Fat Frocks: Cardiff

Cardiff

Our Cardiff Wedding - The Reception

By Gem - 21:25:00

15 Comments

Cardiff

Spring Adventures with Coco in Cardiff

By Gem - 20:44:00

13 Comments

Cardiff

Wahaca - Summer Menu Market Treats #YearOfTheTaco

By Gem - 23:46:00

6 Comments

Cardiff

Time to try something new - YO!Sushi Cardiff

By Gem - 08:00:00

this is a picture of sushi katsu curry pork japanese food

Can you believe I've never eaten sushi at a restaurant before? I think I've picked up a pack at M&S for lunch and tried a few bits at an event but I've never been able to try out a variety of dishes so I was really looking forward to my trip to the Cardiff branch of YO!Sushi.

There are loads of choices which suit a well seasoned sushi aficionado or a sushi newbie like myself. If you are a little put off by the idea of raw fish then you can try some tempura, a salad, soup or vegetable roll. If you were like me before my first visit and aren't too sure how it all works in store I can assure you it is super simple. All dishes are freshly prepared and you can see them being made in front of you. If you want a particular dish on the menu but can’t see it on the belt, just press the call button and a member of staff will pop over and take your order. You can help yourself to water from the taps on the tables and green tea comes with unlimited refills.

I sampled some new dishes on the menu but was also able to try some old favourites like the katsu curry. I thought of my meal like Japanese tapas, I got to have a little bit of everything rather than being stuck with only one option and being jealous of what my friends were eating or having regrets about my choices.

this is a photo of katsu curry japanese food

The Clam & Enoki Miso Soup - Shiro miso broth with clams in their shell, enoki mushrooms, wakame, spring onion and shichimi powder was light and refreshing after a heavy katsu dish, perfect for someone with more adventurous tastes.

this is a picture of clam miso soup yo!sushi japanese

Okonomiyaki which is a savoury cabbage filled pancake with loads of toppings and smoked bonito tuna flakes was a highlight for me and under 150 calories. I also loved a slow braised pork belly dish with a sweet sauce and rice called Buta No Kakuni. If you're after something spicy I highly recommend the dynamite rolls, they got their name for a reason!

If you want to try one of the new items on the menu now is a really good time to go because there is a free dish on offer if you spend over £10 (voucher here)

I really enjoyed my first trip to YO!Sushi, if you want to visit you can find your local store here.

*I was a guest at YO!Sushi but all views and words are my own

5 Comments

Burgers

Gourmet Burger Kitchen - Cardiff

By Gem - 20:38:00

Martyn and I have eaten our fair share of burgers since we met. We often opt for a burger when eating out, whether that's grabbing a quick bite to eat or having a date night and have tried pretty much all of the burger offerings in Cardiff at some point.

I've eaten at Gourmet Burger Kitchen in Birmingham a few times previously but I was looking forward to going back and seeing what they offer now, especially since so many big burger chains have opened in Cardiff recently like Shake Shack and Five Guys. How would GBK stack up against its competitors?

Before I delve in to what I thought about my food I'll share the history of the company. Back in 2001, three Kiwi guys set up the first Gourmet Burger Kitchen in Battersea, South London. Now with over 60 restaurants across the UK, GBK still pride themselves on serving up a variety of handcrafted burgers, combining 100% prime beef, hand selected and traditionally reared on independent farms across the South West counties with the freshest ingredients and sauces made from scratch, every day, in each GBK kitchen.

When it came to order Martyn opted for the Old Colonial which is the current 'special'. It is a 30 day dry-aged steak burger with Red Leicester cheese, crispy bacon, pickles, Bangkok slaw and beef ketchup. Martyn said this was right up there with his all time favourite burgers and he would definitely chose this again. Our waitress told us that the burger had proved so popular it is going to be added to the permanent menu when it gets its next seasonal change. The burger was perfectly cooked, (medium), just how Martyn likes it.

I opted for the Bacon Pesterella which is a grilled chicken breast, crispy bacon, mozzarella, rocket pesto, relish, green goddess sauce and salad. This was a great antidote to the smaller patty style burgers I've had from other burger restaurants in Cardiff recently and chicken made a lovely change from beef. I could also convince myself that a grilled chicken burger was a slightly healthier option than some of the others on offer...

Both Martyn and I were stuffed after our burgers and couldn't finish our fries but I made sure I tried some of the perfectly crisp cheese and truffle chips. The garlic mayo dip was freshly prepared on site that day and was a hit with both myself and Martyn. GBK offer lunch time menu with slightly smaller portions which I would definitely opt for next time if I visited early in the day. I have yes bigger than my belly!

Gourmet Burger Kitchen does retain a casual, takeaway vibe and you pay at the counter when you order as you would at any fast food joint but the seating and atmosphere gives it more of a restaurant feel. You aren't surrounded by groups of teenagers throwing fries and they were playing some Northern Soul songs when we arrived so I felt at home.

I had a lovely time at GBK Cardiff Library with Martyn and I'm sure I'll return in the near future.

GBK Cardiff Library

Open Monday - Thursday11:00 - 22:00
Friday - Saturday11:00 - 23:00
Sunday11:00 - 22:00
02920 668 379

*This post was written in collaboration with St David's. The meal was provided for review purposes but all views are my own as always.

5 Comments

Cardiff

Explore Wales Pt 2 - St Fagans National History Museum

By Gem - 20:21:00

If you're from South Wales the chances are that you've visited St Fagans on a school trip at least 4 times. Most people I know have some memories from a visit there but haven't been back since leaving school. For those not from South Wales or not in the know, St Fagans was opened to the public on 1 November 1948 and the museum stands in the grounds of the magnificent St Fagans Castle and gardens, a late 16th-century manor house donated to the people of Wales by the Earl of Plymouth. Since 1948 over forty original buildings from different historical periods have been re-erected in the 100-acre parkland, among them houses, a farm, a school, a chapel and a Workmen's Institute. Traditional crafts and native breeds of livestock all add to the charm and it is the perfect attraction to get an insight in to the rich heritage and culture of Wales. It's also totally FREE!

St Fagans National History Museum was originally known as the Welsh Folk Museum and was part of a Scandinavian-inspired movement, concerned with collecting and preserving examples of a disappearing, primarily rural, way of life. However in the 80s the museum shifted its focus and buildings of a more industrial nature were added like the terrace of six houses from Rhyd-y-car, Merthyr Tydfil in 1987. The museum now pretty accurately represents how people in Wales have lived right up to the present day.

St Teilo's church is one of the highlights at St Fagans. The oldest surviving feature of the church is the stone font which is believed to date from the 13th century or earlier. St Teilo's church has been refurbished as it may have appeared about the year 1530, complete with all the elements associated with a late medieval Catholic church, including a rood screen and loft, altars, carvings and brightly-coloured paintings on all the walls. It really is beautifully decorated and would have been even more impressive to medieval visitors.

The Oakdale Workmen's Institute, I spent a lot of my youth in a place just like this having dance classes, going to gigs and to writing classes. 'Stutes were a real focal point of communities in the Valleys. They were typically paid for by Miners and were places where people could self educate, meet and socialise.

Another trip down memory lane for any Welsh readers. Who remembers being terrified at Maestir School and thinking they were going to get the cane?

Because St Fagans is a working museum, everywhere in the houses you can see people at work and ask them questions. You can watch the blacksmith, potter, farmer, baker, weaver and miller show you their skills. It is always expanding too; a new Celtic village is currently under construction and The Vulcan – a much-loved Cardiff pub – and a police station are on their way too. I spent a few hours here and only saw about half of the buildings and didn't have time to see the castle and gardens to make sure you leave plenty of time if you plan on visiting.

If you want to visit this really special place here are all the details you will need:

Website: https://www.museumwales.ac.uk/stfagans/
Opening hours: 10am – 5pm daily (open Bank Holiday Mondays)
Location: St Fagans National History Museum, Cardiff, CF5 6XB(4 miles west of Cardiff City Centre, just off the A4232) You can get the No32 bus from the city centre which stops at the museum entrance.

You can read all my posts about Wales here.