Christmas at ffresh

Diners at ffresh Restaurant at Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay will be served carols alongside their Christmas pudding at a festive Christmas Music Night.

The evening on Monday, December 3, is the latest in a series of live music nights where members of the Welsh National Opera Chorus entertain customers as they enjoy a three-course menu using the best award-winning Welsh produce.

The menu for the Christmas Music Night menu includes a three course dinner with a choice of cream of parsnip and honey soup; smoked salmon mousse, brown toast and horseradish crème fraiche; ham hock and parsley terrine with piccalilli relish or Shaun Hill’s twice baked soufflé with spinach puree to start. The main course selection includes slow cooked shoulder of Welsh lamb, cassoulet of white beans with sage and rosemary; fillet of black bream, herb risotto and tomato salsa; loin of pork and braised belly, mustard mash, curly kale and café au lait jus and Jerusalem artichoke pudding and deep fried flat bread. All accompanied with a generous serving of vegetables. And to finish there’s a choice of traditional Christmas pudding with Penderyn whiskey sauce; dark chocolate and Merlyn tart with Sub Zero ice-cream; iced mango parfait with passion fruit milkshake or a selection of Welsh cheeses with Daffodil Cottage oat cakes.

At intervals during the courses live music will be performed at by PEDW4R. Its members Meriel Andrew (soprano); Sian Meinir (mezzosoprano); Michael Clifton Thompson (tenor)  and Martin Lloyd (bass) are all in the Chorus of the Welsh National Opera and their programme includes popular Christmas classics such as Walkin' in a Winter Wonderland, White Christmas, When a Child Is Born and Mary's Boy Child; traditional carols Oh Holy Night; Away in a Manger, In the Bleak Mid Winter, Hark the Herald Angels and Oh Come all ye Faithful plus Welsh seasonal favourites Si Lwli and Seren Nadolig.

Tickets for the Christmas Music Night are £39 per person and include a welcome drink, three courses, coffee, half a bottle of wine and entertainment. To book tickets visit:
https://www.wmc.org.uk/Productions/2012-2013/43853/ChristmasMusicNight/ or call 029 2063 6464

The music night is part of the Centre’s Taste Christmas programme of events which includes a Christmas Craft and Food Market on Saturday December 8, Sunday December 9, Saturday December 15 and Sunday, December 16 and Afternoon Tea with Father Christmas.

Ancre Hill Crowned World Champions

Now I've been saying this for a long time to anyone who will listen to me (easy now), but in Wales we have some of the best sparkling wines I have tasted - and in my opinion, in Ancre Hill Estates produce the very best of the best.

Quite simply, to my taste their sparkling rosé is the best sparkling rosé I have ever tasted, and now I am pleased to see that their 2008 White Sparkling Wine has been voted as the best in the world !

Their wine has been voted the best White Sparkling Wine in the world at the Bollicine del Mondo international competition held annually in Verona, Italy.  The competition is in its fifth year and is organised by the leading Italian wine magazine, Euposia.  This is the second success for an English & Welsh wine following Nyetimber’s win in 2009.

This success came against some of the best Champagnes in the world, including Bollinger, Champagne de Saint Gall (a close second), Baron de Rothschild, Pannier, Feuillette and Paul Bara amongst others.

An international panel of 24 judges from Italy, France, Spain, Argentina, USA, Sweden and UK adjudicated under the rules of the Grand Jury Européen.

Richard Morris of Ancre Hill Estates commented: “We are delighted with this result which is a massive plus for Wales and the Welsh Wine Industry.  It proves quality sites exist in Wales capable of growing the best quality fruit which can be made in to world class wine. Our vineyard site, sitting in its own meso-climate in Monmouth, together with our bio-dynamic farming practices undoubtedly points the way forward for the Industry.”

This is great news for Richard and Joy and their team at Ancre Hill Estates, who are passionate about wine and Welsh Wine in particular, and it's great news for Wales and the drinks industry here.

So, as Christmas approaches, I can think of no better way to celebrate at your party, or over Christmas Dinner with a bottle of Welsh World Champion Winning Ancre Hill Estate Sparkling White Wine... go on you know you want to ..... you can buy Ancre Hill Estates wines at Fine Wines Direct or Tanners Wines.

Cheers and many congratulations !!

An Evening of Whisky and Wonder at The Conway

Occasionally we get asked to push out details of events... and we are happy to let you guys know about this one coming up.......

Michelin Pub Guide entrant The Conway in Pontcanna will be hosting an evening dedicated to whisky and gastronomy on Tuesday November 27th 2012.

The evening, which will be led by a Gordon & MacPhail whisky expert, will match a six course tasting menu created by The Conway’s kitchen team, with a specially selected selection of six whiskies designed to enhance each and every dish.

The menu includes classic Celtic favourites including Rarebit and Haggis, combined with slightly more exotic fare including spiced soy chicken thigh with shallot purée and Jamaican ginger cake served with vanilla ice cream.

The six whiskies on offer include Island Malt 2000 which has a sweet nose combining orange peel and vanilla, whilst the twelve year old Campbeltown Malt has an oaky palate with hints of figs and nuts. The Highland Malt bottled in 1993 has a vibrant nose combining shades of cut hay, mixed fruit, menthol and caramel, which develops into a flavour of sherried fruit and winter spice with herbal notes on the palate.

Serge Luceau, Director for Knife & Fork Food who own The Conway, commented: “We know from our regulars that whisky has a large and loyal following, especially quality brands like Gordon & MacPhail, who are legends in the whisky world.

“It seemed like a wonderful idea to host an evening dedicated to the amber nectar and combine it with some incredible dishes that would really bring out the best in the different whiskies we will be serving our guests. What better way to spend a cold November evening?”

Gordon & Macphail who are regarded as the world’s leading malt whisky specialists, are located in the north-east of Scotland in the heart of the world famous whisky producing region of Speyside. Gordon & MacPhail is an independent family owned and managed firm which has been bottling Single Malt Whiskies for over 116 years.

Whisky tasting evening: six course, food matched, whisky tasting menu £35. Call 029 2022 4373 for more information and to book tickets.

Knife & Fork Food Website