Foodies Rule!

 

New York, New York – July 15, 2014   The Welsh, with their decades-old tradition of being locavores, have done it again.  Wales is fast becoming Europe's 'go to' venue for fabulous food festivals, expert cooking lessons and food and wine trails. www.americas.visitwales.com  is your ultimate trip planning source, but here is a sampling of what is on offer.

Food festivals abound, especially in the autumn, which is one of the most beautiful times of the year to visit Wales and experience not just delicious food, but magnificent scenery and millennia of history and mythology.

20th-21st September

Abergavenny Food Festival - www.abergavennyfoodfestival.com

Abergavenny

The Woodstock of Food Festivals and one of the biggest events on the UK foodie calendar, offers a menu of local produce, international delicacies, celebrity chefs, master classes, and tastings.

 

27th - 28th September

Mold Food and Drink Festival - www.moldfoodfestival.co.uk

Mold

This event showcases outstanding local produce and celebrity chef expertise with live music to create a fabulous foodie weekend for the whole family.

 

11th -12th October

Anglesey Oyster & Shellfish Festival - www.angleseyoysterfestival.com

Beaumaris

It started as an informal event where locals would gather to eat oysters and get merry, but now attracts thousands of visitors each year.

 

25th - 26th October

Gwledd Conwy Feast - www.gwleddconwyfeast.co.uk

Conwy

The medieval town of Conwy is transformed with a weekend festival that boasts the largest celebration of music, art and food of Wales. The quayside, the castle and the medieval streets burst with flavors, sounds and sights.

 

Cooking Schools

Some of Wales' finest cooking schools are located near Food Festival venues.  Many are located within farm and/or vineyard complexes and offer stunning scenery, comfortable accommodation and local delicacies from their own farm shops.

Cookery School at Bodnant Welsh Food - www.bodnant-welshfood.co.uk/bodnant-cookery-school

Enjoy stunning views of the Conwy Estuary as you hone your culinary skills. The school offers a wide range of courses.  Bodnant Welsh Food Centre is located at Furnace Farm, in the stunning surroundings of the Conwy Valley in North Wales. Originally built in the 18th century, the buildings have been lovingly restored to provide an excellent venue for their farm shop, tea room, restaurant, cookery school and farmhouse accommodation

 

Llanerch Vineyard – www.llanerch-vineyard.co.uk/

Llanerch Vineyard, is located in the heart of the picturesque Glamorganshire countryside in south Wales, just 20 minutes from the capital city of Cardiff.  Celebrity chef Angela Gray's Cookery School is part of this splendid complex. Llanerch's restaurant, bistro, vineyard hotel rooms and self-guided vineyard tours are popular with locals and vacationers alike.

 

The Culinary Cottage Cookery School - www.theculinarycottage.co.uk

Located near Abergavenny, in the beautiful Black Mountains, whatever your skill, whatever your taste, the Culinary Cottage Cookery School has something just for you.  Years of travelling the globe, cooking for dignitaries, celebrities and royalty, including a private dinner party for HM The Queen, have equipped Chef Penny Lewis with extensive knowledge, expertise and a love of cooking that resonates in the delectable dishes she creates with her students.

 

 

The Chef's Room Fish and Cookery School - www.thechefsroom.co.uk

Located in the south eastern part of Wales, near the town and World Heritage site of Blaenavon, the school was a British Cookery Awards 2013 Winner; it was named the Best Cookery School in Wales.

 

The Rhug Estate and Shop

Rhug Farm Shop first opened in 2003; in December 2011 the new expanded shop opened in a purpose-built oak and cedar building that offers a wonderful shopping experience: the new deli offers over 70 varieties of cheese, homemade pies and cured meats, Rhug's butcher sells the estate's organically produced meats; takeaway options include home produced organic burgers. Michelin Star trained Executive Chef Chris Harrod heads "The Bison Grill" that produces all its meals from scratch using Rhug's award winning meat.

 

Wine Trail Wales

Did you know?

The Romans and French monks are said to have introduced wine to Britain, but Lord Bute, a wealthy and enthusiastic Scottish industrialist, is credited with planting Wales' first commercial vineyard at Castell Coch, north of Cardiff in 1875.

Welsh vineyards are a good place to get close to rare and unusual wildlife - walk with llamas through Glyndwr Vineyard in the Vale of Glamorgan or feed red kites at Jabajak Vineyard in Carmarthenshire.

Ancre Hill Estates is one of only two biodynamic vineyards in the UK and the only one to grow Albarino grapes, which are more commonly found in Galicia, Northern Spain.

Welsh wines are world-beaters – Ancre Hill Estates' 2008 vintage was voted best sparkling wine in the world at the Bollicine del Mondo International Competition in Italy in 2012.

Glyndwr Vineyard wines have graced European State banquets and are served in the House of Lords' restaurant. Parva was served at the European Summit meeting when Britain held the Presidency.

More than 20 different grape varieties are grown in vineyards across Wales.

 

The Clwydian Range Food Trail

Is a new way to discover the gastronomic delights of the scenic Clwydian Range, an 'Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty'.  The trail will take you through some of the most spectacular views in the Clwydian Range from Loggerheads through the picturesque market towns of Ruthin, Denbigh and beyond.  Along the way you can explore award winning producers of delicious foods, handmade bread, pies and pastries, meat from traditional Welsh breeds, cheese, yogurt and cider www.foodtrail.co.uk.

 

Food Trail South & Mid Wales

Day 1

Visit The Blaenafon Cheddar Company in Blaenavon, a World Heritage Site. Here you will find a selection of handmade Cheddar and goat's cheese made with quality local ingredients - one of which is matured underground at the neighboring Big Pit Mining Museum. Take this opportunity to pop down to Big Pit. The underground tour takes you 300 feet underground with a real miner.

Your next stop is the Welsh Whisky Company, situated in the small village of Penderyn, within the Brecon Beacons National Park. It's the only distillery left in Wales and one of the smallest in the world. Not only does it produce the finest quality single malt whisky but also a range of Welsh spirits such as Merlyn liqueur, Brecon Vodka and Brecon Gin. Visitors can experience the distilling, bottling process and the history of whisky making in Wales. And of course you'll get to sample the spirits.

Approx. distance: 50 miles

Approx. travelling time: 1hr 10 mins

Overnight suggestion: Swansea

 

Food Trail South & Mid Wales (continued)

Day 2

Head to Swansea Market. You can try a range of Welsh delicacies including cockles from the tidal Penclawdd Sands and laverbread, edible seaweed. Fresh fish here is especially good, as are locally reared lamb and beef, Gower vegetables and local cheeses. Follow the aroma in the market to sample freshly baked Welsh cakes.

Head further west to Llandeilo. At Heavenly you can indulge in luxurious chocolates, ice cream and deserts. They have a reputation for creating unique ice cream flavors - all made using Welsh organic milk and cream. Three of these are made from ingredients grown at nearby Aberglasney Gardens.

Visit Aberglasney House and Gardens, just a short journey from Llandeilo. The Garden Lost in Time features a Cloister Garden, Pool Garden, Stream Garden, an 18th century Yew Tunnel and an award-winning 'Ninfarium', an indoor garden with exotic plants from around the world.

Approx. distance: 26 miles

Approx. travelling time: 40 mins

Overnight suggestion: Swansea / Llanelli

 

Day 3

Next stop:  St Davids, the smallest city in Britain, in the heart of Pembrokeshire Coast National Park. Known more for its cathedral and stunning scenery, St Davids has rocketed on to the British culinary map and has become a top foodie destination, boasting more eateries per head of population than anywhere else in the UK.

You may want to wander around St Davids before going on to Caerfai Farm. It's an organic dairy farm which uses various forms of alternative energy. You can buy delicacies in the farm shop but note it's only open in the summer. If you've got time take a stroll to Caerfai Bay, it's just a five minute walk.

Approx. distance: Swansea to St Davids via Pembertons: 78 miles / 65 miles from Llanelli

Approx. travelling time: 2 hours 15 min from Swansea / 2 hours from Llanelli

Overnight suggestion: St Davids, or Haverfordwest

 

Day 4

Visit Caws Cenarth Visitor Centre where you can learn about the organic cheese-making process. You may get to see Thelma cutting the delicate curd. 

A few miles from New Quay you will find New Quay Honey Farm with a shop, tea-room and exhibition. They produce honey then use it to make mead, a sweet alcoholic drink made since the Middle Ages.

At nearby Aberaeron, Hive on the Quay specializes in locally caught fish, organic food and honey ice-cream. Fish on the Quay sells locally caught fish.  It has been recognized in Rick Stein's “Food Heroes Guide'. Allow time to take a stroll around Aberaeron. Many of its independent shops sell crafts and local produce.

Approx. distance: 65 miles from St Davids / 56 miles from Haverfordwest.

Approx. travelling time: 2 hours from St Davids / 1 hour 50 mins from Haverfordwest.

                       

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Media Contact:  Bob Titley

The Robert Titley Consultancy

Bob@theroberttitleyconsultancy.com  or roberttitley@aol.com

(917) 690 8418