Some of the best things I've eaten in Cardiff lately

As expected, I’ve been eating a lot lately. 

Here’s a quick round up of the best things I’ve eaten in Cardiff over the last few weeks.

Hellenic Eatery are still smashing it out of their park with their groaning platters of meat and feta-laced salads.

But, it seems like they’re serving a new type of grilled halloumi (£5) which is even more oozy and dreamy than ever. Get involved.

Sugar Ray’s is a friendly little cafe which recently opened in the back streets of Roath. They’ve been serving food for less than a week but their use of first rate local suppliers seems to be paying off.

A bacon cheeseburger (£8) utilised one of Moody Sow's award-winning 6oz patties cooked to a juicy well-done. It was joined by thick cut crispy bacon, a serviceable roll, pickles and melted cheese. 

Their poutine (£2.50 with a burger) saw crisp and fluffy chips drenched in a slightly underpowered chicken gravy and a good scattering of oozy mozzarella and cheddar. I’m yet to try authentic poutine made with cheese curds but this was a tasty substitute. 

Finally, a supremely delicious gooey salted caramel brownie (£3.50) from Cup & Cake Bakery was served hot with a generous glug of double cream. 

During November the super-friendly and super-tasty Early Bird bakery are running Friday pizza nights to showcase the talents of one of their apprentices. 

Their sourdough pizzas combine a flavoursome base with a good crisp & chew and toppings like smoked ham, garlic mushrooms and mascarpone or pepperoni, bacon and hot sauce. The evenings are BYOB too which is always a very good thing. 

I also scoffed one of their malted chocolate brioche doughnuts for the first time and it was unbe-frigging-leivable. You need to get one of these in your gob asap.

Drunken Sailor have been serving up their hotdogs of distinction at Brickstock this month and they’re set to appear at a number of other events around Cardiff in the coming months.

A Dudek (£7) combined a lush Polish recipe free-range pork sausage (with a reassuringly snappy natural casing) topped with curried ketchup, American mustard, tender fried onions and crispy onions.  

A second outlet of Porro has opened on Wellfield Road in Roath. I enjoyed their Italian(ish) food at their Llandaff restaurant and they’ve done a peach of a job on the refurb of the new place. A light snack of fiery nduja on toast (£4) and a Peroni Red kicked ass so I’m looking forward to heading back for a proper meal soon.

I’ve got a habit of drinking watery 2.8% lager from Aldi but I’m being slowly sucked into the craft beer vortex. Nat from the awesome Roath Bottle Shop has been providing us with recommendations from their flabbergastingly large selection of over 300 beers. This could become an expensive habit.

In the last day of my old job, my lovely colleagues arranged a cronut delivery from Cup & Cake Bakery. The Marc de Champagne flavour reminded me of a giant boozy truffle. I ate one for breakfast. I have no regrets. 

I've discovered that Moody Sow's already frigging delicious scotch eggs crisp up a treat in the oven in just 15 minutes.

After a big night out, I had the perfect restorative lunch at Chilli Basil on City Road. A plate of chicken Pad Thai (£5.99) and chicken satay (£3.50) was a bargain for less than a tenner. 

Finally, Le Cafe du Chat Noir’s Croque Madame (£5.95) is always one of my go to bits of comfort food. Just look at that beauty. 

Disclosure: I was invited to the Early Bird Bakery pizza night, all food and drink was complimentary.