Hindson

CAPTION(S):

Alex Hindson, who's offering Indian food