Review: The Super Lunch Menu at Jamie's Italian Restaurant, Cardiff

Readers of this blog will know that I am a big fan of Jamie's Italian and, in fact, was lucky enough to meet Gennaro Contaldo for a pasta masterclass a couple of years ago.

The Husband, sadly, remains unimpressed with my cooking prowess so taking him out to lunch to try Jamie's new Super Lunch Menu at their invitation was not too difficult.

What I really like about Jamie's Italian restaurants is that there is no 'chain' feel and you can watch your food being prepared so you know it's fresh.

There is always an interesting selection of specials which seem to experiment with tastes and textures in a way that always seems far more creative to me than just relying on popular combinations.

Pasta is freshly made on site and the general vibe of the restaurant is always relaxed but buzzing with a huge bar area and a cocktail menu.  Gennaro, it transpires, has now turned his hand to Mojitos.

Jamie's Italian Cardiff

The new Super Lunch Menu distills all this into a bargain £11.95 for two courses and £13.95 for three courses.  It's more than a taster menu but a little less than the large portions which leave you stuffed and unproductive on your return to the office.

Jamie's Cardiff

The Super Lunch Menu is available from Monday to Friday from 12 pm to 6 pm.

I'm more of a main and dessert girl so the Husband 'volunteered' to share a starter with me. Tempted both by the simplicity of the Tomato Bruschetta (slow roasted cherry tomatoes, whipped ricotta, basil & virgin olive oil) and the warmth of the Pea & Mint Soup (blitzed up pea & mint soup with a dollop of organic yoghurt, lemon zest and freshly baked foccacia), we settled on Silky Pate Bruschetta (Italian chicken-liver pate, pancetta, vin santo & Parmesan).

Our starter - Silky Pate Bruschetta

This was almost too pretty to eat.  The bruschetta had just the right level of crunch, whilst the pate melted in the mouth.  The portion size was generous too.

The Husband chose 'Nduja Rigatoni for his main course.  This was freshly made pasta with a spicy tomato and Cobble Lane 'nduja sauce with sprouting broccoli and cherry tomatoes, with aged Parmesan and extra virgin olive oil.

'Nduja Rigatoni Main Course

Nduja is a Calabrian sausage traditionally made from pork trimmings. Today it is made with pork fat, spices, herbs and spicy Calabrian peppers which give a chilli type heat and a particular red colour.

The Husband found the dish to be extremely tasty with the Nduja sauce adding a gentle but not over-powering heat.

I chose Gennaro's Chicken Club, brioche stuffed with chargrilled, marinated free-range chicken, crispy pancetta, spicy ‘nduja mayo, fontal cheese, tomato & rocket. Now I won't fib, I was hoping for some fries with it but it was a very generous portion and it didn't really need these.

Again, the 'nduja mayo added a very gentle spicy heat to the dish.

Gennaro's Chicken Club

Then it was time to share a dessert and although I was tempted by Jamie's Favourite Lemon Polenta Cake with 'summer berry rippled creme fraiche and lemon zest',  the Husband hinted largely about the Tiramisu, classic coffee flavoured sponge with Marscarpone and chocolate.

This was lovely, generously sized, soaked through with a good strong coffee and a lovely citrus tang from the orange zest sprinkled on top with the chocolate.

Jamie's Tiramisu

We thought the price of the Super Lunch Menu was excellent value with fresh, tasty food just a little bit different from the usual lunchtime fare.  There are also clearly marked vegetarian, vegan, dairy and gluten free menu options to choose from.

Whilst it was a bit of a luxury to be child free, with Whitsun week approaching, Jamie's Italian have a good kids' menu with not a fishfinger or baked bean in sight. I'm not sure what Ieuan would make of that but I think he could be persuaded to try the Baby Organic Beef Burger.  Caitlin has always loved her pasta so Organic Mini Spaghetti & Meatballs will keep her happy.

You can find out more at www.jamieoliver.com/italian/restaurants/cardiff, Facebook or Twitter.  

*We tried the Super Lunch Menu as guests of Jamie's Italian.  All opinions are our own.

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Review: Treat Your Valentine At Beefeater Grill

Now after a certain number of years with your partner (months if you're a celebrity), the romance may well fade slightly and, come Valentines Day, the onus is on the least romantic partner to pull their socks up and prove that they still know how to show their loved one a good time.

If you are a parent and the number of babysitters in your area is somewhere in the region of zero to one, this rekindling has to be done with the kids in tow.

Ieuan is still firmly in his Harry Potter phase

Luckily for the Husband, we were invited to review our local Beefeater Grill, the Walston Castle in Wenvoe in the Vale of Glamorgan.

Conveniently situated next door to a very reasonably priced Premier Inn, the Walston Castle is just a stone's throw from Dyffryn Gardens (National Trust) and just a short drive away from Cardiff and Cowbridge with its designer boutiques and shops.

Founded in 1974, Beefeater is one of those brands that has been around for so long that I suspect it may not always be first choice when thinking of somewhere to eat, particularly given the competition from other food chains like Cafe Rouge, Prezzo, Zizzi and the fast food companies.   It had been such a long time since we had eaten at a Beefeater, we weren't quite sure what to expect.

The large car park is well sign-posted and it is possible to park close to both the hotel and restaurant entrances - always a bonus if you have prams or wheelchairs to think about.

Once inside, we found the restaurant to be spacious, clean and well set out.  There was also some quirky artwork on the walls to give the place a more personal feel.

Don't worry it's true.  Ieuan's checked.

Ieuan's first question to Jane, our server, was whether it was indeed possible to eat there until the cows came home.  Cue a discussion about what time cows come home.  Nipping a discussion of modern dairy farming methods in the bud (since we stayed at Hollings Hill dairy farm last summer, Ieuan regards himself as an expert), we took a look at the menu.

As you might expect, steak is a speciality of the Beefeater, although there are some vegetarian options such as the Veg-Out Burger (£8.99) or the Baked Veggie Enchiladas (£9.79).  We found the menu to be extensive with something for everyone.  You can check the dietary elements of each dish on the Beefeater website which is very handy.

There are a number of choices that are ideal for sharing with your date.  There's Sharing Potato Dippers (£7.99) - potato dippers with melted cheese, spring onions, tomatoes, jalapeños, sour cream & chive and red onion. Or how about Freshly Grilled Tear & Share Flatbread (£4.49) in Chimichurri, Garlic or BBQ Pulled Pork varieties and the Ribs & Wings Combo (£14.49) - sticky duck wings, spiced chicken wings, bourbon BBQ ribs, chunky slaw and chilli & lime seasoned mini corn on the cob with piri piri and blue cheese dips.

On the basis that foregoing a starter entitles you to dessert the Husband ordered the 8oz fillet steak with chunky chips (£19.49) and a herby Chimichurri sauce on the side.  There is a good choice of sauces, for an extra 99p.

The husband was in far too much of a hurry to get to his steak to take a decent picture for me!

All Beefeater steaks are served with half a slow roasted tomato, grilled mushroom, lamb's lettuce, salad and unlimited triple cooked chips or skinny fries.  There is no excuse for not sharing your chips and a very good excuse for your partner to help you clear your plate.

Each steak is hand-cut each and aged for 21 days and Beefeater trains all of their chefs in their very own steak academy.

I ordered Smothered Chicken Melt (£11.29) - chargrilled chicken breast glazed with smoky BBQ sauce and loaded with streaky bacon and Monterey Jack cheese. It came with triple cooked chips, chunky slaw and a side salad.

I was also tempted by the Signature Slow-Cooked Beef Chilli (£9.49) - slow-cooked beef in a mildly spiced chilli sauce served on a bed of basmati rice with spring onions, red chillies, guacamole, sour cream and crisp corn tortilla chips and the Oven-Baked Seabass (£14.49) - seabass fillet steamed in a pouch with courgettes and cherry tomatoes and served on a bed of thinly sliced potatoes with a crunchy Greek salad.

For the children there is an extensive Mr Men inspired menu from £4.49 with plenty of choice. There's also a 16 page activity booklet to keep them quiet whilst you reminisce about your great romantic highlights.

Caitlin and Ieuan had strawberry and chocolate milkshakes and they both had garlic bread to start.

For their main course, Ieuan chose Mr Perfect's Popin Chicken with chips and baked beans and Caitlin chose Little Miss Trouble's Tomato Penne Pasta.  I particularly liked that there is a range of items you can substitute the chips and beans for (although good luck with that) such as an option to have mashed potato or peas.

Having cleared our plates we turned our attention to desserts - and there is a fabulous selection - many just right for sharing. The Husband is always wary of sharing a dessert with me because he claims he only ends up with about 20% of the pudding.  I refute this absolutely.

Anyway,  he chose the Raspberry Bakewell Tart with custard (£5.49) - a slice of bakewell with a light pastry base, raspberry jam, pistachios and almond flavoured sponge, served warm with custard.

I had the Warm Chocolate Brownie (£4.59) - served with vanilla ice cream and chocolate sauce.

Both were delicious and I must confess, not a lot of sharing occurred. There is a large selection of sundaes though which are just right for two spoons.

From the Kids' Menu, Ieuan chose Mr Jelly's Wobble Jelly and Ice Cream and Caitlin picked Funny Face ice cream which came with mini smarties and strawberry laces.

Probably not ideal date behaviour

We really enjoyed our meal at the Beefeater Walston Castle.  The food was fresh and was piping hot. The restaurant was clean and the atmosphere nicely relaxing - no blaring disco music to ruin the intimacy.  The staff were friendly, attentive and good with the kids.  (Big thanks to Jane and Eddie).

Our meal came to £75 for 4 which included a sparkling water, a large glass of Malbec wine (I don't care what the Daily Mail says), two Costa coffees and an extra milkshake each for the kids.

The Husband often visits steak restaurants when working away in London and was favourably impressed with the quality of the steak he received at Beefeater.

Save money on Valentines Cards - get the kids to make them.

We thought the meal was very good value and we would certainly consider going there again. It's a great date-night venue. Beefeater Grill is certainly back on our list of places to eat out.

Now if only I could find that babysitter .....

Further information about your local Beefeater Grill is at www.beefeater.co.uk.  For the Beefeater Walston Castle, telephone 02920 593896 or you can book a table online.

There is also a reward club where you are entitled to a free meal on your birthday, 5 points for every pound spent and 300 points on activation of the card.

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The Best Places To Eat In St Paul’s

With St Paul’s Cathedral being one of the most iconic buildings in the capital, the vibrant atmosphere in the area from sightseers and London folk alike make it the perfect location for enjoying a meal.

Feast your eyes on this list of the best places to grab a bite to eat in St Paul’s:

The Saint

Paternoster Square as seen from St Paul’s Cathedral (Image source Elias Gayles via Flickr Creative Commons)

Situated in the lively Paternoster Square, The Saint Bar and Restaurant is the perfect place to stop for a relaxing lunch after a morning of site seeing. If the sun is shining, then go al fresco and enjoy one of their delicious sharing boards or speciality sandwiches on the outside terrace. The ‘Saint Fish Pie’ also comes highly recommended for the hungrier diner. Click here to find out more.

Barbecoa

When it comes to steak, there is no denying that Barbecoa is one of the best venues in St Paul’s. Using fire-based cooking techniques, and meat of the highest quality, their mouth-watering menu will have you coming back again and again. Located opposite the Cathedral, the restaurant offers spectacular views, not just of St Paul’s, but of the hustle and bustle of the open kitchen as well. Check out Barbecoa on their Twitter and Facebook.

The Trading House

Just a 10-minute walk from St Paul’s Cathedral, The Trading House serves freshly cooked pub food with an emphasis on doing simple dishes well. Housed inside the site of the former Bank of New Zealand, this impressive building and the quirky decor within create a vibrant atmosphere for your dining pleasure. Be sure to try the hanging kebabs! Visit The Trading House to learn more.

Bengal Tiger

Mouth-watering Indian Cuisine (Image source: Pixabay)

Sometimes you just can’t beat a good curry. The Bengal Tiger on Carter Lane is ideally located on a bustling corner between St Paul’s Cathedral and Blackfriars Station. Head here if love authentic Indian cuisine in a lively atmosphere, the chefs at Bengal Tiger pride themselves on their traditional dishes made to their own unique recipes. Check them out on their social media.

Miyama

This popular Japanese restaurant has been serving delectable dishes for over 21 years, and is just a two-minute walk away from St Paul’s on Godliman Street. Miyama is a great place to go with friends – watch in awe as the chefs create freshly made Sushi and Teppanyaki masterpieces right in front of you, and sampling their selection of Japanese Rice wines is a must. Find Miyama Japanese Restaurant on Facebook.

So next time you find yourself in the St Paul’s area be sure to book a table at one of these fantastic restaurants.

*collaborative post

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Brewers Fayre, Barry - A Real Family Affair

Now when you have an extra teenager (lovely cousin Georgia) staying, as well as my very own Dennis the Menace and Minnie The Minx (Ieuan and Caitlin), it's nice to find somewhere that caters for all tastes and appetites.

This is particularly important since Ieuan has the eating habits of an 80 year old, toothless dowager duchess and Caitlin is still in the throes of her 'ice cream with everything' phase. (Please remain calm dental hygenists - the riot act is read regularly about the risks to your teeth about enjoying desserts a little too much).

Happily we were invited by Brewers Fayre to reacquaint ourselves with our local restaurant just a stones' throw (unless you're rubbish at throwing, like I am) from Barry Island (or Barrybados as we almost locals like to think of it).  It is also, handily, right next door to a Premier Inn.

What I like about this particular Brewers Fayre is that it is spacious, immaculately clean and the staff are friendly, upbeat and genuinely look like they are happy to be there. The restaurant is designed with clearly designated areas, a 'zone' for coffee or fizzy drinks, a large bar and a separate area for the carvery.

The menu is vast and it took us a good quarter of an hour to decide what we'd like.  This was also because the kids were happily colouring their Beano Comics and regaling us with the jokes inside.

Because it was a Saturday, the weekly meal deals were not available but even so, everything was reasonably priced.

The kids menu is very good value and, sensibly, is priced according to the number of courses.  Given the generous portion sizes, this means that you're not ordering food that then goes to waste.  You can have a main meal for £3.99, 2 courses for £4.49 or 3 courses for £4.99.

Caitlin chose a strawberry Starslush (like a Slush Puppy) and Ieuan had a chocolate Yazoo (which, 80's pop fans, made me think of Alison Moyet).  Caitlin had tomato soup with crusty bread as her starter and Ieuan had the Gn-achos, cheesy nachos with a tomato dip.

 

Is it just me or do other parents only discover their kids' tastes in meals have changed when they go out to eat?  Caitlin's soup was rapidly dispatched whilst I sat there saying "but you don't usually like soup". "Well," she announced, "I have had it before you know".

For main courses, Caitlin had Popin Chicken (chicken, chips and baked beans) and Ieuan had the Cod-apult (love the Dennis The Menace inspired names) which was crispy cod bites, chips and beans (substituted for peas).  Both meals came piping hot and with a generous portion size.

Cousin Georgia chose the Ultimate Sausage & Mash from the main menu which was a giant Yorkshire filled with Smithfield pork sausages, mash and caramelised onions, all served up with cabbage and gravy (£8.29).

The Husband had Hand Battered Atlantic Cod & Chips, the fish being hand battered to order and served with tartare sauce and a choice of garden or mushy peas (£8.99).  The fish came wrapped in its own paper which I thought was a fun touch.

I was feeling rather delicate and it was one of those days when only comfort food would do so I chose Sausage, Egg & Chips, 3 sausages, 2 fried eggs, chips and garden peas (£6.49).  The sausages were good quality and meaty and the eggs fried just the right side of runny.

For dessert, Caitlin had a strawberry sundae (of course) and Ieuan has the Tricky Mini Doughnuts which came with a dish of melted chocolate sauce and a dish of sprinkles (or hundreds and thousands as we used to call them before we unfortunately had to go metric).  This was also a surprise as, usually, nothing but a chocolate brownie will do.

Georgia had been beaten by the Ultimate Sausage & Mash so I had a cappuccino and was allowed to share the Husband's treacle tart which came nicely warmed and was served with vanilla ice cream (£3.99).

We also had a Diet 7-up, a Diet Coke and the Husband had a pint of Stella. My Diet Coke came with unlimited refills, as did my cappuccino (which was a Costa coffee).

Ieuan pretending to be Usain Bolt.  

 The total bill came to £54.17 which, for 5 of us was very good value indeed.

If I had any quibbles at all, it would be that there are a couple of vending machines aimed at kids which meant that Ieuan had a minor strop because we wouldn't let him play with them, and the radio is piped into the Ladies Toilet quite loudly which is ever so slightly off-putting, although singing along to Katy Perry is a bit of a novelty in that situation.

I would definitely recommend Brewers Fayre as a no-fuss, clean and welcoming eaterie for the family - including the kids!  Good food and great value.  We'll be back.

Further information is available on the Brewers Fayre website at www.brewersfayre.co.uk, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/brewersfayre or on Twitter at www.twitter.com/brewersfayre.

We were invited to dine as guests of Brewers Fayre but all opinions are our own.

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