12.06.08 Blas, a taste of Welsh food
Sales and profile of Welsh food and drink were boosted at two of Wales’ biggest events earlier this summer. The sun may not have always shined but the crowds poured into the Blas pavilions at the RHS Flower Show in Cardiff and The Guardian Hay Festival. From fine restaurant meals, tapas and wine to coffee and sandwiches, Blas offered a superb selection of the best produce from Wales. The Blas showcase, a Welsh Assembly Government initiative to promote True Taste award winning food and drink from Wales, is coordinated by Nerys Howell with Capital Cuisine providing the catering. If you missed the experience at the previous shows or want to come back for more, make sure you visit Blas at the National Eisteddfod in Cardiff from the 2nd – 9th August.
08.06.08 Fair Trade to producers
Wales’ reputation as a fair trade Nation was strengthened considerably with the country’s biggest ever Fair Trade conference held in Newport on the 7th June. The aim of the event was to raise publicity for the campaign to seek greater equity in international trade, and to set a minimum price to pay farmers for their products. Nerys Howell played a central part in this important event by hosting a cookery demonstration. She cooked a number of dishes including Fair Trade pasta with organic Pantysgawn goat’s cheese to highlight how Fair Trade, local and organic produce work together. The cookery demonstration was extremely popular, and the event on the whole certainly informed and educated consumers about the benefits of supporting the campaign and buying Fair Trade, organic and local products. For more information: www.fairtradewales.com
30.04.08 The Real Food Festival 24 – 27 April
This is a brand new event, billed as the ‘largest farmers’ market ever’. The event, which is aimed at consumers, is being supported by the Welsh Assembly Government FMDD and our team at Howelfood were successful in our bid to man the stand, preparing tastings and informing consumers about the Welsh True Taste Award winning producers present. Sioned Mair and Sophie worked extremely hard on the stand sampling Welsh cheeses, charcuterie, faggots, mutton, sea salt, welshcakes, beer, water, tomatoes and pate – all Award Winning products! Consumer interest was very high and as always the products were extremely popular!
28.04.08 FHA Singapore 22-25 April 2008
For the first time International Business Wales, FMDD and Hybu Cig Cymru along with 6 Welsh food and drink companies exhibited at FHA (Food Hotel Asia – Trade). Howelfood were asked to set up and run a sampling and display area at the front of the stand, with the aim of encouraging interest in the products, promoting Welsh food and drink distinctively and positively to this new market. Jo Roberts, representing Howelfood, was kept very busy throughout the event cooking Welsh Lamb and sampling Thomos Watkin ales, Llanllyr and Ty Nant Water, Halen Mon sea salt, Cood Carb Granola, Daioni milkshakes and cooking fresh welshcakes on the stand. The event was very successful, with the producers making good progress into the Asian market.
25.03.08 The Food & Drink Expo 2008
The Howel Food Consultancy together with Capital Cuisine has been awarded the important task of creating a distinctive presence under the Wales True Taste banner for the Food & Drink Expo 2008. The Food & Drink Expo is one of the most exciting UK exhibition for sourcing the latest and most innovative food and drink products and services. It will host a large gathering of UK regional food and beverage companies as well as more than 30 international pavilions from all over the world. Nerys Howell and Colin Gray will be using a new concept to showcase Welsh brands and produce will be used for the food show presentation which is based on ‘sushi style conveyer belts’.
A theatre style kitchen will allow visitors to see the Welsh chefs in action while preparing dishes using elements of the exhibiting producers’ ingredients and True Taste Award winning produce. Dishes will then be placed on the conveyer belt extending out, enabling consumers to taste the finished product. The Food & Drink Expo takes place at the NEC in Birmingham between 6-9 April.
29.02.08 Welsh National Opera Falstaff Gala
Nerys has been busily preparing for another St David’s Day celebration. On the first of March this year, Bryn Terfel will be performing Falstaff for the first time in Wales (go to the WNO’s website for more information http://www.wno.org.uk/what.otherPerformance.172.html). Nerys has created a truly operatic Welsh menu inspired by the forest themes of Falstaff and using True Taste award winning produce. As well as this, she has devised a selection of canapés to be served as a prelude as well as during the interludes of the performance. This promises to be a wonderful evening, pleasing all senses!! As a preview of all this, Nerys was featured in the Western Mail Magazine on Saturday February 23 showcasing some of her recipes and an interview showing how a Welsh menu for St David’s day doesn’t have to bee all traditional.
26.02.08 St David's Day Celebrations 2008
The last few weeks have been spent busily preparing for St. David’s Day across the world with Welsh awards winning cheeses, wine, cider and beer going East to Riga in Latvia for an International Business Wales event and more Welsh cheese and laverbread flying further West to New York and Bsoton. As part of the Wales Week USA, Nerys and the team will be working with caterers in New York and Boston to bring a Welsh flavour to menus. Wall Street traders will be given the opportunity of sampling Wales’ only single malt whisky, Penderyn, Patchwork Pate, Cheeses from Abergavenny, Llanllyr and Ty Nant waters and Tomos Watkin beers. The highlight of the week will be an exclusive lunch for food and drink journalists held at Gordon Ramsey at The London in New York. Nerys is working with Josh Emett, the head chef, to develop a menu showcasing food and drink from Wales with contemporary dishes based on traditional recipes
17.01.08 The Tithe Barn project, Abergavenny
Since summer 2007, Nerys and Colin Gray of Capital Cuisine have been working in partnership, on behalf of The Welsh Assembly Government on an exciting project in Abergavenny – The Tithe Barn. As a part of the St Mary’s Priory Centre – the Tithe Barn is being carefully restored into a Heritage Interpretation and visitors’ Centre, and will house a food hall featuring the best of local and award winning produce. The centre looks to be open by May 2008. Colin and Nerys have been working closely with local architects to design a purpose built café and exhibition centre which will showcase True Taste and Monmouthshire produce. They are now looking for suitable companies to manage and operate the food hall. We’ll keep you posted with the latest developments.
17.01.08 Happy New Year Happy New Year, and welcome to 2008!! Hopefully you had a Merry Christmas and a chance to recharge you batteries.As you may know, the Seville oranges season is very short, and on Nerys’ first appearance on Wedi 3 this year, she showed the viewers how to prepare a traditional marmalade, as well as a recipe for a cranberry and orange marmalade. You can watch the programme again by visiting mms://s4c.unique-media.tv/s4c_uk/wedi3/wedi3_tue.asf, or by contacting us via our website, or by phoning Tinopolis television company for a hard copy on 01554 880 880. Nerys will also appear on Wedi 3 on 29 January.
