Menu:
- Salad of Roasted Leeks with Olives & Thyme
- Cream of Swede & Nutmeg Soup
- Matelote of Pigeon
- Crab & Salmon Fish Cakes with Local Chutney
- Vegetarian Lentil & Celtic Mead Pie
- Welsh Cheeses, Home Baked Oatcakes
- Welsh Cakes, Sloe Gin Jelly, Salted Caramel Walnuts & Cream
It is St Dwynwen night this week in Wales, on the 25th. St Dwynwen is the Welsh patron saint of lovers. How a nun became the equivalent of St Valentine you can read on
http://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryUK/HistoryofWales/St-Dwynwens-Day/
I have never really understood the stories about her. But then again, I am a convinced bachelor. To me, it looks like she was disappointed in love and then sulked for years on a forgotten corner of the island of Anglesey. I can understand why she chose that place though, because nowadays there is still an air of serene tranquility at Newborough beach. You can reach Landdwyn island at low tides from the beach. For me, there is always something magical about places like that, as if I am on a pelgrimage and the island allows me to come in, by lowering the water.
We use Penceunant Tea Rooms (www.snowdoncafe.com) as a location for Pop Up Oren this week. An 18th century traditional cottage, on the slopes of Snowdon. It will take a little climb to get there. But it might remind the guests of the pelgrimage they are on together, lovers or not. The little effort they have to take will be rewarded with a warm fire and good food. Lowering my waters and welcoming the pilgrims in (as LLanddwyn island) is one of the nicest parts of being a cook for me.
So instead of an evening where couples stare into eachothers eyes over pink and heart shaped afrodesiac dishes, we use this day as an excuse to comfort our ‘pilgrims’ and serve excellent Welsh food in a beautiful Welsh Cottage.
On the menu Welsh cakes baked on a griddle, this recipe is from Penceunant tearooms.
| Ingredients: |
| 1 lb/450g Plain Flour |
| 8 oz/220g Butter |
| 5 oz/140g Sugar |
| 2 Eggs |
| 3 oz/85g Currants |
| 1/4 Teaspoon of Cinnamon |
| Method: |
| Cream the butter, sugar and eggs in a bowl for a couple of minutes. Then add the flour, cinnamon and currants. Mix well. Dust a breadboard with some flour and knead the dough for about 2 or 3 minutes. Flatten the dough with a rollin pin until it’s about 1/4 inch/5mm thick. Use a pastry cutter to make 3-4 inch/8-10cm circles. Grease a heavy pan or griddle with some butter and put over a medium heat. Cook for 2 or 3 minutes each side until golden brown on both sides |
oren caernarfon 