There’s plenty of places to find good food without travelling far from us. There’s family friendly cafés, waterfront pubs and informal bistros. For those after a more gourmet experience of modern (mostly) welsh cuisine and food, here are a few of our favourites:
Bwyty Mawddach, Llanelltyd – Spacious and elegant with jaw dropping views of the Cadair Idris mountain range. Try slow-roasted, home-reared slat marsh lamb with polenta chip or dry-aged sirloin steak from Welsh Black cattle followed byLavender pannacotta with sweet rhubarb and toasted marshmallow.
Salt Marsh Kitchen, Tywyn – Drive round the coast for mullet and lobster fresh of the beach or Cardigan Bay mackerel fillets battered and served with a lime dipping sauce followed up by plum syllabub with a kick of brandy and creamy mascarpone
Indiana Cuisine, Fairbourne – You won’t find 400 versions of chicken tikka masala here. You will find a small but authentic menu of rich, subtly flavoured Indian food and the best peshwari nan we have ever encountered. Former Bollywood star Raj and his wife and chef Noori have developed a loyal following, luring customers from the balti dens of Leicester and London as well as locally for their fabulous food and charming service.
A small but genuinely local Farmers market takes place in Dolgellau every third Sunday of the month ( except January and February). Cathryn Cariad’s exquisite hand made chocolates are both gorgeous and glamourous, with vintage packaging and unusual flavours. Other stalls sell creamy goats cheese, home -made jams and pickles and you have to get there early for the spicey pasties sold by the Kurdish baker who moved to Blaenau Ffestiniog.
The traditional welsh market town of Dolgellau is the perfect place for stocking up if you are self-catering or planning a picnic. What it lacks in posh supermarkets it more than makes up for with friendly independent retailers. Poptyr Dref (in Welsh) makes artisan loaves at everyday prices. Don’t miss their famous honey buns! Dylanwad da is a wine merchant specialising in boutique wines, where you can enjoy tapas while Dylan offers you unpretentious recommendations for great value wine. The town also has a Thursday morning market where local producers sell sausages, bacon, eggs, honey, preserves and cakes and bakes.
For fish and chips by the seaside you can’t beat the mermaid overlooking Barmouth seafront. Take your meal and sit on the prom watching the waves and the world go by.