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Foreword: Bridget PhillipsonI love Sunderland %u2013 its people, its heritage, its coastline, its music, its raw authenticity. Ask anyone from our area and they%u2019ll share that pride.One factor that doesn%u2019t usually feature on the list of sources of pride is our underappreciated cuisine. Speak to those on Teesside and they%u2019ll rave about their parmos, those to the north will puff their chest out at the mention of their gift to the world: Greggs. Whereas here in Sunderland, we%u2019re caricatured as oik lovers of cheesy chips and blue Panda pop.And that%u2019s what it is, a caricature. We rightly have fond memories of growing up eating the dishes synonymous with our city.For me it%u2019s the pink slice %u2013 sweet jam, crumbly biscuit, thick icing where you can see your teeth marks after the first bite. A warming panackelty on a winter%u2019s evening, with stottie to soak up the gravy. A pie from the historic Bell%u2019s in Washington. Ham and pease pudding sandwiches that seem to feature in every Sunderland buffet, from your Christening to your wake.But it%u2019s not just about nostalgia. I%u2019m glad to say that our city centre punches well above its weight when it comes to places to eat and drink, it%u2019s bustling %u2013 we%u2019ve got award-winning Italians, top quality Indian food, food from the street stalls of Mexico and the izakayas of Japan. Though I still love the stalwart that is M%u00fcller Swiss Bakers.A final reason for Mackem pride I want to recognise is the charitable nature of Wearsiders.The proceeds of this book will go to those in our community who need it most. For years now the city has rallied around the fantastic work of those at the Community Soup Kitchen, with last year%u2019s Christmas effort coordinated by Roker Report raising over %u00a340,000 alone. The team at the Kitchen deserve our thanks for all they do.I%u2019d like to also pass on my thanks to Paul Swinney & A Love Supreme for this labour of love. I look forward to giving the recipes a go myself.Gan canny,Bridget PhillipsonMP for Houghton and Sunderland South and Secretary of State for Education06