Bite - a new direction for Cardiff festivals?
Okay so me, this blog and food festivals have had a somewhat chequered history. Whilst I’ve enjoyed the likes of Abergavenny and Taste London, the local Cardiff scene has often left me feeling a little flat.
During the hiatus, the local food scene has come on leaps and bounds, with bright young things coming forward to try their hand at doing something different. Street Food in particular has become a weekly feature, popping up everywhere from Dumballs Road’s Depot to the leafy suburbs of Rhiwbina.
Hand over a couple of quid entry and be transported to Cardiff’s version of Portland - with street trucks plying you with everything from bao buns to roti to gourmet burgers and fried chicken. Yet in recent months there’s been a low level grumbling on social media - was the staggered entry fee fair when trucks often sold out, or closed at seemingly peek times? Why wasn’t there enough seating? Shouldn’t this be a family friendly event? And loudest of all, why should we have to queue for 15 minutes and pay £9 for posh chips when we could get better on Chippy Lane at a third of the price?
It seemed Cardiff was falling out of love with the street food scene and was yearning for something...but what?
Step forward two brave pioneers, both with an impressive pedigree, who want to create a new type of festival and a discussion around what real food is - Phil Lewis (Dusty Knuckle) and Simon Thomas (formerly of Street Food Circus). The premise of Bite Cardiff is simple - free entry, top chefs, £3 a dish.
The line up, released this week, shows they are serious about doing something different and it reminds me of how exciting a food festival can be, with everyone from Cardiff newcomer and Great British Menu alumni Tommy Heaney through to Park House’s Andrew Frost. These are chefs more accustomed to fine dining and I am eager to see what they can achieve on a limited budget and only one dish.
It’s certainly a gamble, with such reputations at stake, and holding it out of town at Llandaf’s Insole Court will mean it’s a very different feel to the city centre or bay offerings.
As someone who has moaned loudly and often about the state of festivals in the city, I’ll be first in the queue to see and hopefully taste the best South Wales has to offer. Perhaps I’ll see you there?
Bite Cardiff will be held at Insole Court, Llandaff from 12pm - 10pm on Saturday 14th July. Entry is free and it is family (and dog!) friendly.
The full line up:
During the hiatus, the local food scene has come on leaps and bounds, with bright young things coming forward to try their hand at doing something different. Street Food in particular has become a weekly feature, popping up everywhere from Dumballs Road’s Depot to the leafy suburbs of Rhiwbina.
Hand over a couple of quid entry and be transported to Cardiff’s version of Portland - with street trucks plying you with everything from bao buns to roti to gourmet burgers and fried chicken. Yet in recent months there’s been a low level grumbling on social media - was the staggered entry fee fair when trucks often sold out, or closed at seemingly peek times? Why wasn’t there enough seating? Shouldn’t this be a family friendly event? And loudest of all, why should we have to queue for 15 minutes and pay £9 for posh chips when we could get better on Chippy Lane at a third of the price?
It seemed Cardiff was falling out of love with the street food scene and was yearning for something...but what?
Step forward two brave pioneers, both with an impressive pedigree, who want to create a new type of festival and a discussion around what real food is - Phil Lewis (Dusty Knuckle) and Simon Thomas (formerly of Street Food Circus). The premise of Bite Cardiff is simple - free entry, top chefs, £3 a dish.
The line up, released this week, shows they are serious about doing something different and it reminds me of how exciting a food festival can be, with everyone from Cardiff newcomer and Great British Menu alumni Tommy Heaney through to Park House’s Andrew Frost. These are chefs more accustomed to fine dining and I am eager to see what they can achieve on a limited budget and only one dish.
It’s certainly a gamble, with such reputations at stake, and holding it out of town at Llandaf’s Insole Court will mean it’s a very different feel to the city centre or bay offerings.
As someone who has moaned loudly and often about the state of festivals in the city, I’ll be first in the queue to see and hopefully taste the best South Wales has to offer. Perhaps I’ll see you there?
Bite Cardiff will be held at Insole Court, Llandaff from 12pm - 10pm on Saturday 14th July. Entry is free and it is family (and dog!) friendly.
The full line up:
- Stephen Terry of The Hardwick restaurant
- Jamie O Leary of JOLS restaurant
- Tom Furlong of Milkwood restaurant
- Tommy Heaney of The Great House restaurant
- Ceri Johnston of The Early Bird bakery
- Matt Waldron of The Corran Restaurant
- Deri Reed of The Warren restaurant
- Lia Moutselou of Lia’s Kitchen
- Illtud Dunsford of Charcutier LTD
- Andrew Frost of The Parkhouse restaurant
- Thom O Sullivan of Spit & Sawdust restaurant
- Phill Lewis of Dusty Knuckle restaurant
- Monserrat Prat of La Cuina restaurant
- John Cook of the DIRT supper clubs
- Simon Wright of Wrights Food Emporium
- Jon White of The Two Anchors pop-up
- Neil Patel of the Vegetarian Food Studio
- Ben Moss of The Parsnipship
- Antonio Simone of The Humble Onion
- Abi Dymmock of Jack & Amelie meals for kids
- Krish Pankaj of Keralan Karavan
- Vicky of Shawarmawarma
- Michelle Evans of Slowpig
- Aled of Mister Laverman
- Darren Lewis of Mr Croquewich
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