The Crown Social
The Crown Social is the latest venture from the people behind The Crown at Whitebrook, Wales’ longest running (5 years) holder of a Michelin star, in partnership with 2 Michelin-starred executive chef Martin Blunos. The idea is a bit of a departure from the traditional format of fine-dining in that it’s as much a place to meet, chat, have a few drinks, exquisite bar snacks and graze, as it is a restaurant, hence the ‘Social’ moniker.

We were received in a relatively large bar, subtly separated by a screen from the main dining area, replete with comfy sofas and decide to sit at the bar to take in the vibe, sample a cocktail and nibble through a few items on the impressive bar menu.

To kick things off we ordered some cocktails – reasonably priced, often unusual but all delicious. Particular mention must go to the Chilli Cucumber Collins, an unorthodox take on the classic gin and cucumber summer cocktail. Fresh finely-chopped red chilli pestled into the final mix to make a literally mind-blowing, and decidedly macho, experience - wow.

The food menu is best described as a mix of contemporary British and world cuisine – Blunos soaks up inspiration from wherever he can, applying it to dishes that are relatively familiar – and uses seasonal, locally sourced ingredients. We sampled a large selection of tasters to get the full ‘Social’ experience so can vouch for the general quality of the food. It’s consistently excellent and beautifully presented.

For brevity’s sake here’s a representative selection of the highlights. Onion Madeleine, taramasalata – tangy, delicate taste of the sea counter-balanced by fluffy, slightly sweet, onion sponge cake; light, heavily spiced, crumbly, home-made black pudding lifted to another level by fresh, crunchy, sweet apple and the peppery bite of watercress; the fine, fit for a king, subtle taste of sewin (sea trout) in a perfectly judged dill crust; melt in the mouth, slow cooked lamb shoulder/breast; and the coup de gras, a pudding of honey comb soufflè and coconut lime sorbet – velvety and warm, the culinary equivalent of a luxurious bath in a five star hotel and enough to justify a visit in its own

Crown Social Parc Hotel, Park Place, Cardiff 029 2078 5593

YR HEN FWYTHYN (The Old Cottage)
Having only just reopened after an impressive refurbishment, The Old Cottage is already making its mark as one of the great places to eat out in Cardiff.

While managing to retain its popularity with the local regulars, Chef Nick Collins has also drawn interest from further afield with his innovative menu.

The Old Cottage was exceptionally busy for a restaurant on a Tuesday night so it would be advisable to book ahead. We were given a warm welcome by host Gareth who showed us to our table, went through the day’s specials and made some great recommendations from the menu and wine list.

The starters set the tone with well-presented, generous portions of risotto balls (made with feta and mint, accompanied by a tomato jam) and scallops of the day (perfectly cooked and served with pancetta, watercress and asparagus).

The rump of lamb is a popular main course and was cooked to preference and came with plenty of baby potatoes and vegetables.

Recommended from the specials menu was the mackerel which was served with apple mash, cabbage and chip shop curry sauce. This seemed a fairly bizarre combination on paper but turned out to be the best decision of the night. The flavours and textures really worked with each other and to call the curry sauce ‘chip shop’ does not do it justice! Made to the chef’s own recipe, I could have eaten a bowl of it. It also came with a pot of crispy batter scraps, ideal for dipping.

Highly satisfied, there was just enough room to squeeze in a sticky toffee pudding (light sponge and loads of sauce!) and an Eton mess (just messy enough).

As well as a daily specials menu The Old Cottage also has a good vegetarian selection and has various themed nights through the week, such as Steak Night and Fish Friday. Check out the website for more information. You can also book a table online.

Jo Roberts
The Old Cottage /Yr Hen Fwthyn Cherry Orchard Road, Lisvane, Cardiff/Caerdydd CF14 0UE
Tel: 02920 765961
www.theoldcottagelisvane.co.uk

KON-TIKI
Between Queen Street’s shopping hustle and Fancy bringing some Hawaiian sunshine into your nightlife? A short hop from Wind Street, new bar Kon-Tiki is turning up the tropical heat by bringing the new wave Tiki bar revolution to South Wales. These exotic drinking establishments are proving popular in other UK cities from London to Manchester and they specialise in serving elaborate cocktails from Mai Tais to Zombies. Decked out in bamboo, palms and totem poles, Swansea’s newest theme bar offers a relaxed fun night out in itself or serves well as a pre-club bar with popular local DJs spinning good tunes at the weekend.

Kon-Tiki offers an extensive list of fresh, quality cocktails served up quickly and skilfully in both elegant and novelty vessels from classy glasses to coconut shells, tiki mugs and ceramic shell sharers. Partners in crime, Leanne and Lawrence clearly enjoy their work and show pride both in their mixology and in showing their punters a good time. Mojitos were popular, I’m a particular fan of their blackberry version, while house special the Palm Tree, a long and fruity passion fruit and citrus drink, added to the fun factor by being served with flames on top. Watch those eyebrows, these drinks are dangerous! Those who prefer their tipples to be classic should note that the Bloody Mary and the Manhattan were also bang on the money.

Saving for a real holiday? Their 2-4-1 Wednesdays offer yet another bank-balance-friendly reason to drop in for a cheeky mid-week drink.

Punters: As well-mixed as the cocktails.
Drinks: Draught lager £3 a pint; Spirits + mixer £3 a single, £4.50 a double; Wine £3 - £3.50 a glass, bottles start at £11.50; cocktails £6 a glass or sharers from £10. Champagne from £35 a bottle.
Ambiance: A tropical and laid back holiday vibe.
Contact: 0779 1402162 or http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000581548638
Susie Wild

Food for Thought