Surprising Xmas Cake Recommendation!

Not a place I would ever think of recommending for a cake experience, but the cafe upstairs in Debenhams in the Quadrant, Swansea served up the best slice of Stollen I have ever tasted! Definitely what is needed to revive after Xmas shopping. Get it while you can - can only assume it will be gone by the New Year sales...

let us eat cake!

OK, so Christmas is coming (mince pie survey, anyone?), but it really is about time there was another picture of cake! This rather charming piece of banoffee pie was served at the Cliff Hotel, Gwbert-on-Sea

Llanelli

Another good place for cakes is the Millenium Centre on the Millenium Coastal Path at Llanelli. The building is shaped like a ship, with cafe on first floor. Good selection - flapjacks, Welsh cakes & coffee cake can all be commended

St Davids

The newly refurbished Refectory at St David's cathedral had a fine selection of cakes - I had the fruit loaf which was very rich and moist and rather wonderful and the chocolate brownie was also extremely lush! In fact, here is a pic from their website to illustrate... Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm!

Stacpole Cakes

As part of a weekend of over-indulgence, I sampled 2 tea rooms in the Stacpole area of Swansea. First of all, Ye Olde Worlde Tea Room in Bosherston. They served up an excellent cream tea with clotted cream and real leaf tea. There isn't a vast range of cakes and nowhere to view what is on offer as you ring at the door to get service in the garden, but their cream tea was to be recommended and they were also still serving around 5.30pm so we were very grateful for that!

Secondly, the National Trust tea room at Stacpole Quay - their range of cakes was incredible. I sampled a fine Lemon Drizzle and my companion had a wonderful chocolate brownie. Highly recommended! And they also do very nice cappuccinos.

Comfort Zone, Narbeth

The Comfort Zone in Narbeth had an excellent range of cakes on Bank Holiday weekend - almost too many to make a decision and a return trip is necessary to do them justice. I tried the Carrot & Mango Cake which was absolutely delicious: pretty much a moist, home-baked carrot cake (no creamy topping or filling), but with an extra mangoey dimension. Highly recommended and the cafe itself was lovely too with good service.... My companion had a scone which was also very good.

Llandovery Cake: Part 2

Another excellent cake stop discovered in Llandovery: the Penygawse tea room. A superbly large pot of tea (Darjeeling) per person and a wonderful choice of cake. I had the scone: instead of being "giant" as described, I got 2 smaller ones which felt like very good value. The jam was lovely. The chocolate brownie was very nice as well - not too dense but with choc chips. Excellent service too. Just what you want after a walk round the Usk Reservoir.



And a big black mark for Trecastle's so-called Tea Room: "Closed" by 4.15pm on a Sunday but with all their advertising blackboards still out on the road to lure people in. Definitely won't be bothering with them again. Sniff.

Carreg Cennan Castle

A very fine carrot cake indeed at the craft shop and cafe at the foot of Carreg Cennan Castle. Not too much creamy icing - just a layer on top - and very wholesome cake indeed. Just what was needed after a scorching 4 mile walk round the castle on a very hot day.


Just experimenting with a map of where it is from Wikimapia:

This map shows where some of our favourite cakes live!
In its original form it is interactive (!), but you'll just have to make do with looking at this one.
All we need now is some pictures of cakes!!! (oooh!!!)

Banana and Honey Loaf

The best cake I have had this year! Found at the Quarry Shop Cafe in Machynlleth last week. A simple loaf but perfectly moist and fresh. The honey made it sweet but not overpowering. All their cakes looked lovely but this - er - took the biscuit.
Sam

and more!!

Wonderful carrot cake roulade in the craft centre cafe Llandovery

Cakes in Wales

Well of course there are welshcakes, many of excellent quality! My favourite Welsh cakes are from Swansea market, 6 in a bag, still warm, with a generous shake of sugar.....yeh, the sugar is crucial!! My mother used to make them on a griddle -not done nowadays (where's me zimmer?!). But - we must mention Bara Brith!! Not everyone's choice, but I adore it so long as there are many succulent raisins and copious butter!

Good places for cake in Wales:

1) Pennard cafe: home-made, very large slices.
2) Blue Creek Cafe, Aberystwyth: banana cake, dusted with cocoa....
3) cafe in Newton House, Parc Dynefwr, Llandeilo : good for coffee sponge
4) Blackpool Mill, nr Haverforwest : succulent bara brith!