Guest blog from my partner, Misia (@safetypin_) It was reported today that Adonis Kebab House in Cardiff has closed following an E.coli outbreak. Five people were affected – one was hospitalised. As far as I’m concerned, this simply isn’t acceptable. E.coli is easily preventable in cooked food. If fresh food is stored and cooked properly and preparation areas are kept clean, it is highly unlikely that an E.coli contamination will break out. But Adonis is not unique in its failure [...]

I love the Food Standard Agency’s hygiene ratings scheme, it was a long time coming – something that has been available in other countries for years, and I’ve blogged about it a couple of times before, here and here. The publishing of these records empowers the consumer to decide whether or not to visit an establishment, based on the standards that their kitchen is being run to, and not by vowing never to go there again when you have a [...]

Cardiff Council’s “Economy & Culture scrutiny committee” this week released a report digging into Cardiff’s night time economy, putting forward some recommendations that will go to the council’s executive meeting later this year. – Calls for a clear strategy and management of the night time economy – Better enforcement of licensing and other rules in the city centre by officers – Business signing up to a ‘standard’ for customer services – Investment in opening up the city centre at night [...]

I like Cardiff Bay. I lived there for a while and it was pleasant, but lacking in community – but I guess that’s what you get when you build 10,000 plaster of Paris carbon copy apartments into a new area that’s inhabited solely by chain restaurants. Cote Brasserie opened in November 2010 to little fanfare, taking over the spot previously filled by the “The Bay”, a Chinese restaurant which – despite being right on the “Sunset strip” of the Bay [...]

TGI Friday’s are celebrating their 25th birthday this year, and Dan from Clic and me were invited down to help them to celebrate in style. Our top tip from the night is to seek out a bartender called “Dan” (pictured above with oranges in his hands) and get him to make you an Old Fashioned. Made of dissolved sugar with bitters then adding whiskey and a twist of citrus rind,  I have sunk many of these whiskey cocktails while on my [...]