This weekend kicks off a season of fantastic Welsh food and drink across South Wales.
Nestled in the hills of South East Wales, Abergavenny is in full festival mood this weekend, with top chefs, food writers and gourmands pouring into the town to spend two days to eat, drink and be merry. Along with the extensive markets there is a chance to hear some of the UK's top foodies talk, watch them cook and sample their wares as every venue in the town finds itself taken over in the name of good food.
This year Cardiff's own award winning Chef, Anand George of Mint & Mustard and Chai Street, takes part in the Great Welsh Restaurant Taster which gives the public a chance to sample of the Indian delights that have so excited Cardiff locals and curry lovers alike. Taking place on Saturday morning (11am – 12pm) at the St Michael's Centre, the event costs £5.
If you prefer to take the weekend at a more leisurely pace you can do far worse than buy a Stroller Ticket. Costing £11 for the whole weekend (tickets for under 16s are free and available on request), and also available as day passes, the wristband entitles you entry to the six main sites around the town covering markets, workshops, demonstrations and other entertainment.
Fancy something a bit closer to home? The Great British Cheese festival returns to Cardiff for its third consecutive year (25-26 September 2010). Join cheese enthusiasts in Cardiff Castle for tastings and workshops as well as a whole host of live entertainment. Tickets are £8.50 for adults (Concessions £7 and under 5s go free) and if you book in advance you get a voucher towards a Masterclass or Demonstration. You can even combine it with a tour of the Castle itself for only £2 extra.
Others events coming up this Autumn
Neath Food Festival – 9 October
Head west and discover what Neath Port Talbot has to offer. This is the second year the festival has run and organisers hope that with 44 exhibitors, cookery demonstrations and workshops, Neath will soon assert its place on the foodie calendar.
Autumn Feast at the Museum of Welsh Life 23-31 October
Stuck for something to do over half term? Why not take the kids along to St Fagans and check out their feast where you can learn about what the autumn harvest brings and find out about some traditional recipes that you can try at home.
Cowbridge Food and Drink Festival 30-31 October
Don the winter woollies (or, more likely, the wet weather gear) and head to fashionable Cowbridge where you can indulge not only in the excellent local, independent food retailers but also enjoy talks by Ben Taylor, Sous Chef at Le Gallois, Wayne Thomas, co-chef/owner at The Canteen on Clifton Street, and Anand George, Mint & Mustard and Chai Street and many more. For those who enjoy the finer things in life, head to the champagne marquee and relax with a glass (or two) of bubbly). Adult weekend tickets cost £4 (children's weekend tickets are £1.50, under twos go free). Day tickets and family saver tickets are also available.
Nicola Tudor blogs over on Cardiff Bites and is our residents foodie blogger. Follow her on Twitter here.
