Top Christmas prezzie

Lovely Christmas present from my very thoughtful step-daughter and her boyfriend. Taster menu for two at Wild Garlic in the Cotswolds.
http://www.wild-garlic.co.uk/menus/WG_Tasting_Menu.pdf

Stephen Terry - Salmon with winter salad leaves

TV chef Stephen Terry halts plan for Cardiff restaurant

TV chef and owner of The Hardwick, Abergavenny, Stephen Terry has confirmed that plans to open a second restaurant in Cardiff have been shelved.

The star of BBC2's Great British Menu had been looking at properties in and around the suburb of Pontcanna.

The idea to open an in-house bakery and shop to run alongside the main business made the site of the old Le Gallois restaurant the most likely option, however the current economic conditions have convinced the Michelin-starred chef that the timing isn't right for a move into the Welsh capital.

Check out Stephen Terry's recipe videos and more on YouTube

My favourite local cafes

The last few months have seen me spend an ever increasing amount of time seeking solace in the embrace of my local greasy spoon.

Not you understand because I am starting a business and often at the mercy of other people's timetables, nor as a tactic to avoid the gym, though now that Winter has us firmly in it's grip and I seem to have time to burn there is an ring of truth to both these statements. 

No, the reason I inhabit the world of wipe clean table cloths and tomato shaped ketchup dispensers for an hour each day is down purely to parents.

The single minded, the rushed and the downright bloody insane all descend upon my tiny street for approximately 20 minutes, four times a day, clogging it like fat blocking an artery. All the while dispensing young Max's and Shakira's feet from the entrance to their school having driven them literally hundreds of yards from their humble abodes in an adjacent street.

Anyway, thanks to this parade of idiocy I have been forced to reacquaint myself with my local cafs in a bid to avoid an assault charge. And do you know what? I bloody love it!

So here, for no good reason other than the fact everybody else makes lists at the end of the year, and in no particular order, are five of my favourite Welsh cafes I've frequented over the last 20 years.

1. Sugar Shaker, 80 Crwys Road, Cardiff

Owned by a Portuguese family this cheap and cheerful establishment gets a mention over all its nearby rivals based on the fact that I spent most weekends between 1995 and 2009 fighting it out with the local builders for a table. Always packed and with a TV that seemed to be perpetually showing, You've Been Framed (the Portuguese version naturally), my weekend treat usually involved two bacon, two sausage, two fried eggs and (controversial this) chips, with two slices of bread and butter and a mug (not a cup) of tea. I genuinely don't know where i used to put it.

2. Duckpool Cafe, Duckpool Road, Newport

After the wrench of leaving my beloved Sugar Shaker I thought I'd never find a replacement cafe in Newport. But by Christ not only was the Duckpool a replacement, it's actually better!

Between opening time and the, frankly bizarre, closing time of 2pm the cafe's seats are graced with the backsides of the usual succession of builders, schoolkids and pensioners but on training days it's a fair bet you'll spot some Welsh rugby stars, the local Gwent Dragons ground being just a short walk away.

In other local cafes I tend to go for the healthy option - basically just my usual but with poached eggs. In the Duckpool I wouldn't dare, so it's a small breakfast with a side order of fried potatoes, bread and butter not toast (you don't seriously have toast do you?) and the standard mug of tea.

3. Servini's, Wyndham Arcade, Cardiff

Oh my days! What to say about Servini's? It's a Cardiff institution and when I travelled to work from Pontypool on a Saturday morning the thought of a late breakfast/early lunch from this little gem would sustain me through to my deadline. Originally based on the opposite side of the arcade in the tiniest cubbyhole imaginable, in the late Nineties they took over the much larger space they occupy today. On international days you'll struggle to get through the door. 

Over the year's myself and my friend Mike have worked our way through a significant part of the menu and I can heartily recommend any of the following:

The Triple Crown (bacon, onions, mushrooms, black pudding), a much simpler combination of sausage,egg and black pudding, the beef baguette with mushrooms, onions and lashings of English mustard and the pastrami with melted cheese.

4. Cafe 109,The Highway, New Inn

A recent addition to my list. When I lived in the village we didn't have a cafe, now this place doubles up as a bistro in the evening. Posh huh?

I can't claim to know anything about the night time menu but they do do a mean bacon and egg sandwich - with brown sauce naturally, I'm not a philistine.

Fans of recent MTV trash-fest The Valleys - not that I've ever met any -  may also be interested to know that some scenes from the show were filmed here and in a nearby side street. All rather strange because New Inn has about as much in common with the Valleys as Royal Tunbridge Wells.

5. Luigi's, 10 Cross Street, Abergavenny

It's possible that this place is closed now, owner Luigi Basini having declared back in April that he was selling up. Though I do recall spending one wet Sunday afternoon there earlier this year, passing the time with the Sunday papers and a mug of tea, so maybe it just has new owners.

Opened in 1973 I remember it as a coffee scented oasis after hours of being dragged around the market (on a Tuesday) or Richards' department store - mantra 'we sell the items your neighbour borrows' - (on a Saturday) by my mum and nan.

In my teens it was also key in my being caught out when I 'borrowed' my mum's car without permission. Sat in a window seat and gloating to my mate that I'd get the vehicle back before she came home from work, I turned to look out of the window just as shamed Tory MP David Mellor was passing complete with camera crew. He waved at me, I waved back and promptly made the evening news thereby blowing my claim that the old dear's trusty Ford Orion had 'never left the garage'.

Well, they're mine. What are yours?

These Waitrose mini all butter mince pies...

could be the best I've ever tasted. The pastry is just out of this world. And no they're not paying me, but I've already worked my way through one layer so if they want to send a box over... ;)



Sent from my iPhone

Shotton curry house named best Indian restaurant in Wales

AN AWARD-WINNING eaterie in Deeside has been named the country’s best Indian restaurant.
Click here to read the full story

Stephen Terry's Meals in Minutes - Christmas recipes

Britain's Best Bakery

Loving the woman who does the VoiceOver on ITV 1 show Britain's Best Bakery.
Apparently today they're at a place in Wales called Betsy-Co-Ed.
Does she mean Betws-y-Coed (pronounced Bet-us-eee-coyd)?
Sent from my iPhone

Caerleon Christmas Farmers' Market

Christmas Farmers' Market takes place at Caerleon Town Hall on Saturday 8th December. Local food producers will gather from 10am - 4pm to tempt with locally sourced natural goodies, dishes from around the world, and real ales, ciders and mulled wines galore.

Celebrity chef Heston Blumenthal visits North Wales to create a pub out of a giant pie - North Wales News - News

Celebrity chef Heston Blumenthal visits North Wales to create a pub out of a giant pie - North Wales News - News

Abergavenny Food and Drink Fair

Don't forget the third annual Abergavenny Food and Drink Fair takes place this coming Sunday, 9 December, at the Market Hall, Upper Brewery Yard, St Mary's Priory Centre and in Cross Street.
Adult stroller tickets are just £3.50, which gives you access to 90 of the best local and regional food producers to stock up your cupboards for the coming festive season, plus entry to the chefs' demonstrations.
Children's strollers are free, gratis and for nothing. How can you resist?

Take it down a notch

Half a Cwtch 4.6%

Beer No.2 - Hot Box

Er, half again!



Sent from my iPhone

Beer No.1 - Tiny Rebel Brewer bar open to public

Just the half to start



Sent from my iPhone

The allotment one week on....

Two borders cleared on the allotment. Would've done more if there weren't so many nice people popping by with offers of tea :)

Look at these little beauties

...from Wrens bakery on Caerleon Road, Newport. So nice even my cat can't resist them. I caught her munching them straight out of the (other) bag and had to bin them. Still five left, so can't complain

Norman Musa's peanut sauce: attempt 1

Kuah Kacang to go with the Sate Ayam

Bringing The Hardwick to Cardiff

Woke up to the news that Stephen Terry is to open a new restaurant in Cardiff.

The restaurant won't be in the city centre - let's face it most of Cardiff's best eateries aren't - but the London-born chef hinted that Cathedral Road was a possible location.

The food will follow the same philosophy as the that employed at it's sister restaurant The Hardwick in Abergavenny and the one thing you can guarantee there'll be no gastronomic showing off just and abundance of high quality, local ingredients.

Speaking to Trinity Mirror's WalesOnline web site he said, "I can't stand fine dining. It comes with an over-inflated price and no atmosphere and I can't see the point.

“I don’t think there’s a demand for a molecular gastronomy pushing boundaries type restaurant in Cardiff.”

The chef also revealed that he's planning to open an adjoining shop selling local produce, "We would bring stuff down from Abergavenny, like great strawberries in the summer.

“I have a great friend who’s a baker and I’d like to bring him in so people can buy a good loaf of bread for £3.50.”

Tiny Rebel Brewery Bar opening

This promises to be a good night... unless you're a lager drinker :)

The Gate, Llanfrechfa back as a pub

Good to see another local pub being brought back to its former glory.

Last night I visited The Gate at the bottom end of Llanfrechfa/top end of Ponthir, after my cousin recommended it to me.

Four real ales and one real cider on the bar, and a very enticing menu that included the better half's favourite of belly pork with black pudding. Another watering hole to add to your 'must visit' list if you're in the Newport/Monmouth/Torfaen area.

Two fat blokes and some nibbles

https://twitter.com/GolleysWales/status/271690613508935680/photo/1
Me and @cardiffcomfest at Beers, Bites and Beards last week

Disappointment down the Bay

Just got back from a meal out with friends at Signor Valentino in Cardiff. Food decidedly average.

The goat's cheese tart seemed to be encased in pastry so spongey I wondered if it was puff rather than shortcrust, and the filling tasted decidedly cheddar-like.

The pizza was an improvement but only after pouring several glugs of chilli oil over it.

Worst of all however was the price. In Italy a good pizza rarely costs more than seven euros (a little over a fiver). So why should a pizza with the same three toppings in Cardiff cost more than double?

Video recipes

http://www.youtube.com/chefstephenterry
Been doing some more work on Stephen Terry's YouTube page. Adding side graphics and selecting me keywords.
Time to step away from the laptop now. Headache coming

Ready to grow our own

My stepdaughter's boyfriend and me at our new family allotment in the 'port
:)

Lovely lunch. Flash-fried steak sandwich with lashings of english mustard from Palfreys butchers on Church Road in Newport.
The flavour is just amazing.

Beer and bites

Tomorrow it's the Otley Brewery' Beer and Bites night at the Radisson. Six sampling courses courtesy of the in-house Filini restaurant - may include Sardinian dishes which should make it interesting - complimented by some of Wales' best beer.
Result!

So why have I started this blog?

So why have I started this blog? Well a couple of things occurred to me recently.

1. My other blog A Slice of Sardinia is only really of any use when I'm in Sardinia. Otherwise it's just a random collection of bits I've found on the web or my friends who live there have sent me.

2. A lot of my life revolves around food - I shoot videos about it, write reviews about it, try out recipes and attend functions or restaurants where I consume lots of it.

3. Oh and drink, let's not forget drink.

 So I figured why not try and drag it altogether in one place, and here we are.

 I should also explain that the title comes from my Sardinian friend Andrea who - because like all of us  he's eager to learn - is always asking, 'What's Welsh for...'

 Ironic really because I don't speak Welsh.

 Anyway it'll take a while to pull it together so do bear with me.