Let them eat cake – afternoon tea in Cardiff

Afternoon tea was once the staple of the elderly – scones and a nice cup of tea to ‘keep you going’ until dinner. In recent years however, this tradition has been hijacked by the young and fashionable and Cardiff is no different. Afternoon Tea is the perfect way to celebrate a hen night, baby shower, or just a special catch up with a friend.

Partial to an afternoon tea myself, I’ve tried quite a few in the area recently. Here are my reviews.

Waterloo Gardens Teahouse

Afternoon Tea at Waterloo Gardens Teahouse

Readers of the blog already know how much I love this funky suburban tea room.

If you’re looking for an afternoon tea with a difference, this is your place. With over 50 teas to choose from – they also serve coffee if you need a caffeine fix – you really are spoilt for choice. And if you want to linger over another pot of tea, it’s a reduced price if you’re having afternoon tea.

As for the food, it’s the usual finger sandwiches (tuna, smoked salmon, roasted peppers and hummus for example) although they will cater to dietary requirements (including gluten-free). It’s the cakes that really excel though – the freshly mades scones with cream and jam are melt-in-the-mouth delicious and you’re also able to choose a huge wedge of one of the many cakes on offer too. The courgette & lime and white chocolate & raspberry cakes are my personal favourite. If you’re a little full after that feast, wander around the beautiful Waterloo Gardens – it’ll go some (small) way to working of the calories you’ve just consumed!

Cost; £11.50 per person.

Best for; Tea lovers, good value.

www.waterlootea.com

Hilton Cardiff

Tea at Hilton Hotel, Cardiff

Afternoon Tea at the Hilton was a little disappointing when we visited. The location is wonderful and – if you’re a visitor to Cardiff – having tea and cake in the Metropole Lounge with an (albeit side-on) view of the Castle is quite nice.

The tea selection is a set of Twinings loose-leaf. I chose the blackcurrant and lavender infusion which was rich and warming. The food was very disappointing though. The sandwiches had more butter than filling and a couple of the cakes were really overcooked. The scones were burnt underneath and the welsh cakes were so dry, they tasted almost stale. It was a real shame. The mini pastries were delicious however and the chocolate Dragon on top was a nice touch for visitors.

Perhaps we just caught them on an off day, but with so many other great afternoon tea offerings in Cardiff, I wouldn’t head back.

Cost; £13.50 per person.

Best for; Avoiding, I’m afraid.

St David’s Hotel

Afternoon Tea at St David's Hotel, Cardiff

What a treat the afternoon tea at St David’s Hotel is! My friend and I pushed the boat out on this occasion and opted for the champagne afternoon tea. We were shown to the a window table at Tempus restaurant with a wonderful view of Cardiff Bay and Penarth Marina. The bubbles (Perrier-Jouët Grand Brut Champagne) were brought over as soon as we sat down and we were also given a choice of teas, served in gorgeous vintage china cups. I opted for the Earl Grey, which was just as Earl Grey should be, but nothing out of this world.

The cake tier  was out of this world though! Scones with jam and cream (of course), delicious mini pastries and exquisite cupcakes (on this occasion one blueberry and one carrot flavour). Their taste definitely lived up to presentation. It really was a lovely experience and I would highly recommend Afternoon Tea at St David’s Hotel, particularly for a special occasion or treat.

Cost; Traditional afternoon tea £18.95 per person. Champagne afternoon tea £26 per person.

Best for; Summer dining, luxury

www.thestdavidshotel.com

Park Plaza Cardiff

The Park Plaza has only recently started doing ‘proper’ Afternoon Tea at its Laguna restaurant. They offer both the traditional and champagne options. My companion and I had afternoon tea there during December and the Christmassy touches (mince pies, a big slab of Christmas cake) were a lovely unexpected addition. A special mention has to go to the teeny blackcurrant macaron placed on the top tier. Perfectly formed and full of flavour, I’ve never seen macaron included in an afternoon tea before and it was an unexpected treat.

Afternoon tea at Park Plaza Cardiff

I opted for the cinnamon tea which was deliciously warming and perfectly complimented the seasonal cakes on the menu.

Cost; £15.00 per person

Best for; City Centre location, traditionalists

www.parkplaza.com/cardiff

Have you tried afternoon tea at another Cardiff location? What did you think? And do you agree with my experiences? Let me know!

- Cardiff Girl

Cardiff with a baby

I’ve recently had a lovely little baby (which I hope explains the lack of activity on the blog of late!). Of course, having a child is completely life changing anyway, but it’s also opened up a side of Cardiff I’ve never experienced before. So I thought I’d post a few activities I’ve taken part in which I would recommend to other new Mums and Mums-to-be in Cardiff.

Yoga for Pregnancy

I attended the Yoga for pregnancy class at Dave’s Gym, off Albany Road from the 16th week of my pregnancy until the week before I gave birth. The class is run by Danielle Nicholls, an experienced yoga teacher, and I would really recommend any pregnant ladies to attend this class, or one like it. We were taught exercises and breathing techniques to use during labour – which was extremely useful when the time came! It was also a fantastic way to relax and bond with your unborn baby and Danielle the instructor is so lovely.

Yoga for Pregnancy, Yoga Loft, Dave’s Gym

12pm every Saturday. For more information see daniellenicholls.co.uk 

Mummy and Baby yoga

I enjoyed pregnancy yoga so much that I was keen to continue after baby arrived. Unfortunately Danielle doesn’t run a mummy and baby class, but I managed to find another run by Emma Thomas (Pure Yoga) at Canton Community Hall. The classes focus on both Mum and baby, with a section for Mum at the start – including post-natal exercises – and then a section for baby, using nursery rhymes and songs while carrying out activities to help strengthen their arms and legs ready for rolling over, sitting and so on. The classes are a bit pricey I thought (£32 for 4 sessions – I only did the four sessions because of the price and carried on doing the exercises at home) and there is also a waiting list, but it is something nice to do if you can.

Mummy and Baby yoga, Canton Community Hall, Cardiff

Tuesdays at 3pm. For more information see the Pure Yoga page on Facebook.

Pram Fit

Getting back in shape after having a baby isn’t the easiest thing to do but these classes are a fantastic motiviation. They are run as circuit training sessions in Bute Park – so its also a great way to get outdoors with baby. You’re encouraged to exercise alongside your pram, and even use the pram during some exercises, such as lunges – so no need to put baby in a creche while you work out. The classes begin and finish at the Summerhouse Cafe in Bute Park and the £3 charge includes a tea or coffee at the end of the session, so it’s a great way to get together with other Mums. The classes are actually quite hard so you do feel like you’ve had a great workout at the end of it.

Pram Fit, The Summerhouse, Bute Park.

Every Tuesday and Thursday at 10am. For more info go to www.facebook.com/pramfit

Pram Fit

Monkey Music

Monkey Music classes are suitable for babies from 3 months until 4 years old and introduce young babies to music and instruments. The first time I attended the class I felt like I was in a CBeebies programme, as the class leader (think typical TV Presenter) sang and entertained the youngsters. My little one absolutely loves it and although the classes are quite pricey (about £90 per term – from September to December) it really is one of my favourite things for us to do together. I had tried singing to baby before, but being a new Mum I couldnt remember many nursery rhymes and accompanying actions, so it’s a really good refresher for Mums too. I sing all the time to baby now and he really loves it (despite my terrible singing voice!).

To find out more about Monkey Music, visit the website www.monkeymusic.co.uk

Waterbabies

Did you know that babies are born with the ability to hold their breath and swim underwater? It’s quite amazing to see. Waterbabies uses this ability to teach babies not only to swim and feel confident in the water, but how to stop themselves drowning – a huge emphasis of the class is teaching them to hold on to the side. The classes are fun, with parents in the pool teaching their child to swim and singing songs. It is by far the most expensive activity we do (About £140 for a term – September to December) however, we were given the lessons as a gift. We have already completed the first term, and had no hesitation in signing up for the next one. It’s a small price to pay for the safety aspect and the fun of each lesson too!

www.waterbabies.co.uk

Image from Water Babies website www.waterbabies.co.uk

Ikea

OK, this may sound little random, but the flat pack furniture store really is a fantastic place for families. The cafe has an excellent breastfeeding area, plenty of high chairs, and a children’s play area. If you are ordering an adult meal, children’s purees are free and if you become an Ikea family member (which costs nothing) you get free tea and coffee on weekday afternoons. We have whiled away many a rainy afternoon in Ikea! Of course, we always end up buying something, even if it’s just a set of tea lights, so there is a method to Ikea’s plans.

IKEA Wales
Ferry Road
Grangetown
Cardiff
CF11 0JR

There are plenty of other parent and baby classes I hear are good but I’m yet to try, such as Rhyme Time at Central Library and Sing and Sign, so do let me know if you’ve attended these and enjoyed them. And please comment below if there are any Mummy and baby activities you would recommend in Cardiff.

Fur Coats and French Knickers in Cardiff

I’ve just found out that I’ve won tickets to see the Lady Boys of Bangkok in Cardiff Bay next week – courtesy of The Penny Post twitter account! This won’t be the first time I’ve seen the Lady Boys – a group of friends and I have been to the show in Bristol a few times – but (mainly due to the closeness of the Take That gig and various other events) we weren’t able to make it this year. So to win a pair of free tickets is very welcome.

If you’ve never seen the Lady Boys, you can read more about them on their website here. But the show is camp, fun and hilarious and features Thailand’s finest Lady Boys. It’s based in a marquee, with cabaret table-style seating, which will be stationed in Roald Dahl Plass in the Bay from the 17th to the 25th June.

Basically leave any prejudices at the door, have a drink and have fun! The theme this year is ‘Fur Coats and French Knickers’, so use your imagination

If you’re looking for a girls night out, this is the perfect event to do it.

Thanks again to the Penny Post for the tickets www.thepennypost.co.uk. Read more about the Lady Boys of Bangkok at their website www.ladyboysofbangkok.co.uk

Breaking out of the (restaurant) chains in Cardiff

The news that French restaurant Le Gallois in Pontcanna was closing after 13 years has inevitably led to more criticism of Cardiff’s growing number of restaurant chains.

Recently awarded three AA Rosettes, the loss of Le Gallois is undoubtedly a blow to Cardiff’s culinary reputation. But I still dispute the claims that ‘Cardiff has too many chain restaurants’. There are plenty of great independent places too, if you just know where to look.

And don’t get me wrong, I really dont think there’s anything wrong with the odd Pizza Express or Wagamama meal (especially when there’s a 2 for 1 offer available), but I would love it if the people of Cardiff continued to support the independent eateries available.

Here are a few of my personal favourites……

Pizzaria Villagio

This traditional Italian was opened by the Palladino family in Whitchurch village in 1986 and has been a village staple ever since. Serving traditional dishes such as lasagne and pizzas, they also dish up less traditional fayre such as their pizza with laverbread. The creamy Fettucine Mare e Monte is a must-try.

Cibos

Another Italian restaurant – with more of a cosy cafe feel than the Villagio. Located on Pontcanna Street, it’s a favourite with people living in Pontcanna and also serves breakfast and lunch. Their pizzas are not to missed.

Diner 77

Only a few doors down from Cibos (Pontcanna residents really are spoilt for choice), Diner 77 classes itself as an American-style diner. But forget TGI Fridays,  and think classy fayre, consisting of juicy burgers and plenty of vegetarian options. The array of pickles and relishes you’re given is a real highlight – the sweetcorn being a personal favourite. Just make sure you book your table in advance.

Woods Brasserie

Owned by Knife and Fork food (who also run the New Conway Pub in Cardiff and New Swan Inn in Llantwit Major), Woods is located in the old Pilotage Building in Cardiff Bay. It serves what I would class as typical brasserie food – steak specials, fish and risottos, with just the right size portions to allow you to comfortably sample three courses. The staff are always attentive and knowledgable about the food and dining in the conservatory or outdoor patio on a summers evening gives a lovely view over Cardiff Bay.

Mimosa

Named after the boat which took a group of Welsh people to their new life in Patagonia, Mimosa stays true to its Welsh roots, offering locally sourced produce such as cockles and laverbread, Glamorgan sausages and dishes which include Welsh cheeses. Breakfast at the Cardiff Bay eaterie is well worth getting up early for as well, although it’s actually served until midday, if you’re not an early riser.

Bangkok Cafe

Thai food is something Cardiff’s independents do well, and honourable mentions must go to The Thai House on Churchill Way and The Thai Lounge in Whitchurch. But Bangkok cafe’s location in Canton and relaxed atmosphere marks it out above the rest. If you cant get a table, takeaways are available.

Happy Gathering

I must agree with the comment from the Independent that the Happy Gathering is ‘Cardiff’s finest Chinese restaurant’. Serving customers in the capital for over 25 years, the decor is perhaps a little outdated, but the food is classic Chinese. In fact,  every time I’ve eaten here, it’s filled with large groups of Chinese families. Try the crispy shredded beef – no other restaurant I’ve tried comes close!

Madeira

A family run business, this Portuguese restaurant on Guildford Crescent has significantly expanded since it’s launch in 1998. The special kebabs are the signature dish and arrive on a huge skewer which hangs from the ceiling above your plate, dripping with melted garlic butter. The fish dishes are fresh and extremely reasonably priced and there are plenty of vegetarian options – the rich Pasta Madeira is delicious. The side vegetables are even something to rave about – deep fried cauliflower in particular.

What are your favourite independent restaurants in Cardiff?

Food – Gateway of India takeaway

The Gateway of India is an Indian takeaway in Cardiff. So what’s so special about that? Indian restaurants – and good ones at that – are ten a penny in the capital. But the Gateway of India’s unique selling point is that your takeaway will be cold. Bear with me, it’s actually a good thing.

The Gateway makes freshly cooked Bangladeshi and Indian food, which is chilled for you to take home and refrigerate and eat withing two days of purchase. Or the meals can be kept longer if frozen.

Seasoned takeaway orderers may wonder what’s the point in ordering a cold takeaway? Well, for one, chilled food has no VAT added so the prices are good. (Chicken Tikka Massalla for £5.60 for example) But I think the main appeal of this takeaway is convenience. My other half and I visited on a Saturday late afternoon during the recent cold snap, meaning we could pick up our food, take it home and warm it up hours later without having to leave the house and brave the chilly temperatures again. While waiting, I noticed the amount of parents with young children popping in to collect their food – the convenience for busy Mums and Dads is obvious. And if you’ve got a busy day ahead - why not collect the day before and store overnight in the fridge?

The Gateway of India. Picture courtesy of website www.gateway-of-india.co.uk

The Gateway of India has been located in Rhiwbina since 1995 – and in 2004 won the award for the Best takeaway in Cardiff. Dispite it’s longevity, the restaurant’s standards don’t seem to have slipped. We both ordered vegetarian dishes (of which there are a fantastic selection). The Dal Sagh (£4.10) was chock-full of fresh spinach, if a little too spicy for my taste, while the mild and creamy vegetable malai (£4.10) was delicious, without being sickly or over creamy.

Sides were good too – a special mention to the yummy and huge onion bahjees (£2.50 for 4).

And if you prefer to make your own Indian dishes from scratch, they stock a wide selection of the vital ingredients you need.

Definitely worth a try.

- CG

Gateway of India, 236 Pantbach Road, Rhiwbina, CF14 6AG

029 2052 9029

www.gateway-of-india.co.uk236, Pantbach Road, Rhiwbina,
Cardiff CF14 6AG

Place to visit – Cardiff Castle

It’s been a long time since I’d been inside Cardiff Castle. When I was young, my parents took me there as they tried to find new ways to entertain me during numerous school holidays. I have particularly fond memories of getting up very early one Sunday to see hundreds of giant hot air balloons take off from the castle grounds. But since then Cardiff Castle had become one of those ‘places that’s just there’ for me – yes it’s pretty and a great tourist attraction, but I never really paid much attention to it.

A few years ago I went to see The Lord Chamberlain’s Men’s performance of Much Ado About Nothing inside the Castle. The performance was wonderful, but the evening also made me realise how beautiful the castle actually is. Perhaps it’s due to seeing the place through adult eyes, or the atmosphere at the play, but I vowed I’d come back for a proper visit soon.

Then, when a friend pointed out that visiting Cardiff Castle is free for people who live or work in the city, I could resist no longer.

The Animal Wall at Cardiff Castle

So on a sunny afternoon last summer, my other half and I took our filled-out forms, passport photos and our proof of living in Cardiff (council tax bill was fine) and claimed our residents cards.

The card entitles you to free entry to the Castle, grounds and an audio tour. We spent a lovely few hours listening to the BBC’s Huw Edwards guide us around, using what looked like a mobile phone circa 1996 to listen to his facts.

The card also allows you entry to the opulent Castle apartments, which were vastly refurbished in the Gothic Victorian style in the 19th Century and just breathtaking – all gold and marble ceilings and ornate carvings.

However, my favourite part of the Castle is the Norman Keep in the centre of the grounds. Not one for the faint hearted, the steep steps are worth negotiating for the fantastic views of Cardiff from the top. The masthead at the head of this blog was actually taken from the top of the Keep during our visit.

The Keep at Cardiff Castle

The outside of the Castle is also wonderful, and well-worth a closer look if you don’t have the time to go inside. The lavish decor of the Clock tower is actually rather breathtaking and the iconic animal wall outside is like nothing I’ve ever seen before. It’s also currently under refurbishment, so expect the animal collection to start looking even better soon.

Now is a perfect time to visit the Castle, with the autumn colours of Bute Park in full fire. Have a look at Lee Smith’s blog for some wonderful images of the Castle in Autumn. Or, if shopping or eating is more your thing, Cardiff Castle has the benefit of being right in the heart of the city centre. What’s not to love?

Cardiff’s hidden gems

With the news that one of the shops in Cardiff’s High Street Arcade is to close, blaming the St David’s shopping centre expansion, I’ve felt compelled to write about the arcades, which are in my opinion Cardiff’s hidden gems.

Cardiff’s shopping arcades date back to Victorian times. Royal Arcade was the first to open in 1858, shortly followed by High Street Arcade, Castle Arcade, Wyndham Arcade, Duke Street and Dominions Arcade. The arcades link the Hayes (now known as the cafe quarter) with St Mary’s Street, along to Castle Street and most are listed buildings. During a recent gig in Cardiff, Florence Welch of Florence and the Machine said she’d been shopping in Cardiff’s arcades and loved the vintage shops. It’s not all bad news for the arcade traders either, WalesOnline is reporting that Castle Arcade is now fully occupied, for the first time in two years.

I love the new St Davids development. Bringing much longed-for stores such as John Lewis, LK Bennett, Reiss and soon Urban Outfitters is a real plus for Cardiff’s shoppers and the regeneration of The Hayes can only be good for the city.

My concern is that too many people are visiting these new developments alone and not seeing what Cardiff can offer, to set it aside from every other capital city in the UK. I am often guilty of this myself. A few years ago a family friend was staying from England and wanted to see Cardiff’s shops. I took her along Queen Street and remember stopping at the Castle and saying – “Well, that’s it”. “But, what about the arcades?” She asked. I had completely overlooked the arcades until she mentioned them and we spent a lovely few hours rediscovering the boutique shops and cafes on offer.

The fact that there are minimal chain stores in the Arcades is another plus.  Most of them are independent and have been there for some time. Claire Grove Buttons in Castle Arcade was a favourite haunt of mine as a teenager, where I used to hunt out unusual beads to make my own earrings. I can’t think of another shop that has lasted so long, while specialising simply in buttons and beads. I was also a fan of City Surf during my teenage years (mainly due to the surfer boys hanging out there!) and City Surf is another Castle Arcade shop still going strong. Head further into the arcade and you’ll now find Madame Fromage Deli and Cafe, a bridal shop and fancy dress shop and on the corner of High Street there’s Barker – a boutique that has always been popular with Cardiff’s fashion-forward, currently stocking brands such as G Star and Two Stoned.

There’s really something happening with fashion in the Arcades. Head across the newly pedestrianised St Mary’s Street and into High Street Arcade, where you’ll find unique fashion boutiques including Buzz shoes, the lovely Lunacy Boutique, Looby Loos (perfect for a vintage style tea dress or two) and 70s Emporium Hobos.

High Street Arcade also houses my personal favourite for lunch – the New York Deli. The NY Deli opened in 1990 and moved from its previous premises across the arcade, to its current location. It’s a mish-mash of styles inside, ranging from graffiti art to Cardiff Devils Ice Hockey memorabilia, but the bagels and hoagies (crammed full of your choice of American-style filling) are to die for. I’d also recommend a coffee and a chocolate brownie, if you have the room.

If you like your tea and cake a little more traditional, try Garlands coffee shop in the adjoining Duke Street Arcade.

Morgans’ Arcade, running alongside the old David Morgan building, houses another independent cafe – The Plan – a light and airy two-floor cafe – named by the Independent as one of the UK’s 50 best coffee shops.  Morgan Arcade also houses Neal’s Yard and childrenswear boutique Fred and Grace’s.

Nearby Royal Arcade contains Wally’s delicatessen – a must visit if you’ve never been. Open in its current location since the 1980s, Wally’s is a real ‘Cardiff Institution’ – with a temporary pop-up shop in St Davids, which is aiming to direct more traffic to their Royal Arcade base. No need to look for it, the smell will entice you in and a tub of olives or wasabi peas are a must-buy.

Rossiters of Bath, a few yards along, is a lovely place to shop for gifts or bespoke furniture while the Shared Earth Fair Trade shop is doing business along the way.

If you prefer something a little more edgy from your shop, try Wyndham Arcade where the Comic Book Guru, stocking comics (of course) and Dr Who memorabilia may suit your appetite, or perhaps Rebel Rebel if you fancy a piercing or tattoo to mark your day in the capital city.

I’d really encourage anyone to visit the arcades next time you’re in Cardiff. I hope you find a hidden gem of your own.