There’s an Irish proverb, ‘Laughter is brightest in the place where the food is’. I don’t think many could argue with that. A belly full of yummy food a happy person will make! Summer is upon us, and, with the sharp rise in UK ‘staycations’, why not make the most of the food festival season by hopping in a car (armed with a tub of KitKat rocky road pieces to keep your spirits up), and scoping out the gastronomical delights that are on offer? The options are plentiful throughout the country, but two food and drink festivals in Cardigan Bay are definitely worth checking out.
Travel in style
First things first, a good road trip means good wheels. For some this might mean going with the classic camper van style motor; others might want to go for the road tripper’s favourite, the Porsche 911 turbo model (it might seem extravagant but the options for covering high-end cars are actually pretty extensive). Whatever you decide on, the important thing is that your car is comfortable, reliable and nice to drive. It’s also worth considering where you will be driving to and how many of you are travelling together; a big camper van will obviously be more suited to family groups but more problematic on narrow country roads or congested towns full of food festival goers.
Plenty on offer in Cardigan Bay
Seafood lovers are spoiled for choice at the increasingly popular Cardigan Bay Seafood Festival, which takes place on the 8th July. On offer is a huge array of seafood dishes freshly prepared by chefs in front of you, including seafood paella, chowder and, of course, fish and chips (but like you’ve never tasted before). Some of Wales’ most respected Michelin chefs attend, with Michelin-starred Hywel Jones and Gareth Ward participating this year.
Cardigan’s ever-popular River and Food Festival, meanwhile, attracts thousands of visitors each year, offering lots of family-friendly activities as well as delicious locally-produced food and drink. There is something for all tastebuds, with personal highlights being the Cardigan Bay Brownies, Pembrokeshire Goats Cheese Company and the Cider Wheel. For the meat lovers out there, it would also be a travesty to travel to Wales without trying Welsh lamb – and there are plenty of opportunities to sample it at the festival. The festival takes place on the 18th August, making it a good option for the school summer holidays.
Food for thought
The great thing about both these food festivals is that, if you like what you taste, you can visit the restaurant/cafe/brewery the next day! So why not book a long weekend and let your taste buds do the planning? It will certainly make you feel relaxed, well fed on exquisite food and, as the Irish would no doubt agree, full of laughter.
