Smoke Dawgs by Hang Fire Smokehouse, The Canadian Pub, Cardiff

If it’s not enough that the Hang Fire Smokehouse team have already brought incredible American BBQ to the people of Cardiff, they’ve only gone and brought us kick ass hot dogs too.

Having assembled an Avengers like team of suppliers - Charcutier Ltd, One Mile Bakery, Inner City Pickle & Jones O Gymru – Hang Fire have delivered another of the UK’s hottest food trends right to my doorstep.

Taking place on a separate evening at The Canadian pub to Hang Fire’s BBQ, the inaugural Smoke Dawgs night took place last Wednesday. And, due to it its rip-roaring success, the next event is scheduled for Wednesday 16th October.

Hang Fire's Smoke Dawgs menu is made up exclusively of their interpretations of a number of classic American hot dogs.

All the dogs consist of a sweet, complex flavoured & slightly too dense One Mile Bakery sourdough brioche bun, a well smoked and snappily cased Charcutier Ltd pork & beef frankfurter and a fistful of Jones O Gymru ready salted crisps.

The wieners are then finished off with a colossal quantity of different toppings. There are 6 different ones to contend with including the Hang Fire Smoke Dawg which is topped with 18-hour hickory smoked pulled pork.

I ordered 2 dogs, which is ample for most normal humans. However, I could have tucked away a third if I was feeling greedy…

First up was the Native New Yorker (£6.50) topped with super-golden Sabrett-style caramelised onions and a mound of delicately vinegary and subtly fruity papaya juice sautéed sauerkraut.

Second was the unbelievably good Detroit Coney with cheese (£7) topped with finely ground, immensely meaty and mildly spiced beef chilli, a scattering of diced white onions, a generous squirt of American mustard and a mound of mild Welsh cheddar.

By the time I’d demolished both hot dogs my face was plastered in meat, mustard and onion. However, if the tastiness of a hot dog is correlated with how messy it is then Hang Fire is most certainly onto a winner.

Disclosure - One of the hot dogs was a freebie

The details:

Address - Hang Fire Smokehouse, The Canadian, Pearl Street, Splott, CF24 1PN

Web - http://hangfiresmokehouse.com/

Telephone - 029 2045 3141

Charcutier Ltd, Chaiholics, Urban Diner - New openings Cardiff roundup

In the last couple of weeks a trio of interesting openings have popped up in Cardiff...

Charcutier Ltd

Last week, Carmarthenshire based Charcutier Ltd began selling their piggy-wares at Roath & Riverside markets - they’ll be there on a weekly basis.

On Tuesday, Charcutier Ltd also pulled off the stonking achievement of winning the meat category at The Young British Foodies.

llltud Llyr Dunsford, the owner and founder of Charcutier Ltd, comes from a Carmarthenshire farming family who’ve always cured and processed their own meats. Illtud has also expanded his curing repertoire through experimentation and study (he went on the ridiculously fun sounding Annual Sausage and Processed Meats Course at Iowa State University). As a result, he transforms his pedigree Welsh pigs into a cornucopia of international charcuterie.

I purchased some awesomely beery and sage packed bratwurst. 

I also picked up a fuet (a Catalonian air-dried sausage), fennel seed packed Italian sausages and some immensely meaty bacon. Naturally, I guzzled the last two for breakfast.

The details:

Web - http://charcutierltd.wordpress.com/ 

Tel: 01554 810345

Address - Saturday - Roath Market, Keppoch St, Cardiff / Sunday - Riverside Market, Fitzhamon Embankment, Cardiff

Chaiholics

Chaiholics is the first UK outpost of Singaporean chain Chaitime. Their trendy interior, slick branding, enthusiastic staff and menu of interesting chai lattes are all bob-on.

I ordered a Railway Platform chai, a blend of Assam black tea and spices with a peppery kick, whilst Mrs G ordered a fragrant Truck Stop chai with fennel, cardamon and ginger in the mix. Both were excellent.

Mrs G followed this up with a mango lassi which was lacking a little in mango fragrance and yoghurt sharpness.  In contrast, another friend’s iced chocolate tea was reportedly bloody lush.

The details:

Web - http://www.chaiholics.com/
Address - Unit 6, The Globe, Wellfield Rd, Cardiff

Urban Diner

*Update* - Urban Diner has closed down

Last week, Pontcanna’s Urban Diner was taken over by Cardiff culinary legend Padraig Jones (CV highlights include leading the kitchen of Le Gallois during its peak era and a stint as head chef of Fish at 85).

As we visited during the first few days of opening, it’s understandable things are still probably bedding in. However Urban Diner’s Welsh beef burger-centric menu (with the addition of a few steaks and a whole lobster) reads well.

Mrs G was a big fan of the flavour combinations of her Urban Italian (£10) which incorporated toppings of pesto, mozzarella and crispy parma ham. It was let down a little by the awry burger to bun ratio (pictured above).

My Urban Smokey (£11) comprised of a well flavoured, peppery patty, oozing Monterey jack, spicy barbecue sauce and crisp streaky bacon. However, as the patty was served medium-well it was a bit dry. It would also have benefited from the freshness of a little greenery. 

A side of of hyper-crisp red onion rings (£2.50) were tasty but a little unusual. Mojitos were so good Mrs G ordered 2 and I was once again consigned to the role of designated driver. Lastly, a dessert of a gooey warm brownie (£5) with pistachio ice cream was frigging lush.

The details:
Address - 175 Kings Road, Pontcanna, Cardiff
Telephone - 02920 341 013