I’ve just come back from the annual Aberdyfi Food Festival (mid -August every year), where I enjoyed sampling my way around. It’s great to see the food scene in Wales is so vibrant – I plumped for a delicious falafel from firm favourites the Renegade Kitchen, and came away with some Welsh cheese, bread and wine for an afternoon snack!
And don’t we all love to sample a bit of local produce whenever we go on holiday? When in Wales having some Welsh Rarebit or having a slice of barra brith with your cuppa, is almost obligatory and most cafes in the area serve up their own delicious homemade versions.
There are several weekly markets and monthly farmers markets where you can pick up some lovely local produce. For example, at the weekly Market in Machynlleth, you’ll find local cheese, bread, eggs, vegetables and more. And for food on the go, there’s also local street food from the aforementioned Renegade Kitchen and Wales Food Award finalist the Green Goat Café – both serving their Welsh take on world cuisine.
I’ve been a gin lover for many years, back when Gordon’s with a slice was as hipster as it got, so it’s exciting to be just down the road from the home of multi-award winning Dyfi Distillery Gin. They have three types of gin all with their own unique flavours created from the botanicals foraged from the Dyfi Biosphere area, so as locally sourced as it gets! All the gins have their own distinctive taste and are delicious, but don’t take my word for it, make sure you visit the home of Dyfi Distillery at the nearby Corris Craft Centre and find out for yourself. I bet you leave with a bottle or two!
For a night out, we’re lucky to be surrounded by some fabulous restaurants in Aberdyfi & Tywyn, many using locally sourced seasonal ingredients. And as you might expect being both by the sea and hills, many have very local and very fresh fish, lamb and beef to tempt you.
Restaurant highlights include Salt Marsh Kitchen in Tywyn, a finalist in The Food Award Wales 2019, or in Aberdyfi, we love Coast Deli & Dining and Seabreeze restaurant. For the ultimate dining experience, then Gareth Ward’s Michelin star restaurant Ynyshir is a must. With around 20 (yes 20!) courses and a recommended dining time of 4 hours, this is no ordinary meal out. Ynysshir is very popular so we recommend booking early!
So if you’re a foodie, there are lots to tickle your taste buds in this corner of West Wales, which is exactly what I’m going to do now with my purchased Welsh goodies!
