food/drink
DEFYING GRAVITY
MORE TO PADDY THAN
PINTS AND POTATOES
pic: JEFFREYW
With St. Patrick’s Day ahead, Adrienne Walker
suggests some recipes that involve more than
just Guinness and green food dye.
THE 17th day of March is a date observed
worldwide by people who suddenly remember
they have a long-lost Irish cousin thrice removed,
and so inhale the contents of the Guinness
factory dressed as a ginger bearded Lucky Charm
obsessed elfin nightmare, with a foam hat firmly
on their head and a shamrock emblazoned on
their cheek. Being Northern Irish myself, I can
tell you that isn’t quite how those of us from the
Emerald Isle tend to do it.
The life of the man and legend St. Paddy (never
ever St. Patty, despite what the US of A seems
to think) is traditionally celebrated with a feast
day and given that there’s some debate that he
was actually Welsh, it seems the good people of
south Wales have a more solid excuse than some
to throw caution, and indeed if you really must,
green food dye, to the wind.
Back across the water everyone has their own
family version of Irish Stew. For mine all you need
is one pot, cubed beef, potatoes, onions, carrots,
stock and a bit of salt and pepper. Others would
DINING JAZZED UP
say it has to be lamb. Whatever you decide to use
this simple dish will set you up for a day’s heavy
drinking of the Black Stuff.
However if the craic’s a bit too mighty you’ll be
in need of a greasy breakfast. Thanks to the cult
of the celebrity chef all of the ingredients for an
Ulster Fry can be found at major supermarkets if
you look for Paul Rankin. What you want are all the
usual suspects including bacon, egg and sausage,
but rounded off with a nice wedge of soda farl and
potato bread. Fry these in a pan with a bit of butter
and, yes, you may be on the road to a heart attack
but at least your hangover will be gone.
O’Neill’s pubs, for me, offer a pretty genuine
taste of Ireland, my favourite being on Trinity
Street, Cardiff. This year, along with a weeks
worth of deals and events they’ve also launched a
campaign to make St.Patrick’s Day a bank holiday.
It’ll take 100,000 signatures so if you want that
extra day off best get to it. Slainte! (Slawn-sha)
Info: www.foodireland.com/recipes
In the battle of the sexes, one skirmish, for me,
remains enduringly problematic. I like pubs. I
particularly like pies. But whatever stringent
acceptance criteria are associated with wining and
dining, these pastimes seem to consistently fall short.
Thankfully, The Cricketers has a solution. With their
Jazz Supper Club, you can enjoy a full three-course
pub meal to the accompaniment of the finest crooning
piano monkeys Wales has to offer. With a shiny Best
Food Pub In Wales Award, coupled with the timeless
cachet of good jazz, this package has the credentials
to satisfy even the most fastidious romantic. JS
The Cricketers, Cathedral Road,
Cardiff, Thurs 27 Mar. Price: £18 for
three courses. Info: 029 2034 5102
www.cricketerscardiff.co.uk
BUZZ 28
The celebrated Waen Brewery in Llanidloes (creators
of Hellish Good Beer, if they do say so themselves) is
the originator of new bottle shop and bar The Gravity
Station, which promises to add a unique twist to
Cardiff’s flourishing craft beer culture.
The novelty of the operation is the presence of
tasting trays that undecided drinkers can use
to sample the establishment’s cask ales, which
are available on tap. There’s a selection of ales
from Britain and abroad for all the experimental
microbrewery lovers out there. The focus is on new
sensation- an appropriate phrase to describe the
Gravity Station itself. LW
The Gravity Station, Barrack Lane, Cardiff.
Info: www.thegravitystation.com
A DELICIOUS DISCOVERY
Knife And Fork Food, known for their unique style
of Welsh cooking and mix of stylish pubs and
restaurants, just started to conquer their largest
venue yet, The Discovery Pub in Cyncoed.
The traditional style pub has undergone a major
revamp, and will serve up an array of dishes ranging
from signature plates, such as fish and chips and
homemade pies, to European-inspired meals with a
delicious Welsh spin.
Similarly to their other eateries, Knife And Fork
Food have promised a tasty blend of both Welsh and
European cuisine complimented by excellent wine in
atmospheric surroundings.
Despite being on a larger scale The Discovery Pub
is set to have the same cosy and community feel as
their other venues.
Opening on Fri 7 Mar this pub/restaurant, complete
with log burners and snug sofas, will be the ideal place
to simply enjoy good food in a good setting. AM
Info: www.knifeandforkfood.co.uk