Good evening all,
This weekend I was taken to Llansantffraed Court (just outside Abergavenny) for a two day break for my birthday. I'd never spent any time in that part of Wales before, apart from driving through Monmouth to avoid the Severn Bridge and its ridiculous toll price! It was such a beautiful place, everything was so green and scenic and quiet. We arrived on the Friday afternoon, had the full intention of going for a walk around its expansive garden but the rain came in so we were forced to stay in our room, drink Earl Grey and watch Pointless. In the evening we went to the hotel restaurant and had the 7-course taster menu: canapes with a drink at the bar and then an amuse-bouche of quails egg, sweetcorn and bacon; fish course of halibut and a trio of artichokes; pigeon; venison; almond panacotta with plums; and finally, my dessert nemesis, chocolate pudding. When I was younger, and a lot less aware of sensible sized portions, I ate 8 chocolate fondant puddings in a row. Needless to say I was violently ill and hadn't touched one since. Until Saturday that is. Fortunately, it was only a small pudding and the whole things was doused in rum so I was relatively unaware of the decadent horror lurking beneath the cream.
The following day we went into Abergavenny to have a wander; apart from the delicious coffee was had (in a chain coffee bar as well) and a trip to a wonderful little delicatessen, Abergavenny wasn't at all how I had envisaged. Perhaps it was the rain and cold weather that made it seem glum, or January blues. It does have a great food festival in September, so I will make sure that I go up for that.
January has been wonderfully quiet; I've enjoyed catching up with friends and family (and sleep!) but now I'm starting to get back into the roll of working. I have two events in March which will require a lot of stock and so I must start cooking next month.
My first event is in Castle Gardens in Swansea on March 1st - it's called Get Welsh, and its a food produce and craft day in Swansea city centre for St. David's day. Myself and some other ladies from our craft shop will be attending and displaying our various gifts and produce throughout the day. There is also entertainment throughout the day, so I imagine it will be quite lively!
My second event is a very exciting one. Swansea Rural Action, a local action group which focuses on rural development, are holding a Producers' Showcase Event in Parc Le Breos in Gower which will allow all the local food procuers to go and show their produce, crafts and whatnot to B&B's, hotels, local food establishments and tourism boards in order to promote local produce and crafts. Its on March 4th from 10am-4pm and Oscar's Kitchen will be attending. Although it is not a selling event, it will hopefully bring hundreds of people who appreciate and know the importance of local and handmade produce. I will be displaying gift boxes, hampers, wedding favours and hospitality size 1/2oz jars, perfect for breakfast and afternoon tea, along with a few of my most popular individual jars, such as the Caramelised Red Onion chutney and my Roast Garlic, Shallot and Balsamic chutney.
I have lots of cooking, labelling and packing to do, and many many pictures to be taken which will be put on this blog shortly afterwards.
Ruth x
