food / drink
RECIPE
Pan Fried Sewin With Red Pepper , Saffron And Crab Sauce
words HARRY SMITH www . scenecuisine . co . uk
PEMBROKESHIRE IS THE PLAICE TO BE
Rebecca Wilson checks out what ’ s in store at this year ’ s Pembrokeshire Fish Week
Now I know what you ’ re thinking , a week-long festival packed with fish-related activities doesn ’ t sound like the most appealing of festivals , but listed as one of the UK ’ s best food festivals by Conde Nast Traveller , this year ’ s Pembrokeshire Fish Week is looking rather good . Taking place between Sat 22 and Sun 30 June , the festival will host a variety of events , including fish cookery lessons with S4C chef Tim Maddams and cookery workshops from students and teachers at Pembrokeshire College . The workshops include Thai fish cookery and a Seafood Safari food trail where you collect your catch from the local fishermen , learn filleting and cooking skills , and end the night with a great fishy feast . With healthy and organic eating constantly being promoted in our media , what better to learn how to source and cook sustainable fish for a healthy
TORRE
Situated directly opposite Cardiff Castle , the newly-opened Torre coffee shop boasts a relaxed and authentic Italian design , a delicious selection of fresh coffee , and a menu bursting with freshly made focaccia sandwiches , flavoursome cakes , seasonal smoothies and regularly changing soups . Ensuring great quality food and drink throughout their menu , Torre make sure that all their produce is sourced locally , whilst their Columbian coffee beans are of the highest quality from Bristol-based coffee company , James . With Torre ’ s bread freshly prepared and cooked in store , you can guarantee a wonderful taste of fresh bread with each lunchtime sandwich , as well as the welcome smell of baking which wafts through the cafe . With free fruit for all children , plus a small children ’ s area towards the back of the cafe , Torre is also family friendly with plenty of space , a well-priced menu and attentive service . Whilst coffee shops continue to pop up left right and centre throughout Cardiff , this is one independent well worth investigating , even if it is just for a slice of their fantastic carrot cake .
Info : 029 2034 4580 / www . torrecoffee . co . uk diet , than with classes teaching you how to forage and fillet your own food . And beyond all the fish-related fun , there are also many more events to take part in such as learning to surf , kayak exploring , all-day performances on the live music stage ( including headline act Paper Aeroplanes ), dance workshops from Ballet Cymru , and picturesque costal walks which provide an insight into fishing in west Wales . The festival isn ’ t just for foodies , and with a week packed full of events , there ’ ll be something for every taste .
Pembrokeshire Fish Week , Milford Haven and Haverfordwest , Sat 22-Sun 30 June . Info : www . pembrokeshirefishweek . co . uk
SEWIN is a great example of Welsh produce which somewhat slips under the mainstream radar . Also known as sea trout elsewhere in the UK , these delicious fish are caught wild around Wales and although not as common or affordable as farmed rainbow trout , taste much , much better ! They are seasonal , caught in rivers such as the Teifi from early May until mid-October . Although they are known as sea trout , they are a migratory fish more similar to salmon in appearance . Cooking the fish whole and on the bone may not present on the plate as neatly as a skinless fillet , but it does allow the fish to retain moisture and flavour .
SERVES TWO
INGREDIENTS One medium sized sewin , approx 2lb , gutted and scaled / 2 large red peppers / 2 shallots / 1 / 2g saffron / 1 head fennel / 1 tbsp olive oil / 350ml fish stock / 1 glass dry white wine / 1 small splash Pernod / 1 lemon / 100g white crab meat / 1 tbsp finely chopped parsley
PREPARATION
• Firstly , to make the sauce , peel the shallot and slice finely . Deseed the peppers and slice these and the fennel also . In a thick-bottomed pan heat the olive oil and gently sweat the sliced vegetables for a few minutes . Add the saffron and cook for another minute .
• Add the Pernod , wine and a squeeze of lemon to the pan and bring to the boil . Once boiling , add the fish stock and simmer for 15 minutes or so .
• Meanwhile season the fish with salt and pepper , lemon juice and olive oil .
• Grill under a hot grill for five-six minutes each side or until the skin is golden brown and a knife poked down into the spine comes out hot . Leave to stand for a few minutes .
• To finish the sauce , remove half the vegetables with a slotted spoon , then blitz the sauce in a food processor or liquidiser before returning the vegetables with the crab meat , gound salt and pepper and the finely chopped parsley .
• With a knife , carefully remove each fillet from either side of the sewin , and serve on a warm plate with the sauce and some buttered spinach .
BUZZ 36