There is a wealth of local food to try, from Cardigan Island crab to Caerphilly Cheese and even Welsh Whisky. The local town, Newcastle Emlyn, has 2 lovely delicatessens selling a variety of Welsh Produce. There is an organic fruit and vegetable shop (so so good – look out for the pies and nom nom chocolate) a good butchers and an excellent health food shop. The market on Fridays brings local jam makers and honey producers to the town, amazing fruit and vegetable bargains are to be had and the Country Market offers local produce, cakes, bread and crafts.
Nearly every weekend, there’s a food festival somewhere in Wales. The Garden of Wales’ food fair is at the end of May. Newcastle Emlyn holds its food fair in June. Pembrokeshire Fish Week is at the end of June. Carmarthen food fair is in July, as is St David’s Really Wild food festival. Narberth’s food festival is in September. There are lots more.
We are very lucky to be close to the Caws Cenarth cheese factory. Their golden Cenarth beat 900+ other cheeses to be awarded the best cheese in the UK. They even beat the French last year. You can visit their shop and try their beautiful, beautiful cheeses. http://www.cawscenarth.co.uk/ You can also find award winning Teifi Valley cheese at the market in Carmarthen (every day except Monday) or at their shop near Llandysul – they also distil whiskey and a very fine gin http://www.teificheese.co.uk/
There is plenty of good Welsh Beer around – Felinfoel, made near Llanelli, Thomos Watkins, made in Swansea, Brains, made in Cardiff etc.. There are many good pubs just a short drive away, serving local produce at reasonable prices, including the Nags Head in Abercych approximately 4 miles away. There are a variety of pubs serving food in Newcastle Emlyn: The Coopers Arms, The Three Compasses, The White Hart Inn, The Pelican, The Ivy Bush, The Plough, The Gwesty’r Emlyn Hotel. There are lots of lovely cafes and restaurants there too: Harrisons Bistro and Riverside Gardens. Teifi Fish & Chips does great fish and chips to take-away and there are Indian and Chinese take-aways in the town. Just down the road at Cenarth, you will find another fine selection of pubs, cafes and restaurants.
Further afield, you will find beautiful pubs overlooking secluded bays or in bustling towns. For a real holiday feel, there are amazing fish and chips in New Quay, Saundersfoot and at Llangrannog, where the local ice-cream is a treat. There are even some cafes where your children can paint their own pottery. You will also find lots of farm shops and farmers markets, local cheese makers, a vineyard and a honey farm.
Here are some lovely ideas of places to eat in Carmarthenshire: http://www.walesonline.co.uk/whats-on/food-drink-news/definitive-guide-eating-drinking-well-11038699
Food Fairs
- mid May West Wales Food Fair in the National Botanic Gardens
- end May Really Wild Festival, St Davids www.reallywildfestival.co.uk
- mid June Newcastle Emlyn
- end June Pembrokeshire Fish Week http://www.pembrokeshirefishweek.co.uk/
- early July Aberaeron Seafood Festival http://www.aberaeron.info/seafood/
- early August Cardigan River & Food Festival http://www.cardigan-food-festival.co.uk/
- mid August Pembrokeshire County Show http://www.pembsshow.org/
- end September Narberth Food Festival http://narberthfoodfestival.com/
Farm shops and local producers
– including cheese, wine and chocolate!!
http://www.cawscenarth.co.uk – Caws Cenarth – organic cheese factory. See the cheese being made and sample the wonderful organic cheese, which regularly wins major prizes. 10 minutes drive from the mill.
http://www.teifivalleycheeseproducers.com/ – There are many fine cheese makers in the Teifi valley area including Carmarthenshire Cheese Company, Caws Cenarth, Hafod Welsh Organic Cheddar, Teifi Farmhouse Cheese, and Sanclêr Organic
http://www.bigbarn.co.uk/marketplace/vendors/cothivalley~CothiValleyGoats_Llandeilo_SA19 – Cothi Valley Goats – 15 types of goats cheeses
http://www.penlan-uchaf.co.uk/ Penlan Uchaf gardens and amazing local beef (great coffee shop with amazing views)
http://www.harmonyherd.co.uk/ – Harmony Herd free range Wild Boar cross pigs
http://www.thehoneyfarm.co.uk – New Quay Honey Farm – Discover the magical world of the bee.
http://www.celticwines.co.uk/ – Celtic Wines – local country wines and preserves
http://www.cwm-deri.co.uk – Cwm Deri Vinyard. Excellent wine tasting opportunities and a great restaurant.
http://www.llwynhelygfarmshop.co.uk/ Llwynhelyg Farm Shop 8 miles North of Cardigan “a food lovers’ paradise” an excellent place to get lots of local food.
http://www.welsh-whisky.co.uk – Penderyn Whisky Distillery – near Merthyr Tydfil, a little way from the mill but worth a visit for Whisky lovers. Or you can buy their produce in Carmarthen.
http://www.gwaunvalleybrewery.co.uk/ – Cwrw Cwm Gwaun real ale brewery – see the brewers at work and taste the finished product.
Market Days
- Newcastle Emlyn – Friday
- St Dogmael’s Local Producers Market – Coach House Heritage Centre next to the Abbey, Tuesdays 9:00 – 13:00
- Carmarthen – Wednesday. The indoor market is open Tuesday – Saturday.
- Cardigan indoor market – open most days but Thursday – Saturday is best.
- Ammanford Street Market – Friday
- Llandeilo – Friday
- Llanelli – Saturday
Farmers Markets:
http://www.fmiw.co.uk/?function=marketsbyregion
- Carmarthen – first & third Friday each month 9 – 1 in the town centre
- St Dogmael’s Local Producers Market – Coach House Heritage Centre next to the Abbey, Tuesdays 9:00 – 13:00
- Haverford West – every fortnight on Fridays 9 – 3 at Riverside Shopping
- Fishguard – every week on Saturdays 9 – 1 at the Town Hall
- Pembroke – every fortninght on Saturday 10 – 2 at the Town Hall
- Llandovery – last Saturday of the month
- Ammanford – last Thursday of the month
Lovely foodie ideas: http://www.visitwales.com/things-to-do/attractions/food-and-drink