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Gigi Gao's (Swansea, marina)

I had been interested in trying this restaurant for some time, especially considering the praise it has received for its authentic Chinese cuisine. It has a very colourful and distinct decor, with many charming pandas within view of the main dining room.

I had the fresh mango juice, which was quite sweet and surprisingly had chewy bits at the bottom; it reminded me a bit of Mogu Mogu drinks and was very refreshing.

For the main course I had the griddled duck and vegetable spring rolls - very savoury and delicious. The duck was presented in a hot bowl with a candle for heat beneath, and came accompanied with various vegetables and mushrooms to complement the flavour. My friend also had the salt-and-pepper king prawns, which were very tasty as well.

Finally, for dessert I had the banana fritters; these were quite rich and moreish, with a caramel sauce on top as well. Although fairly small on the plate, I felt like it was a perfect portion and I enjoyed this dish.

I very much enjoyed the food here and look forward to returning!

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On the Rocks (Mumbles)

Last night I went to a really lovely little restaurant in the Mumbles; this place is a bit out of the way since it's near the lighthouse and away from the main town area. However, if you don't mind the short walk then this place boasts stunning views of the bay and also offers dining in a sleek yet welcoming atmosphere with loads of natural light. Here's a photo courtesy of my friend from the outdoor patio:

As a drink to start, my friend and I both enjoyed the "strawberry nojito", a non-alcoholic version of a mojito with a Sentia spirit that is advertised as engaging the feel-good, social parts of the brain. Neurochemistry aside it was a nicely crafted beverage, and the fruit bits at the bottom were enjoyable (if a bit tricky to sip through the straw).

Although this was not obvious to me before our journey here, the main draw of this restaurant (as hinted in the name) is the style of steak delivery they have here. You choose your cut (ribeye, sirloin, or fillet) and then cook it from rare on a hot rock:

Besides being able to cook the steak to your liking, this process creates a multisensory sensation that is just riveting. Hearing the steak sizzle, watching the butter melt onto the rock as the meat absorbs the flavour, and smelling it as it cooks - it's very appetising and stimulating to enjoy.

I ordered the fillet with the 'nduja butter, chimmichurri sauce, and the truffle mac and cheese. This was my first experience with nduja, an Italian pork spread with a bit of spice to it. It made for a really savoury taste that really complemented the butter, and the melted butter on the rock enhanced the experience very much. The sauce was excellent as well - I covered the rare steak with it and it complemented the other flavours well.

My only (and admittedly very minor) detracting thoughts were that whilst the truffle mac and cheese I ordered as a side was quite nice on its own, it might have been a slightly-too-heavy pairing with the steak. I did catch myself a couple times eyeing my friend's chips which looked appetising. Also, her ribeye was much easier to prepare for the hot rock; I struggled at times to cut up my fillet into slices due to its tenderness.

For dessert, I ordered the peanut butter panna cotta with crumbs of banana bread and caramelised banana.

This was a very light dessert, which was nice considering how heavy the main course was. I enjoyed the creamy texture of the dessert as well as the richness of the banana. This was a nice palate cleanser and I enjoyed it very much.

This is a lovely hidden gem nestled by the pier - it's easy to miss due to its unassuming exterior but well worth the journey out. Not the cheapest restaurant (we both ended up paying around £40 for the meal), but I certainly felt that the food warranted the price. I certainly recommend it and look forward to returning in the future.

9.5/10

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The Welsh House (Swansea, Marina)

My latest culinary excursion was to the Welsh House in the marina. I was intrigued by this restaurant, as its ethos from the menu was clearly to champion specifically-Welsh cuisine. Thus, I strived to make my selections as Welsh as possible - and I feel that this made for a unique experience that heightened my appreciation of this country's cuisine.

For a starter, we had the Welsh rarebit. Whilst simple, consisting of melted cheese atop moist sourdough bread, this was a nice savoury first course. The cheese and bread just melted in my mouth, and left me eagerly anticipating the main course.

For the main, I chose the burger with PGI-distinguished Welsh beef. Although the beef was cooked well-done, I was very impressed with how succulent and juicy it was. The chunky sea-salted chips as well were very nice - this was elevated by the extra topping I requested of truffle oil and Italian hard cheese (very much worth the additional £2). This was a pretty straightforward meal, but the presentation was class; I was charmed by the ketchup in its own sealed tiny jar.

Finally, for dessert I ordered the Welsh cakes. This came with raspberry sauce on the bottom, strawberries and a dusting of sugar on top, and a middle part of whipped cream and salted caramel. While researching the menu prior, I found that this caramel sauce was made by the Crwst small business in Cardigan and was flavoured with Penderyn Distillery's cream liqueur. The cakes themselves were a bit crumbly, but the combination of light flavours made this a nice and unique ending to the meal. I usually don't opt for Welsh cakes as a dessert, but it's hard to resist when served with this level of care.

Overall, this restaurant delivers on its promise of highlighting Welsh ingredients and cuisine - I would definitely come back to explore the other options on the menu, and I really enjoyed my experience here. The service was great as well, and our server Elin was very attentive to our needs. A nice choice for a meal out by the marina!

8/10

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Cattle & Co. (City centre, Swansea)

Here's a recent surprise - I went on Friday with a friend to the cinema to watch Inside Out 2 (good film!) and stopped here for food beforehand. As an American expat hailing from the Deep South, I was a bit skeptical and defensive against their advertisement of "authentic American BBQ". Especially considering my previous experience with T.G.I. Friday's garish and inedible mockery of my native country's cuisine, I was prepared to write up a litany of snarks should I have a similar meal.

However, I'm very pleased to report that this establishment does indeed deliver a fairly faithful take on American comfort food. I got the buttermilk chicken/mac-and-cheese dish (topped with bacon, side of maple syrup) with a side of "dusted" fries, and a delightful in-house peach/raspberry lemonade to drink. From my memory this cost less than £20, which was very impressive considering the generous quantity of food on the plate. I couldn't finish it, let alone consider dessert, but thoroughly enjoyed every bite of this.

I wouldn't consider it the most calorie-conscious meal I've ever eaten (par for the course given the cuisine involved), but it was a wonderful surprise and a treat to tuck into. I look forward to returning, and next time I will come with an appetite better prepared for the portion!

9/10

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The Big Nancy Roundup

Apologies for the delay in posting - I recently traveled to Nancy, France for work and hadn't had time to write up about the food experiences I'd had since my last blog entry. Here's a quick summary of what I've had recently to the best of my memory:

JD Wetherspoon, The Bank Statement (Swansea, Wales)

I had heard a lot about the Spoons breakfast from friends, but never got around to trying it - that was rectified in anticipation of my day out at the Big Queer Picnic in Cardiff. I found their breakfast muffin quite generous and filling considering how cheap it was, and it was very tasty. The unlimited hot chocolate that came with it was also delicious (and clearly made with milk and not water!). The breakfast is simple and no-frills, as you would expect with Spoons, but the value simply can't be beat here.

No Sign Wine Bar (Swansea, Wales)

My friends and I had dinner and drinks at the No Sign Wine Bar in the Swansea city centre, and I had the Summer Punch (a delightfully fruity cocktail with Midori and a blend of juices) as well as the chocolate-orange flavoured "alcochoc" (a hot chocolate with Grand Marnier). I'm personally not inclined to finish my dinner with a hot drink but really enjoyed the hot chocolate.

McDonald's (Nancy, France)

I only include my stop at McDonald's here to illustrate how paltry the UK McFlurry is in comparison to the McFlurry in France and America.

Le Capri (Nancy, France)

Without question the culinary highlight of my trip out to Nancy. I thoroughly enjoyed the Apple Sweet cocktail (vodka, raspberry liqueur, pineapple and apple juices, peach syrup, and lime), which was light and refreshing. The steak was very tender, with an interesting chimmichurri sauce as well. The most interesting part of my meal was the dessert - a mirabelle plum-flavoured sorbet. It's quite an unusual taste (at least from my perspective), not quite citrusy but slightly tart. The straight liqueur at the bottom was a surprise!

Brasserie L'Excelsior (Nancy, France)

This was interesting - the main was a grilled leg of lamb, paired with an aubergine topped with mozzarella and tomato. I'm not keen on aubergine, but the lamb was decent. Not my favourite meal from this trip, but I was pleased I got to try specifically-French cuisine. The dessert was excellent, though - Crepes Suzette, flambéed tableside. Very strong orange liqueur flavours, so not for those averse to alcoholic tastes, but a real treat to have.

Honey Coffee and Food (Nancy, France)

I had to cap off my trip to France with a sample of the French toast. Probably my least favourite meal, though, as it was far too sweet for my taste buds. The spiced hot chocolate was very sumptuous, however (and the signature on the foam was a nice touch).

Lefevre Limoine (Nancy, France)

A few souvenirs as well - the unexpected hit here is the Bergamottes de Nancy, a citrus-flavoured hard candy that originates from the region. My friend describes the taste as "perfumey", which is strangely apt. It's grown on me quite a bit.

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Awa Grill House (City Centre, Swansea)

Probably my favourite Mediterranean restaurant in Swansea, the Awa Grill House serves up tasty kebabs and wraps. I ordered the chicken shish (£12), which came with two skewers of perfectly-grilled chicken. From previous visits I recall the lamb kofta being hearty, and I got to sample the chicken shawarma on this trip as well. The grillmasters at Awa clearly know how to cook meat, and the results are always enjoyable.

However, while the food is delicious, the real star of the show here is the expansive and cheap pressed juice bar (all £3.50). There are over 30 options on the menu; some are single juice types and others are combinations of fruits. I opted for the strawberry, orange, and banana juice - a refreshing summery drink that was jam-packed with flavour. I even ordered two!

Highly recommended if you're looking for great-quality grilled meat and Mediterranean food, and a delicious drink to go with it :)

grade: 8/10

8-10 College St, Swansea SA1 5AE

open 7 days a week, 12:00-21:30/22:00

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TGI Fridays (City Centre, Swansea)

(This is from a month or so ago, but my scorching take on an American chain caused quite the stir among my friends and was the impetus to take my food writing a bit more seriously. Enjoy!)

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I was really disappointed by my experience here. We waited over an hour for our food, only for my burger to be incredibly dry and juiceless, totally lacking in any flavour. I ate it out of sheer hunger since we anticipated coming here all day, not because I actually enjoyed my meal. The potato skins I had were black in colour, suggesting they had been overcooked as well (tolerable, but not much better than the frozen potato skins I get at Tesco).

We were also disappointed by the bottomless sesame chicken deal. This is simply false advertising, as the restaurant starts a 90-minute timer when you order and takes nearly 15 minutes to bring each plate of chicken to the table. By definition, "bottomless" means without end - more than a number of plates I can count on one hand. Additionally, the chicken was dripping in unappetising malt vinegar sauce. We requested multiple times that the sauce be left on the side, but this simple ask was ignored by the staff to our chagrin.

I felt that it was also incredibly overpriced - I paid nearly £30 for a two-course meal here. The mocktails alone were £9 - simply not worth it since I can go to any other place on Wind Street to get two good alcoholic cocktails at the same price (where they would not have a slushy consistency that is nearly impossible to drink through a paper straw). Definitely the worst value-for-money I've had in Swansea - I've paid less at many an upscale restaurant in the area for food far better and greater in quantity. None of us in our group plan to return. As the only American in our group, I worry that this is what British people think American food is like. Disgraceful.

grade: 1/10

39-40 Wind St, Swansea SA1 1EE

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Bella Ciao / Turkish Kitchen (both City Centre, Swansea)

Readers will have to forgive the combination of two restaurants in one post; I'm afraid I was not able to blog about both places I visited this week quickly enough (though on the bright side, it meant that I had the privilege to dine out twice!).

My first dining excursion of the week took me and my friend to the brand-new Bella Ciao restaurant on the High Street. This trip was highly anticipated, due to the celebratory announcement in the local press of the owners' expansion into Swansea from their original dining room in Port Talbot. We attempted to visit several weeks prior, but the restaurant had been fully booked for the night with reservation upon reservation. Although we were very happy with the meal we ended up having (at the exceptional Bouchon de Rossi on Oxford Street), I was eagerly looking forward to trying Bella Ciao.

Despite its placement on the High Street, the dining room itself had quite good atmosphere and felt removed from the crowded traffic outside. We were also intrigued by an elaborate spaghetti dish that was prepared right in front of a neighbouring table, and this set the mood right for our meals.

I had the "Bella Ciao" pizza (£14.75), which was basically a margherita pizza topped with prosciutto and rocket. I was very impressed with this pizza, as it was quite delicious and both generous in portion. I love a good wood-fired pizza, and the prosciutto was the perfect topping. I had planned to save my leftovers as the following day's lunch, but couldn't resist the temptation to eat the remainder as soon as I got home. The brownie I had as well was quite nice; a simple and tasteful take on a classic dessert.

I'm happy I've found a good Italian spot to eat at in Swansea, and I look forward to coming back in the future!

total: about £23

grade: 8/10

open 6 days a week (closed Monday)

37 Castle St, Swansea SA1 1HZ

My outing the following night took myself and our friend group to Turkish Kitchen, also on the High Street of Swansea. We chose to come here in honour of our coworker from Turkey, and we had hoped to have a quality meal of Turkish cuisine. Unfortunately, I wasn't as impressed with my meal here.

I had the "mixed shish", combining a chicken kebab with a cut of lamb kofta. It was decent, but not particularly exceptional - I don't feel that there was anything in the meal elevating it above the average kebab shop.

The atmosphere of the restaurant was also poor. There was just too much noise and chaos in the dining room for me to be able to focus on the meal and the conversations happening with my friends. The service was also not too great, with a few orders forgotten and poor communication from staff regarding billing. Although the meal was serviceable and fine for the price, I wouldn't really recommend it as there are better options for this style of cuisine in the area.

total: about £15 (no dessert/starters ordered)

grade: 6/10

open 7 days a week, 11:30-22:30

21 High St, Swansea SA1 1LF

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Pasture (City Centre, Cardiff)

I recently had my 24th birthday, and this coinciding with the end of my first academic year in Swansea felt like a perfect opportunity for a big celebration (and a bit of a splurge). On the highest of recommendations from one of my friends, I decided that a trip to the restaurant Pasture in Cardiff would be a fun outing for myself and the sizable friend group that accompanied me.

Simply put, this place specialises in meat - and lots of it. On making our way to the table, the board of weights caught our eye:

This was for the designated "house cuts" meal, which served a sizable quantity of steak meant for sharing. Although I was tempted by the sheer audacity of ordering the châteaubriand (their finest cut, at a lofty price), I realised that my stomach might not be able to keep up with my appetite and compromised with the fillet (about £32):

Paired with the lighter brown butter bearnaise sauce, the steak was excellent. Although a tad undercooked relative to my personal expectations, it was quite lean and hearty. I felt that the price point was reasonable for the quality of cut.

To accompany this, I ordered the sourdough bread and raw butter (about £4) and the truffle chips with shaved parmesan (about £6). The butter with the former item was superb, with rich and salty notes that I wouldn't have expected normally from butter. However, I noted from the menu that this was farm butter and lacked the usual preservatives and additional ingredients that dull the flavour. I really appreciate the restaurant's commitment to supporting local food and drink purveyors, and this unexpected treat really emphasized that ethos. The chips were great as well, with the truffle oil really elevating the side. A nice accompaniment to the steak.

(An aside not pictured: the virgin coconut and pineapple mocktail [£7] I had upon arrival. Fairly small, but with a curious floral flavour. A refreshing first drink.)

For dessert, the chocolate dome (£9) was the clear favourite among our group. Although the spectacle of watching the chocolate shell melt via heated caramel sauce was part of the fun, the melted dish that remained was quite varied and nice. The bowl consisted of vanilla ice cream, the aforementioned caramel, a hardened chocolate shell, and hazelnut marshmallows hidden under the shell. It was good fun mixing these ingredients together, and each spoonful was tasty and moreish.

We had a fantastic time here. The meal itself was excellent, and the atmosphere of the restaurant was relaxing. It might not be sensible as a place one would visit on the regular at the price point, but it's perfect for a special occasion. (Note that the "house cut" portions of steak and sides easily scale to the triple-digits in price, and plenty of the fine spirits they had on the menu also go for hundreds of pounds.)

The important part of this trip was getting to have a nice time out with my friends, and the great meal just made it that much more memorable.

total: about £60

grade: 8/10

8-10 High St, Cardiff CF10 1AW

open 7 days a week, see restaurant for more details

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The Woodman (Blackpill, Swansea)

Alongside the main coastal road of the Swansea bay leading into the affluent district of the Mumbles, this pub nails the aesthetic of a country kitchen without the cost or the logistical hassle of traveling out to the more remote locales in rural Wales. This was my second visit to this restaurant, having been there once before with a friend and this time as part of an end-of-year function. It was not the organiser's first choice for our group outing, but due to my positive experience prior I was not upset at the decision to venture here instead.

I had the Barber's Smothered Chicken (£15.29) - a deceptively generous skillet of chicken breast wrapped in bacon and cheddar, slathered with a "honey and ale" barbecue sauce. As a dish that combines my favourite types of meat with a simple but tasty condiment, this was the no-brainer choice for me. The chips were nice - salted and thick-cut as one would expect. A fairly straightforward meal of pub-style meat and potatoes, done extremely tastefully.

Although I was physically full from the entree and snacks I had before arriving, the power of suggestion by other guests at the table led me to order from the dessert menu. For this I requested the Sticky Toffee Pudding (£6.49), one of my personal favourite British dishes. As with most good sticky toffee puddings, this was extremely rich and dense yet moreish. The texture was soft and fluffy, with a satisfying melt-in-your-mouth quality. The clotted cream ice cream was a pleasant surprise in its deviation from the usual vanilla flavour to pair with the richness of the pudding itself. The combination of light-and-heavy flavours paired well, and I regret not being able to finish the plate despite my thorough enjoyment of it.

I'd certainly recommend the Woodman for a meal; its affordability, ease of access, and quality cooking make for a fine dinner stop and an excursion out from the city centre. If you can't make it out into the Gower for a true country-kitchen meal, rest assured that the Woodman will deliver a satisfying and delicious version of that experience.

total: £21.78

grade: 8/10

120 Mumbles Rd, Blackpill, Swansea SA3 5AS

open 7 days a week (11:00-23:00 Mon-Fri and 9:30-23:00/22:30 on Sat/Sun respectively)