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My name is Rhys, a first time dad blogging about my adventures and experiences of being a parent. [email protected]

Wales’s biggest free food festival reveals line-up

Cardiff Food and Drink Festival

Serving up some of the tastiest treats in town and an eclectic line-up of local musicians, Cardiff Food and Drink Festival is back in Cardiff Bay for summer 2024 – and it promises to be a real feast for the senses!

Taking place in the Oval Basin from Friday July 5th– Sunday July 7th, Wales’s biggest free food festival supports more than 100 small businesses including festival favourites like The Mighty Softshell Crab, Café Cannoli, and bringing their garlicky goodness all the way from the Isle of Wight, The Garlic Farm.

There are also plenty of local heroes to celebrate, whether it’s renowned Cardiff eatery, Purple Poppadom’s street food with an Indian twist, Samosaco’s vegetarian and vegan snacks -including their famous Onion Bhaji Scotch Eggs – or the dangerously delicious premium brioche doughnuts and cookies baked by Cardiff Dough & Co less than 5 miles from the Festival site.

Notable new faces at the festival this year include Artur Brew & Co, a new independent microbrewery that have been selling high quality craft beers from their base in Crickhowell since April this year. If you’re in the mood for mead, make a beeline for fellow festival first-timers Hive Mind Mead who make their drinks from honey collected across the Wye Valley.

Also making their festival debuts are Franks Hot Dogs – award winning Gloucester Old Spot Hot Dogs and Currywurst, from the people who brought you Grazing Shed. And for a taste of luxury, check out Rutab Dates for handcrafted Medjool dates stuffed and coated with chocolate.

Macarons – just some of the fabulous food on offer at Cardiff Food and Drink Festival.

The bandstand will be in full swing throughout the festival as local musicians including Shop Girls, Mr Tea and the Minions, Juno, Nookee, Zong Zing All Stars and Swingin’ Bill’s Vintage Revue take to the stage. Expect anything from ska-folk and funky grooves, to jumping jive and euphoric central African dance music.

This year, visitors will have the added bonus of being able to catch one of the free pop-up street performances, taking place around Cardiff Bay as part of the Unity Festival 2024, on Saturday 6thand Sunday 7thJuly.

And the fun doesn’t stop there – Cardiff Harbour Authority will be at the festival, offering visitors the chance to get away from the hustle and bustle of city life by taking a free, virtual tour of the history and wildlife of the isolated Flat Holm island which sits out in the Bristol Channel.

Entry to Cardiff Food and Drink Festival is free and no ticket is needed. The festival opening hours are:

Friday: 12:00 – 22:00*
Saturday: 11:00 – 22:00*
Sunday: 11:00 – 19:00

*Street Food Piazza and Bars are open until 22:00, while Farmers Market and Producers Fair close at 21:00 and trade stalls close at 19:00.

 

Full List of Traders

Farmers Market

Antur Brew Co Independent microbrewery from Crickhowell selling high-quality craft beers
Babita’s Spice Deli Vegetarian & vegan Indian deli snacks
Baker Bears Baked goods from Caerphilly based bakery including cupcakes, cakesicles and tray bakes
Bang-On Brewery Ltd Craft beers from Bridgend
Bee Welsh Honey Honey and beeswax from Builth Wells
Bil-Tomms Biltong ltd South African style cured beef Biltong
Bloom Sugar Cakes Cookie pie slices, massive cookies and cookie bars, in a variety of flavours.
Blueberry Hill Preserves Small-batch chutneys, jams and marmalades – handmade using artisan ingredients in the heart of Yorkshire
Cardiff Dough and Co Cardiff made brioche doughnuts and cookies
Cascave Gin Premium artisanal gins inspired by the Brecon Beacons
Celtic Spirit Co The oldest spirit company in Wales, producing high quality spirits & liqueur drinks
Chock Shop 15 different varieties of Belgian chocolate brownies and blondies
Croatian Fine(st) Farmer & Artisan Food and Drink Artisan Croation fine food
Cwm Deri Wines and Liqueurs Wines and liqueurs crafted in small batches in West Wales
Dimkin’s Patisserie Handmade French macarons
Doughnutterie Selection of artisan doughnuts
Drinks Kitchen Non-Alcoholic Aperitif Award-winning non-alcoholic aperitif from Somerset
Express Brazilian Food Brazilian savoury baked goods
Fat Bottom Welsh Cakes Welsh Cakes in a variety of traditional and non-traditional flavours
Freda’s Peanut Butter Artisan flavoured peanut butter in 8 varieties, made in Cornwall
Gilly’s A unique range of oil free Balsamic dressings and miniature gift sets
GingerBeard’s Preserves Large range of artisan preserves
Gourmet Gower Fudge 35 varieties of handmade fudge & nougat
Gwatkin Cider Herefordshire Cider, perry, apple juice and cider brandy
Gwynt y Ddraig Cider Traditionally made bottled Welsh ciders
Harrison & Griffiths Ltd The finest Jamaican rum cakes available in 3 strengths
Isaac Poad Award-winning bottled beer, spirits & ready to pour cocktails.
Jamaica Blue Mountain® Coffee Ms. Tita Jamaica Blue Mountain coffee beans
Jethro’s Marinades & Sauces/Artisan Camper Pork Crackling Irresistible chilli sauces, marinades, chutneys and pork crackling in 10 different flavours
Lucelas Chocolate Rum Award-winning luxurious chocolate hand blended with Rum
M&M Beverages Ltd Buzbee’s Premium Tonics made with Welsh spring water, honey and all natural ingredients.
Marie Cresci’s Cheesecakes Cheesecakes pots and cheesecake profiteroles with a dipping sauce, homemade in Ammanford.
MKS Food Distribution Selection of Mediterranean sweet and savoury snacks including olives, nuts, Turkish delight and baklava
Northern Brownies Chocolate brownies in a variety of flavours, made in Leeds
O’Donnell Moonshine High proof moonshine and a range of delicious liqueurs
R&G Thai Curry Paste Authentic Thai curry pastes, ranging from very spicy to very mild.
Ralph’s Cider LTD Traditional farmhouse cider and perry
Rickard’s Cornish Biltong Award-winning hand-crafted Cornish beef Biltong, Droewors and chilli bites.
Rowlestone Farm Ice Cream Range of hand-crafted ice cream and sorbets in a selection of traditional and unique flavours.
Rutab Dates Handcrafted luxury Medjool dates stuffed and coated with chocolate.
Samosaco Vegetarian and vegan snacks including Samosas, Bhajis, Pickles, Chutneys, Sauces and the famous Onion Bhaji Scotch Egg
Seasons Coffee House and Cakery Homemade cakes and bakes
Singh’s Kitchen Ready to eat Indian meals
Sizzlers – Prime Meats British game, rare breed and exotic meats.
Spirit of Wales Distillery Handcrafted spirits, gin, rum and vodka – distilled in Newport
Tan Rosie Authentic Caribbean food products, from spices to sauces, made from the freshest ingredients
Tarsier Southeast Asian Spirit Gin inspired by Southeast Asian flavours
The Artisan Pastel de Nata and savoury pastries
The Finest Fudge Co Homemade fudge slabs, made using the finest ingredients
The Pudding Wagon Gooey Chocolate Brownies in a variety of flavours
The Sawley Kitchen Award-winning shortbread, vintage biscuits and giant meringues
The Twisted Curry Co Curry & marinade spice kits to cook at home
TORS Vodka Premium vodka and vodka liqueurs, by the bottle
Ty Caws A selection of British artisan cheese and accompaniments
Wiltshire Chilli Farm Award-winning homemade chilli sauces, jam, spreads, salts, seasonings and even chocolate!
Yau’s Healthier oriental sauces made from authentic recipes

 

Producer’s Fair

 

Beth’s Bakes A variety of blondies, brownies and cupcakes.
Boba Buzz Taiwanese bubble tea – a fruit flavoured drink served with popping juice balls.
Butternut Box Range of fresh dog food, cooked like you would at home.
Cafe Cannoli Award-winning Sicilian cannoli
Churtopia Lemonade Homemade slightly sparkling lemonade
Continental Cottage Ltd A wide range of German Salamis
Emburs Dessert Bar Unique, handmade confectionery from Pembrokeshire
Flo and Frankies Fudge Handmade Fudge and liquorice
Hensol Castle Distillery Award-winning Welsh spirits from Hensol Castle in the Vale of Glamorgan.
Hive Mind Mead & Brew Co Mead made from honey collected in the Wye Valley
hotroastednuts Cinnamon roasted nuts and Italian liquorice
Kin Toffee Vodka Blended vodka hand mixed in the heart of the Lake District
Lisa’s Luxury Cheesecakes & the Crazy Bakes Homemade cheesecakes, cookies, brownies and more – made in Cardiff
Llanfaes Dairy Ice Cream Artisan ice cream, made in the Brecon Beacons
Ridiculously Rich by Alana Indulgent brownies and cakes, made in Wales using the finest ingredients
Riverford Organic Farmers Organic fruit & veg box home delivery service and online farm shop
Shepherds Ice Cream Sheep’s milk and plant-based ice-cream from Hereford
Sunrise Patisserie Portuguese custard tarts
The Bath Soft Cheese Co. Artisan hand-made cheese, made using milk from a single herd of dairy cows
The Blaenafon Cheddar Company Ltd Award-winning international & Welsh champion handmade cheeses
The Garlic Farm Specialising in everything Garlic, grown in the Isle of Wight
The Great British Cheese Company Award-winning British cheese and chutney

 

Street Food Piazza

Bamboo House Malaysian Cuisine including Sambal chicken and Rendang chicken
Bao Selecta Fluffy steamed bao buns, loaded with a range of fillings and dressings
Caribbean Cuisine Classic Caribbean dishes including jerk chicken, mutton curry, ackee’n’saltfish & rice’n’peas
Churros Hermanos Fresh, organic and vegan Churros, drizzled with melted Belgian chocolate
Cwmpistyll Welsh Black Beef & Lamb Quality, home reared Welsh black beef burgers, lamb burgers, sausages & bacon.
Franks Hot Dogs Award winning Gloucester Old Spot hot dogs and Currywurst
Giovanni’s in the Bay Freshly prepared Italian food and desserts
Happy Dumpling 365 Traditional Chinese cuisine including dumplings, bao buns and Chinese doughnuts
Hogi Hogi Hogi Classic combination of Welsh pork, stuffing, apple sauce, crunchy crackling
Keralan Karavan Southern Indian street food from Cardiff’s finest
Le Coq Buttermilk fried chicken served in a variety of ways
Mac Daddies Gourmet Mac and Cheese Gourmet mac and cheese with incredible toppings
Meat And Greek Fresh souvlaki – toasted pitta breads packed with succulent charcoaled chicken or pork on skewers
Morgans Family Butchers Steaks, beef burgers and lamb burgers made using the finest Welsh lamb and beef reared in Builth Wells
Nixon Farms Slow roasted Welsh black beef, lamb or pork served with ‘proper’ chips.
Purple Poppadom Indian inspired street food featuring Kerala fried chicken and bombay fries
Taste of Persia Variety of freshly prepared kebabs, Persian stews, falafel and Persian sweets
The Dough Thrower Firewood pizza topped with house made tomato sauce
The Hellenic Eatery Traditional Greek flavours including gyros and halloumi wraps
The Mighty Soft Shell Crab Soft-shell crab tempura served with homemade sweet chilli sauce
The Spanish Buffet Ltd Authentic, traditional Spanish paella and tapas made with quality ingredients
The Welsh Creperie Co Authentic sweet and savoury French crepes

 

The Bandstand

  Friday 5 July   Saturday 6 July   Sunday 7 July
12:00 Juno 12:00 Batwkee 12:00 Nookee
13:00 Shop Girls 13:00 Mari Mathias 13:00 Swingin’ Bill’s Vintage Revue
14:00 J4 14:00 Jump Sturdy 14:00 Fiesta Resistance
15:00 Kingman Project 15:00 The Sun Kings 15:00 Nookee
16:00 Mr Tea and the Minions 16:00 Batwkee 16:00 Swingin’ Bill’s Vintage Revue
17:00 Juno 17:00 Zong Zing All Stars 17:00 Fiesta Resistance
18:00 Shop Girls 18:00 Mari Mathias 18:00 Nookee
19:00 J4 19:00 Jump Sturdy    
20:00 Kingman Project 20:00 The Sun Kings    
21:00 Mr Tea and the Minions 21:00 Zong Zing All Stars