An Edible Voyage

June 2021 Cardiff holds a special place in my heart, it being the city of my student years.  So when I was invited to a wedding there, I decided this was a great opportunity for a reminiscent trip. Back when I was a student, I didn't even like coffee (I do wonder how I survived being a student without!) but I had a feeling that in this day and age, Cardiff would have some pretty great roasters.  I started off at Brodies.  They have a cafe, Bricks and Mortar, on North Road but since it was a lovely sunny morning I headed to their cabin in Gorsedd Gardens to enjoy my flat white in the dappled light of the cooling trees.  There's a surprisingly large selection of sweet treats for such a dinky hut, and they also sell boxes of plant-based Patissiere Thibault Courtoisier's macarons. Next I delved in to the arcades.  I love how arcades always feel like a bit of a secret, and how you never know what exciting shop or interesting boutique you'll find around the next corne...

May 2021 Every day for 2 years I cycled past the Killingworth Castle in Wootton and never thought much of it.  It was only when a friend of mine recommended The Ebrington Arms in Gloucestershire that I found out these are sister pubs, and not only that, are some of the most highly acclaimed (and supposedly most Instagramable, although I'm not sure who's judging!) pubs in the Cotswolds. After several Covid induced postponements, my mum and I finally made it there one sunny Friday evening, meaning we got to enjoy the beautiful garden with it's sunning, far-reaching Cotswold views.  I rekon it would be lovely in the winter too - the inside looked so cosy with warmth and comfort emanating from the wood paneling. I quite often find I'm a little underwhelmed by the food at high end establishments, generally preferring simple, homely fare that has been cooked exceptionally, to rich, elegantly presented plates.  The Ebrington Arms was an exception. When my mum and I eat out, we...

December 2020 For the freshest bread in Pembrokeshire, get yourself down to Crwst.   Often still warm from the oven, the sourdough has a lovely soft texture and a full flavour, making it impossible not to break chunks off and eat it plain on the way home.   The flat white made with the local Bay Coffee Roasters beans is very good, and there is an exciting selection of doughnuts.   Not usually a huge fan of caramel, the salted caramel doughnut deserves a mention for its fluffy texture, silky mousse that bursts out as you bite it, and the little crunch from popcorn adorning the top – a lovely contrast of textures. Find it on Priory Street in Cardigan.   They also serve brunch which I think would definitely be worth a try, and a selection of deli produce – Bay Coffee Roasters beans, creamy Perl Wen from Caws Cenarth Cheese, and the delicious Gethins cider from Maenclochog, amongst other things.