Food in Wales - The Taste of True Dedication

Dishes such as Welsh lamb and Welsh rarebit willfamily producing Elan Valley mutton on a moorland
inevitably spring to mind when the country's cuisine isfarm, where slow-grown Welsh mountain sheep are
raised. Fine as these diverse dishes might be, Walesfree to graze naturally on organic pastures and
has far more flavours to offer, all of them reflectingherb-rich hay meadows. The rich texture and fuller
the goodness that comes from the sparkling seasflavour of the mutton make it perfect for roasts,
and rolling hills.casseroles or curries.
Superb seafood, meats and cheese, herbs from theSam Holden returned from London to the home near
fields and honey from the hives all tickle the mostLampeter where his father had farmed organically for
jaded of taste buds. Welsh cawl and cakes, bara35 years, with the idea of producing his own cheese.
brith and laverbread add unexpected spice to theWith the help of his wife Rachel, he has created
mix.Hafod Welsh organic Cheddar, handmade from
They are waiting to be enjoyed in award-winningunpasteurised milk from 65 Ayrshire cows. It has a
pubs and restaurants, at farmers' markets in theclose-knit texture, golden yellow colour and rich,
cities as well as the countryside, and at foodnutty flavour.
festivals, held at almost weekly intervals through thePatchwork Pate, made in a purpose-built factory in
spring and summer.Ruthkin, is still produced in small batches to the recipe
This mouth-watering scene owes much to theof Margaret Carter, a talented but untrained home
dedication of agrarians, entrepreneurs and chefs,cook who began by selling her homemade pates to
some from generations of food-producing familes,pubs in Llangollen.
others inspired by the delights of nature surroundingAdd to this list Glyn Phillips, from a long line of
them.fishermen, who runs Celtic Crab Products, and Greta
Family-run hill farms in the heart of North WalesWatts-Jones, who started out selling vegetarian
produce Elwy Valley Welsh lamb for Londonsausages at a farmers' market and created Greta's
restaurants as well as the local market. EdwardWholefoodies of Cowbridge, in the Vale of
Hamer, selling Welsh lamb and Welsh black beef fromGlamorgan, to produce and supply good quality
a traditional butcher's shop in Llanidloes, is a 300-yearvegetarian and health food.
old family business. Gower salt marsh lamb isTaste the difference that their dedication makes at
produced by families who have been farming therestaurants, fishmongers and farm shops across the
marsh by Weobley Castle for decades.country - and at food festivals.
Tony and Angela Davies are the fifth generation of a