Ladle, Hastings: review
On January 18, 2025 by The Plate Licked CleanOld Town’s Ladle feels like a little nook, one of those places you didn’t’t know you needed until you find yourself there. In this tiny room, lights trail and twinkle, and busy George St suddenly seems far away. The antique dealers, the ‘Tabac’-signed cigar merchant, the ancient timber-framed pubs, the chi-chi boutiques. Even the second-hand
DaiU all you can eat buffet, Mermaid Quay, Cardiff Bay: review
On January 17, 2025 by The Plate Licked CleanHere’s the thing. You have probably already made up your mind about DaiU in Cardiff Bay. Cardiff is the first in a small chain (Brighton, Croydon) and their site prepares you for a ‘symphony of flavors, captivat(ing) your senses’ featuring ‘the irresistible aroma of fresh meats, perfectly grilled to succulent perfection’. ‘Experience the ocean’s bounty’,
Lunch at Ember at No.5, Pontcanna, Cardiff: restaurant review
On January 9, 2025 by The Plate Licked CleanEmber at No. 5. Dave Killick, Tommy Heaney. You know the deal by now, I’m sure. Pontcanna, nose to tail eating, pasta, frequently changing menus. It’s an eye-catching an opening as Cardiff has had for some time. With Uisce and Heaney’s, Ember At No. 5 forms the third point of The Tommy Triangle, a mystical
The Bone Cartel, Porthcawl: review
On December 19, 2024 by The Plate Licked CleanThere’s an air of anticipation outside The Bone Cartel. I arrive ten minutes before they open and there is already a queue: ahead, a bunch of lads discuss their favourite wing sauces on the menu. One has recently broken a vegetarian streak of over a decade. He does not seem to be in danger of
ASIAD, Porthcawl: restaurant review
On December 2, 2024 by The Plate Licked CleanThe former Cosy Corner’s rebrand (Asiad is ‘Asian’ in Welsh/Cymraeg), puts their love of the area’s flavours right to the fore. Inspiration comes from all over Asia- you might find Thai, Singaporean, Korean, Malaysian, Vietnamese, whatever takes their fancy on a frequently-changing menu. More importantly you’ll find no slavery to ‘authenticity’ here, just a love
Yemeni Crown (fka Socotra Traditional Yemeni Cuisine) City Road, Cardiff: review
On November 26, 2024 by The Plate Licked CleanNOTE: Yemeni Crown was formerly known as Socotra Tradional Yemeni Cuisine Socotra: a legendarily beautiful island off the coast of Yemen. Also: a restaurant on City Road, Cardiff. In Sanskrit it means ‘island of blessing’, which I suppose applies to both areas, if you tilt your head and squint a bit. Perhaps. The island is
This blog is a very simple thing.
I won’t try to sell you any hand lotion, exercise programmes, coffee syrups or Patagonian nose flutes. You won’t find tips on dating, ‘wellness’ or yoga mats.
I write because I love it (and food, as indicated by my increasing girth). Greed happens to be my Deadly Sin of choice, but at least it is never shy of providing me with subject matter.
A simple thing, then: all you get is me wittering on semi-coherently about places I’ve eaten at; hence a ‘restaurant blog’ rather than a ‘food blog’, although there are a few recipes scattered throughout.
From mezze to Michelin ‘fine dining’ and all points in between.