food/drink
pic: JENNIFER
pic: BETSY WEBER
GOOD FOOD IN GOWER
VOUCHING FOR VEGGIES
In light of this year’s
Vegetarian Food Week,
Jordan Harris suggests
it’s time to relish the
meat-free food gems
South Wales has to offer.
YOU may think otherwise, due to the domination of
some fantastic meaty eateries, but South Wales is
a haven for veggies and vegans alike. With a wealth
of shops, restaurants, cafes and food markets all
catering for a more animal-friendly palette, it’s
never been easier to be a vegetarian.
Vegetarian food doesn’t have to be boring, however,
and you’ll be pushed to find a restaurant that just
sells plain old salads or watery vegetable soups. The
country’s various vegetarian establishments strive
to conjure up not just healthy dishes, but tasty ones,
and with this ethos at the heart of all they do.
Each year, The Cardiff Vegetarian Food Festival
and Swansea Veggie Minifest both aim to
celebrate the capital’s veggie heroes with a family,
and animal, friendly day that serves up both
delicious dishes and a host of entertainment. This
year you will find people tucking into meat-free
meals for the festival at Cardiff’s Mackintosh
Sports Bar and Swansea’s Environment Centre on
Sat 17 May, but if you can’t make it then don’t fear
as we’ve rounded up our favourite vegetarian cafes
and restaurants from the South Wales area.
Up first is Cardiff’s award winning Vegetarian
Food Studio, which has been featured as a top
‘cheap eat’ by many a publication. Found on
Penarth Road, they have a great selection of Asianinspired cuisine.
Next is the Indian-inspired Swansea cafe
Govidas. Their small yet fulfilling menu consists
of traditional favourites from India; a country
reported as having the lowest average meat
consumption in the world and where over 30%
of its booming population are veggies. As well as
samosas, chapatti wraps and dahl, the menu is
further bolstered with a daily selection of cakes.
For more than just a meal, Over The Rainbow
vegetarian guest house is a veggie food heaven
disguised as a restored Georgian mansion in
Cardigan Bay. Stay for the weekend and be treated
to a meat-free fry-up in the morning, explore the
local coast during the day, and come back to a
three-course vegetarian meal in the evening. Now
that’s better than a night out and a kebab isn’t it?
Info: www.facebook.com/cardiff.
veggie / www.swanseavegans.org.
uk / www.vegetarianfoodstudio.
co.uk / www.govindas.org.uk
www.overtherainbowwales.co.uk
MAYBE SOME MAIBOCK?
Cardiff’s Chapter Arts Centre is joining in the boozey fun
with the return of its annual celebration of Bavarian beer
at the Maibock Beer Festival.
They will be rolling out an extra beer bar, so queues will
be short, and the festival will coincide with the centre’s
Art Car Bootique so you can peruse the colourful stalls
whist enjoying your German beverage.
Maibock Beer Festival, Chapter Arts
Centre, Cardiff, Wed 21-Sun 25 May.
Admission: free. Info: 029 2030 4400
www.chapter.org
BUZZ 36
This month Gower Heritage Centre is pulling out all
the stops to celebrate food. On Sat 10 and Sun 11
May, they will host their annual Welsh Cheese And
Cider Festival.
There will be lots of award-winning cheese and
chutneys to nibble at, and equally prestigious cider
to wash it all down with. There will even be a 1890s
cider press on site and talks on how to make your
own brew at home.
As if that wasn’t enough the Gower Heritage Centre
is opening its mouth once again for a taste of more
local produce with the Gower Good Food Festival on
Sun 25 and Mon 26 May.
Info: 01792 371206 / www.
gowerheritagecentre.co.uk
TASTY TUNES
Cowbridge restaurant Arboreal is dishing up more
than food this month as they are planning a whole
host of musical events.
Singer-songwriter Mathew Frederick, from Climbing
Trees, will be performing his beautiful piano pieces
on Tue 6 May and The People The Poet will be
bringing some acoustic goodness to the restaurant
on Tues 20 May.
Later on in the summer Arboreal will also be hosting
Nancy & Megs, New Druids and some storytelling
from David Ambrose. All tickets are just £5, so
treating yourself to some fabulous food and drink
while you’re there won’t be a stretch.
Info: www.arboreal.uk.com