Our Review of Cardiff International Food & Drink Festival

When the good people at Visit Cardiff invited me along to the opening day of Cardiff International Food & Drink Festival, I jumped at the chance. So, on a perfect summer afternoon in July, I headed over to Mermaid Quay in Cardiff Bay to check things out.

I’m happy to say that the festival was overwhelmingly good. Firstly, the backdrop of Cardiff Bay was beautiful; a picturesque spot next to still, sparkling water, completed by traders spaciously arranged (the advantages of this can never be underestimated) around a central bandstand that had pleasant live music playing throughout the day. Then, behind the bandstand, was a fantastic little Champagne bar where you could relax and sit away from the main hustle and bustle and soak up the atmosphere.

The craft stalls, farmers’ market and street food were all separated out into little groups, so there was plenty of space to walk around and comfortably sample the fantastic products everyone had to offer. From elderflower Champagne at Field Bar Wine to cheese matured in the mining pits of South Wales, the food was phenomenal and completely unique. A theme across many of the stalls was international cuisine, with a strong Spanish influence.

I was most impressed by the entrepreneurial attitude from all of the traders, and inspired by their very differing backstories as to how they started their companies. Next time you’re at an event, don’t forget to have a bit of a chat, as you’ll be amazed at how interesting their tales are. I was so impressed that I felt I should start highlighting these incredible business owners by naming a trader of the week. The first, Pembrokeshire Beach Food Company, had a really impressive ethos that I couldn’t wait to tell more people about.

The evening was topped off with a fantastic launch party where all the supporters of the event gathered to celebrate its impending success, with a true community spirit at play. I’m reminded every time I visit Cardiff what a fantastic place it is, as I never fail to meet some lovely characters in amongst all of the good quality food and drink.