We're heading over the Severn Bridge this weekend to the Abergavenny Food Festival. We'll be doing a children's workshop 'Blas O Gymru' (A taste of Wales) on Saturday morning.
I was born and brought up in South Wales and I'm delighted to be cooking some of the recipes familiar from my childhood. People often ask me who taught me to cook. I honestly can't remember being 'taught' cooking at all (apart from uninspiring domestic science lessons in school). What I do remember is watching my mother and grandmothers whilst I was drawing or playing in the kitchen and being recruited to stir the gravy whilst Sunday lunch was dished up. My maternal grandmother, Mary, was a very good home cook and I still wonder how she managed to produce delicious tarts and pies from a very temperamental Rayburn. My mother recalls her family keeping pigs and how they used every bit of the pig in good 'nose to tail' fashion. By the time I came along, the pigs had gone, but my grandmother still made her own faggots, the taste of which I've been unable to match. She prized her bakestone and arrival at her house was often greeted by the sweet spiced smell of Welsh cakes. I also recall Teisen Lap, a pale lightly fruited cake which she made when she had milk or cream that had soured.
Travelling Kitchen aims to inspire a new generation to cook but also to explore how their own history and background has influenced what they eat. We're looking forward to hearing the family recipes of the participants of the Abergavenny workshop and what Welsh dishes and ingredients they like to eat and cook with. The workshop is from 10.00 until 12.00 at the Dome in the Castle on Saturday 16th September and is free with a festival wristband. The workshop is for 7 to 12 year olds and is on a first come first served basis (arrive from 9.45am to register) Come along and say hello! More information can be found on http://www.abergavennyfoodfestival.com/programme/blas-o-gymru-travelling-kitchen/