Loving Welsh Food

21/02/2025

🏉 Wales vs Ireland – A Battle of Old Friends ☘️🐉

This Saturday, Wales take on Ireland in Cardiff in the Six Nations! Historically, our two nations go way back—St Patrick himself was said to be born in Wales, and the legendary Bran the Blessed, King of the Britons, led a fearsome battle against the Irish to avenge his sister, Branwen. The clash was brutal, leaving only seven Welsh warriors alive, and Bran himself mortally wounded. His head was said to be buried beneath the White Tower in London, protecting Britain from invasion (though we could use a bit of that magic on the rugby pitch this weekend! 🏉).

Sporting-wise, well… let’s just say Wales remain undefeated at home in this year’s championship (mainly because we haven’t played here yet… but let’s not dwell on details 😅).

Whatever happens on the pitch, one thing’s for sure—there’ll be plenty of craic, passion, and probably a few nervous pints along the way! Who’s watching? 🍻🔥

(For Now)

20/02/2025

Cardiff Refill Return Cup Scheme Celebrates 8,000 Returns and is Offering FREE Coffee Tomorrow
Since FOR Cardiff launched the Cardiff Refill Return Cup scheme four months ago, a whopping 8,000 cups have been saved from landfill.

To celebrate, more than 20 participating businesses across the city will be offering the first 50 customers who use the Refill App in-store a free coffee (or hot drink) of their choice. That's over 1,000 free coffees up for grabs tomorrow! (Friday 21st February).

Redeem a Free Coffee From:
Pettigrew Bakery (Castle Arcade, Roath, and Victoria Park)
Pettigrew Tea Rooms (Bute Park)
Da Coffee (One Central Square)
Waterloo Tea (Wyndham Arcade)
Bird & Blend (City Centre)
Kin & Ilk (Brunel House, Capital Quarter, Pontcanna, and St David’s)
Green Shoots Café (City Centre)
Uncommon Ground (City Centre)
Sherman Cymru (Cathays)
Bae Coffi (within CAVC)
Coffi Clwb (Jacobs Market, City Centre)
Snails Deli (Rhiwbina)
The Training Ground Cafe Project (Grangetown)
Coffee Mania (within Techniquest, Cardiff Bay)
Tidy Kitchen (Museum Place, City Centre)
Suburban Coffee Shop (Rhiwbina)



https://www.forcardiff.com/cardiff-refill-return-cup-scheme-celebrates-8000-returns-plus-heres-how-you-can-use-it-to-get-a-free-coffee-this-friday/?mc_cid=3daea4338a&mc_eid=ef2f7a56ec

19/02/2025

A warm welcome to the Loving Welsh family to a new venue on our food tours - Secrets of Wales. Looking forward to working with you. Edrych ymlaen i gydweithio gyda chi.

Secrets of Wales is run by husband-and-wife team Ian and Kerry Paul, both passionate about Wales and everything it has to offer. Cardiff, Ian’s birthplace, holds a special place in his heart. In recent years, the city has become an increasingly popular tourist destination, and Ian and Kerry thought—what better place to showcase the best of Wales than right here in its capital city? Even better, they found the perfect location in one of Cardiff’s historic arcades.

They take pride in stocking only the finest Welsh luxury products, sourced from producers both big and small. At the heart of their mission is a commitment to supporting and promoting local Welsh businesses by providing them with prestigious retail space in the heart of the capital. With Wales welcoming an average of 20 million visitors each year, there are plenty of souvenir outlets—but the city was missing a true showcase of the best Wales has to offer.

That’s where Ian and Kerry come in.

Located at Unit 4 Barry Lane, Morgan Arcade, Cardiff, CF10 1FR, Secrets of Wales is dedicated to shining a spotlight on Welsh producers. “We’ve come a long way since opening our doors in November 2022, constantly expanding our stock range with new and exciting producers. Our commitment to responsible business practices has also led us to undertake the Welsh Government’s Green Growth Pledge—a promise to invest in a greener Wales and contribute to a more sustainable future.”

Excitingly, our shop will soon feature its very own café, bringing a true taste of Wales to our visitors. Every item on our menu will be made in Wales, showcasing the incredible quality of local food and drink.

After all, celebrating our wonderful country and everything it has to offer is what we’re all about.

11/02/2025

We often mention Cardiff being called the Venice of Wales - you can see why in this map.

Cardiff's Nicknames
"THE VENICE OF WALES"
when we had waterways

A map from after 1840.
Strangely, the Dock Feeder has water joining it from where City Hall is today ?

Note the main pre-Victorian (Georgian) housing in Bridge St, Union St, Caroline St, Charlotte St, Mary Ann St.

The Quay at the end of Quay Street is a mere wharf on the east bank of the Taff.

10/02/2025

Looking for a perfect Valentine's gift? How about a trip on our Cardiff Tasting Tour on Saturday 15th?

🍽️ Discover Cardiff Through Its Flavours! 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

Join us for the tastiest way to explore Cardiff! 🏰✨
Stroll through the heart of the Welsh capital, soak in its rich history, and enjoy a selection of delicious local treats along the way.

🥖 What to Expect:
✅ A leisurely guided walk through Cardiff
✅ Tasting authentic Welsh delicacies 🍪🍏
✅ Fascinating stories about Welsh food, culture & history
✅ Local expert guides & a sprinkle of Welsh phrases 🗣️

📅 Time: 10:00 AM - 12:30 PM
👥 Max: 10 guests

Enjoy warm Welshcakes, laverbread, a Welsh-Italian delight, refreshing local cider, and more! 🍷

Book now & taste the best of Wales! 🔗 https://lovingwelshfood.uk/cardiff-tasting-tour/

07/02/2025

🏉 ITALY v WALES – MORE THAN JUST A MATCH! 🇮🇹🐉

This Saturday, Wales take on Italy in Rome, but our two nations share more than just a love of rugby! Here’s a quick dive into the deep-rooted connections between Wales and Italy:

🍦 Ice Cream Legacy – Ever wondered why Wales has so many amazing ice cream parlours? Italian families, particularly from Bardi, emigrated to Wales in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, bringing their legendary gelato-making skills with them. Think of Joe’s, Sidoli’s, Cresci’s – all part of that Italian-Welsh tradition!

🏛️ The Romans in Wales – Long before rugby, the Romans made their mark on Cymru! They built Caerleon and Caerwent, leaving behind forts, baths, and amphitheatres that still stand today. Maybe they even played an early form of rugby with a leather ball in the streets of their garrisons?

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Welsh-Italian Communities – Many Italians settled in Wales, setting up cafes, restaurants, and businesses. Even today, Welsh-Italians are a proud part of our cultural mix, especially in South Wales.

🏉 Rugby Battles – On the field, Wales and Italy have built a strong rivalry, with some classic Six Nations encounters over the years. Rome is a stunning place for traveling Welsh fans, and no doubt, plenty will be there singing Calon Lân and enjoying a gelato before kick-off!

Here’s to another historic meeting between two nations with deep connections! 🔴⚪🟢

📢 How are you watching the game? And what’s your favourite Welsh-Italian link? 👇

04/02/2025

Our first City of Arcades for this year is running on Saturday 8 Feb - where we showcase Cardiff's beautiful Arcades and the fabulous selection of international cuisine available in the city. Join us for a fun and delicious day out.

We visit a variety of venues - cafes, market stalls, restaurants - all independently owned and each one with a fabulous back story.

Bacareto is always very popular with all of our guests.

Bacareto - a love letter to Venice in the heart of Cardiff - a fabulous venue in Church Street with a great back story.

Founders Becca and Nia are both artists who have worked for the Welsh presentation at the Venice Biennale in 2015 and 2013. They fell in love with Venice and wanted to bring a little bit of the city to the Welsh capital.

Bacareto is a Venetian bar offering a fabulous choice of wines by the glass and their version of “cicheti” - delicious Italian inspired snacks. Bacareto is a relaxed café by day and a bustling bar by night with fabulous food and drink.

As a social enterprise, sustainability is an important part of Bacareto, and 50% of its food is vegan, 25% vegetarian and 25% meat or fish. The company supports creative projects and commissions artists to make work around the space. All of the staff are also artists.

Bacareto’s logo is a dog with a glass of wine on a skateboard – why? The sister company is Spit & Sawdust, a community space in Cardiff housing a skate park, café, art space and studios, and part of Bacareto’s mission is to support the important work they do there.

Great back story and 2 fabulous venues supporting the arts and communities in Cardiff. What’s not to like?

30/01/2025

The Six Nations kicks off tomorrow with a Welsh trip to France- historically a tricky fixture - how do you think we'll fare tomorrow? Fingers crossed and C'mon Cymru!

29/01/2025

新年快乐

Xīnnián kuàilè - Happy New Year of the Wood Snake!

Celebrate with a Welsh/Chinese recipe!
When we held a Welsh cooking workshop for CAVC recently, the Chinese students made Shanghai Glamorgan Sausages. Rather than coat the sausages in flour, egg and breadcrumbs, they made mini omelettes and cooked the sausages inside the mini omelettes.

The year of the Wood Snake begins on 29 January 2025.
If you were born in 1929, 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013 or from 29 th
January 2025 to 16 th February 2026, you are a Snake. Lucky you!

Those born in the Year of the Snake are said to be enigmatic and sympathetic.

The snake symbolizes wisdom, intuition, and transformation and is seen as a sign of self-sufficiency and the ability to overcome challenges.

Here's the recipe for the sausages -

Glamorgan Sausages

200 - 225g white breadcrumbs
75g Welsh Cheddar
Half a leek, finely chopped
1 carrot
1 tbsp chopped parsley
half a tsp of fresh thyme
2 eggs, beaten
1 tsp Welsh mustard
Salt and pepper
45g butter or 3 tbsp sunflower oil

Instructions Mix together 150g of the breadcrumbs with the cheese, leek, parsley, thymeand plenty of salt and pepper.
Beat the eggs with the mustard. Set aside 2 tablespoons of
this mixture and stir in the remaining egg mixture into the breadcrumb mixture.

Divide the mixture into eight and shape each portion like a sausage.

Put the reserved egg and mustard mixture into a shallow bowl, and spread the
remaining breadcrumbs on a plate. Dip the sausages into the egg mixture and then coat with the crumbs.

If you have time, chill the sausages for 30 minutes before cooking.

To fry the sausages, heat the butter or oil in a frying pan and fry the sausages
for about 5 minutes until brown, reduce the heat and fry for a further 3 – 4 minutes.

Enjoy!



Cardiff and Vale College - Coleg Caerdydd a'r Fro

28/01/2025

An interesting development!

A new food hall is planned for the historic Castle Quarter Arcades in Cardiff - https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/new-food-hall-plan-historic-30875484

27/01/2025

What a great way to start 2025 – Highly Commended Award for Best Activity/Experience or Tour at the South East Wales Tourism Awards 2024/2025. Diolch yn fawr, well done us!

Our collection is growing!

A big thank you to the Loving Welsh Food team and all of our fabulous venues that make our
tours possible. Diolch enfawr.

Congratulations also and all the best to the finalists who go through to the National Tourism
Awards for Wales (NTAW) ceremony in Llandudno on Thursday 27 March 2025.

Llongyfarchiadau i bawb!

Wally's Deli and Kaffeehaus The Welsh House Cardiff Bar44 Fabulous Welshcakes Tukka Tuk Street Food

25/01/2025

Happy Santes Dwynwen's Day!

📖 Who was Santes Dwynwen?
Santes Dwynwen is the Welsh patron saint of lovers, celebrated on January 25th.
She lived during the 5th century and was one of the daughters of Brychan Brycheiniog, a legendary Welsh king.

❤️ Her Story
Dwynwen fell in love with a man named Maelon Dafodrill, but their love could not flourish due to her father's wishes.
Heartbroken, she prayed to forget her feelings for Maelon. An angel appeared, gave her a potion to erase her love, and turned Maelon into ice.

God then granted her three wishes:

For Maelon to be thawed.
For all true lovers to find happiness.
For her to remain single and devoted to God.

Dwynwen devoted her life to helping others, founding a convent on Ynys Llanddwyn (Llanddwyn Island), off the coast of Anglesey.

🕊️ Legacy
Llanddwyn Island became a pilgrimage site for those seeking blessings in their love lives.
Dwynwen’s feast day, January 25th, is Wales’ equivalent of Valentine’s Day, where couples celebrate love and devotion.

🌊 Visit Llanddwyn Island
The remains of Dwynwen’s church, St Dwynwen’s Church, can still be visited today. The island also offers stunning views and a tranquil atmosphere.

21/01/2025

🌟 Celebrate Love this Santes Dwynwen’s Day! 🌟

❤️ Treat your special someone to an unforgettable experience this January 25th with our Cardiff Tasting Tour! What better way to celebrate the Welsh patron saint of lovers than by indulging in the best food and drink Wales has to offer? 🍴🍷

🌿 Explore, Taste, and Fall in Love
Our guided tour takes you through the heart of Cardiff, exploring traditional and modern Welsh delicacies while uncovering stories of love and heritage – including the tale of Santes Dwynwen herself!

🌊 Did You Know?
Santes Dwynwen lived during the 5th century and devoted her life to love and happiness after her own heartbreak. Today, her legacy is celebrated as Wales’ equivalent of Valentine’s Day. ❤️

🎁 A Perfect Gift for Two
Whether it’s a romantic date or a fun day out with loved ones, the Cardiff Tasting Tour promises a day of laughter, connection, and delicious treats.

📅 When: January 25th
📍 Where: Cardiff City Centre
🎟️ Book now: Reserve your spot today! - https://lovingwelshfood.uk/all_tours/?re-product-id=274748&rwstep=product
💌 Make this Santes Dwynwen’s Day unforgettable 💕

15/01/2025

We're over half way through Veganuary now, so if you are running a little short on recipes, here an absolutely stunning dhal courtesy of Nerys - one of our guides and also a fantastic cook, writer and consultant. This recipe is from her delicious book Cywain/Harvest published by Lolfa.

Cauliflower, carrot and spinach dal
This is a comforting and nutritious meal full of flavour which you can serve with rice or naan bread. You can use chard or kale leaves instead of the spinach if you wish.
Serves 4
Ingredients
2 tbsp rapeseed oil
1 tbsp cumin seeds
1 onion
3cm fresh ginger
2 tsp garam masala
1 tsp ground coriander
1 tsp turmeric
300g cauliflower
300g carrots
200g yellow split lentils
Large handful spinach
Method
1. Heat the oil in a large frying pan over a medium heat and add the cumin seeds and let them sizzle for a few minutes. Peel and finely chop the onion and add to the pan and saute until soft. Stir in the grated ginger and spices and cook for another 2 minutes.
2. Break the cauliflower into bite sized pieces and cut the carrots into similar size pieces and add to the onion mixture along with the lentils, stirring well. Pour over 750ml water and bring to a simmer then cook gently for 20 minutes.
3. Season with salt and cook for another 15 minutes until the vegetables are tender.
4. Stir the spinach through the lentil mixture and stir until the leaves have wilted. Serve in bowl and garnish with fresh coriander.



Nerys Howell - Food Specialist

12/01/2025

Blwyddyn Newydd Dda, Happy New Year and all the best with your 2025 resolutions.
So easy to make yet so hard to keep going.

Some of the most popular resolutions include:
📖 Learn Something New.
🍜 Try different foods.
⌚Spend More Time with Family.
🚋Travel to New Places.
😅Be Less Stressed

Believe it or not - our food tours tick all of the above!
Check out our website.
We also checked out some top tips for perseverance – this is our favourite!

Give thanks for what you do. Forget perfection!

With exercise — and so many other goals we set — you'll benefit even when doing less than you'd like to do.
Any activity is always better than none.
If your goal for Tuesday is a 30-minute workout at the gym, but you only squeeze in 10 minutes, feel grateful for that. It's enough.

If you aim to have 4 dry days during the week and have only 3 – you’re still on your way!

Maybe tomorrow/next week will be better. There are plenty more weeks and days left.

31/12/2024

🎉 Blwyddyn Newydd Dda! Happy New Year! 🎉

We’re ringing in 2025 with gratitude for all our wonderful guests who joined us on our food tours in 2024. Here’s to another year filled with delicious Welsh food and unforgettable experiences! 🥳

Did you know? Wales has some fascinating New Year’s traditions:
✨ Calennig - A centuries-old custom where children would visit homes early on New Year’s morning to sing songs and wish prosperity, often receiving small gifts or coins in return.
✨ First Footing - Similar to Scottish traditions, the first person to step into your home after midnight was believed to bring good fortune, especially if they brought coal, bread, or salt as symbols of warmth, food, and wealth.
✨ Mari Lwyd - While traditionally associated with Christmas, this eerie and unique Welsh custom of a horse skull on a stick continues into the New Year in some areas! It’s all about singing and playful banter for blessings in the year ahead.

Here’s to a prosperous and tasty 2025 – Cheers / Iechyd Da! 🥂

22/12/2024

Nadolig Llawen a Blwyddyn Newydd Dda. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to our lovely guests and fabulous staff at all of our venues for their support this year.

We love working with the local businesses in Cardiff by showcasing the delicious Welsh and international food and drink on offer in the city centre..

Pob hwyl ar gyfer 2025 - all the best for 2025!

If you're looking for last minute gifts, don't forget our gift vouchers are ideal stocking fillers!

16/12/2024

With Christmas just around the corner, we'd like to say a big thank you to all the people who are currently working and who'll be continuing to work over the festive period.

Make time for a smile and thank you to all those people working hard front of house and think of those keeping everything going behind the scenes.

To all of those working in the emergency services, healthcare, retail, hospitality, volunteering, diolch enfawr - a huge thank you.
Nadolig Llawen, Merry Christmas.