Welsh Country - Issue88 - May - Jun 19

Market Dates
not to miss
Aberystwyth Farmers’ Market
North Parade
4 th and 18 th May
1 st and 15 th June
from 10am - 2pm
.................
Cowbridge Farmers’ Market
Arthur John’s Car Park
4 th and 18 th May
1 st and 15 th June
from 9am - 1pm
.................
Lampeter Peoples’ Market
Victoria Hall, Lampeter
11 th and 25 th May
8 th and 22 nd June
from 10am - 1pm
.................
Myddfai Farmers’ Market
Myddfai Community Hall
29 th May and 26 th June
from 9am - 1pm
.................
Penarth Farmers’ Market
West Bourne School
25 th May and 22 nd June
from 9am - 1pm
Still hot from
the kitchen
'April showers
bring forth May flowers’
even though the seasons are a little topsy-turvy at the
moment, there’s talk of strawberries being up to a month
early, for goodness’ sake!! - it’s the time of year when we can
look forward to a whole bunch of good things and not only
flowers, although elderflower fritters are a terrific seasonal
treat!! Top of my list has to be British asparagus, which I will
use in every way I can for it’s all too brief season, and at NO
other time of year!! There’s a lot of truth in the old saying
that one should first put the water on to boil, run down the
garden, cut the asparagus and run back even faster to boil and
eat it. Whilst we may not all have a garden and for sure air
freighting it half - way around the world does asparagus no
favours, so please make the effort to enjoy it at its best. Team
it up with some of our wonderful Pembroke earlies, or Gower,
if you must! to accompany the Prince of Welsh fish - sewin
or sea trout - May sees the start of the netting season and I
urge everyone to support our fishermen. It’s a way of life that
is sadly fast disappearing and our tables are the poorer for it.
Look out, too for local crab and lobster, we don’t want to lose
it all abroad!! Simplicity is the key here, please don’t mask
Nature’s good handiwork with too strong flavours.
It’s the time for the earliest of broad beans and peas a little
later, then the rest of the Summer veg comes in, a cook’s
delight, courgettes, summer cabbage and salad leaves to
stimulate the creative and gastric juices. Use them wisely to
accompany Summer lamb and grass-finished beef, too, or just
enjoy them for their own sake.
Those most British of fruits, rhubarb, gooseberries and
strawberries will follow each other in delicious succession, each
with their own devoted following and favourite serving ideas
and there may even be a few early cherries around, too late for
the Easter duck, alas, but a promise of good things to come.
Do keep a look out for Farmers’ Markets and Food
Festivals too, there’s often a chance for a tasting before you
buy and you never know, if you’re in the right place, I may
even be there to cook it for you!
Happy cooking, and eating, too!
Gareth Johns is chef at
The Wynnstay Hotel, Machynlleth, Powys
Picture: Charles Dark
Gareth
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