Wales can offer you food from simple fare to fine dining, but probably what is most important is that you take advantage of the rich range of locally produced food. As a country with a long coastline and infinite variety of farmland, the harvest of the sea and land is rich, varied and plentiful.
Breakfast is a good starting point. You may well be offered a full Welsh breakfast – this should consist of locally produced sausages, bacon and eggs, not to mention additional ingredients. In South Wales, for example, you may well be offered laverbread, a tasty seaweed puree, mixed with oatmeal and fried.
Wherever, we stop on our journeys, we aim to offer our guests opportunities to eat in highly individual, sometimes quirky, but always welcoming locations. We focus especially on those which offer special treats, such as their own interpretation of bara brith, Welsh fruit bread. Beautiful bread and cheeses are also much sought after. We take visitors to food producers and marketers on some tours – this is always much enjoyed.
During the evening, we are always happy to suggest places that suit your needs and expectations. Those with special dietary needs and others who follow a vegetarian or vegan diet are increasingly well cared for in Wales. For meat-eaters, among the special treats are salt-marsh lamb, and beef from the famous Welsh Black breed of cattle.
The pub, short for Public House
The pub, short for Public House or Inn, is a building found all over Wales. They are places for locals and tourists to enjoy a drink of beer, ale, or spirits if you prefer something stronger. Depending on their location, many open as early as breakfast, serving food, while others don’t open until the night. Many of them serve food nowadays, and some have designated restaurant areas. You must check when food is available, as most pubs stop serving food around 9 pm.
Check out the area that you are staying at for a local pub. Some will have quiz nights, where you can win a free meal or alcoholic beverage (or many!) if you and your mates get the most questions correct. A few pubs will also have live music once a week or a sports match on the television, so often pubs can be the best place to really get to know the locals.
Do be aware, pubs do not operate the same way restaurants do in the States or other countries. The bar attendant is not there to always clean your table, refill your drink, or know every special on the menu.
As an example. I will share this story that I witnessed at a local pub:
An American couple came and sat on a table next to mine. Looking over a menu, after several minutes, the couple began complaining that no one had come to their table. The husband turned to his wife and said, “If they don’t ask for our order soon, we’ll leave this place. What terrible service!”
While I was at the bar, I heard the landlord talking to the barman: "The couple in the corner have been sat here for ages, if they don’t order a drink soon, we’ll have to ask them to leave.”
I had to kindly tell the American couple that they need to go the bar to order their food and drinks. We all had a good laugh about it afterwards, including the landlord!
You also pay right after ordering rather than after you’ve finished your food. Once your food is ready, the barman will either place your food at the bar or bring the food to your table, depending on the establishment.
