Prince William, Princess Kate, and Food in Wales

[Ed Wetschler]

What will Prince William and Princess Kate eat in Wales? On the eve of a royal marriage, this is no idle question, for Prince William is not only the future Prince of Wales, but the first prince associated with the W-word who'll actually live there. While he serves in the Royal Air Force on the isle of Angelsey – aka Ynys Mon – the royal couple will stay in a Welsh farmhouse. We envision romantic, candlelit meals a 

deux in an artfully rustic dining room -- but what, exactly, will they be eating in this love nest? For that matter, what are travelers served in the hotels and restaurants? What is Welsh cuisine?

Let us begin, as they will, at breakfast: A traditional day at the farmhouse might start with laverbread, a seaweed paste that's spread on real bread or mixed with oatmeal and fried in bacon fat to form little cakes. Looking at Kate (it's hard not to), we get the sense that she does not eat a whole lot of food fried in bacon fat, but time will tell. Meanwhile, we picture William fueling up, but Kate having one soft-boiled egg and one slice of toast or a little yogurt smuggled in from France. As a certain minister's wife once said, “If you want to keep your Protestant figure, you must eat Protestant portions.”

But what about you, as a visitor to Wales? You can try laverbread and oatcakes at most hotels and restaurants, but rest assured that the hotels and restaurants also serve traditional oatmeal, eggs, bacon, sausages, coffee, tea, toast (top) – the works.

Welsh Rarebit, Caerphilly Cheese

There's a lot of livestock in Wales, and that means a lot of wonderful cheeses, from Caerphilly (right) to goat cheeses to local takes on Cheddar. We expect Kate to nosh on some organic cheese and a crisp, locally picked apple for lunch, or perhaps she'll have a little Welsh rarebit – essentially, a rich sauce of melted cheese, egg yolk, beer, and butter slathered on bread. Delicious, but don't expect to see that reassuring heart-healthy symbol on the menu.

 

For those of you who will not be lunching with the princess, we recommend traditional pubs, where you'll almost always find great cheese and Welsh rarebit (left). If you see Glamorgan sausages on the chalkboard, order them. These sausages are made primarily with cheese and leeks, the national emblem of Wales.

 

But wait, what of poor William? Come lunchtime, Kate's soldier boy will have to settle for the chow served on base. Note to those who are not from military families: Chow in some countries is better than chow in other countries, but in the end, chow is chow.

 

Tea and Scones, Welsh Style

Perhaps around 4 p.m. Kate have a pot of tea with bara brith, the local fruit cake, or perhaps with a Welsh cake, first cousin to the scone, and a bit of jam made by the farmer down the road. Highly recommended, and as a visitor, you'll find these sweet treats are served at teatime in hotels and tearooms.

 

We imagine Prince William staying at the base after he's dismissed for the day so he can have a pint with the boys. Considering the lovely bride who awaits him, this is a real testament to the glories of Welsh ciders, beers and ales. Perhaps he'll order a Tomas Watkin's Crcw Gaeaf; you should, too. Can't say it? You don't have to say it; just point to it and drink it, and you'll be delighted. This is, as the website says, “a choice blend of fuggle and golding hops.” Fuggle -- there's something you don't drink every day.

 

The Right Plaice

Ah, dinnertime: The royal couple's chef will have his pick of great ingredients, including Welsh Black Beef (more grass-fed than the American variety), venison, salt marsh lamb, and Welsh Mountain Lamb. Speaking of lamb, mutton, which has a gamier taste, has made a comeback of late, especially in stews and casseroles. You'll notice those same ingredients listed on menus in the better restaurants. Expect to see words like “organic,” “seasonal,” and “local” – a lot.

 

What about seafood? You've come to the right country, and so have Kate and William: The cold Atlantic waters off the coast of Wales are rich with sea bass, rays, plaice (used in fish and chips), sole, brill, mullet, turbot and more, as well as scallops, crabs, lobsters and prawns. Not to mention cockles and mussels.

The Armless Dragon

Welsh chefs have updated the way they prepare these fine local ingredients, too. In restaurants such as Woods Brasserie and the Armless Dragon in Cardiff, and hotels like the Conrah Country House Hotel in Aberystwyth (try saying the name of that town after a full meal with wine), the chefs are employing 21st-century culinary skills to bring out the best in traditional Welsh ingredients, sometimes creating new fusion dishes that are, frankly, fabulous. At the Armless Dragon, for example, the Woodland Mushroom Ravioli with Welsh Cheese Cream, Fresh Herbs and Parsley Béchamel is both pronounceable and delectable. We're expecting Prince William to do the right thing – that is, to take Kate to dinner there.

 

Nightcap, boys and girls? How about some peaty Welsh whisky, or Wisgi Cimreig. This single malt is made by Penderyn in the town of that name, and it's sure to help you get a good night's sleep. It'll help Prince William and Princess Kate fall into a deep slumber, as well – temptations notwithstanding.

 

For more information on visiting Wales, see VisitWales.com. Also see the royal couple's over-the-top wedding cake.