The One Mile Bakery, Pontcanna Review

When Mrs G and I were lucky enough to get on the property ladder it was a two way battle between joining team Penylan or team Pontcanna. Both areas ticked all the right boxes for Mrs G; old houses with period features; plenty of coffee shops and most importantly a wide range of nicknackeries to feed her tat purchasing habit. Penylan eventually won and it’s a decision we’ve been very happy with……until today.

For today, we received a delivery from The One Mile Bakery.

Open for only two weeks, the One Mile Bakery produces homemade bread, soups and preserves which are delivered by bike or foot to within a one mile radius of proprietor Elisabeth Mahoney’s house in Pontcanna. The bakery works on a subscription basis (minimum one month subscription). Everything is fresh (our bread was still warm when we received it), seasonal (the bread contained Wild Garlic from Llandaff fields), locally sourced (see previous brackets) and most importantly delicious.

It’s probably worth talking about the bread first. After all it is a bakery. Both the wild garlic pesto loaf and the cheddar, chilli & coriander bread were stunning. Both warm and soft, the wild garlic pesto loaf was streaked with bags of mild garlicky goodness whilst the other loaf was flecked throughout with nuggets of cheddar, chilli and garlic. You can tell a loaf is good if you’ll happily munch it on its own. I ate half of each loaf.

Spring minestrone was the season of new life in a bowl; fresh, light, clean and full of greenery. The peas, French beans, celery, artichokes and conchigle all had the right amount of bite. And, a swirl of mint and almond pesto brought the dish alive with a wallop of flavour.

A final mention should go to the strawberry, rhubarb, vanilla and lavender jam. Having decided it was probably a sensible option to not have any more bread for dessert, I began to spoon it into my mouth straight from the jar.  It’s some of the nicest jam I’ve ever eaten; a perfect balance of fruit, fragrance and sweetness.

Before you start getting too excited, you need to know whether you live in the one mile radius of the One Mile Bakery. However, before you start holding a ruler up to Google Maps, I think as long as you’re in Pontcanna, Llandaff or Canton you’re probably in. You can also collect from the bakery itself. As for Penylan? Well, I’m 4.2 miles away so I’m well and truly out.

Now you can see my quandary. Do I sell up immediately and move to Pontcanna? Or do I pray that the one mile bakery becomes the four point two mile bakery? 

I was kindly sent complementary samples of The One Mile Bakery’s products.

The details:

Web: http://www.onemilebakery.com

Address: 21 Syr David's Avenue, Cardiff, CF5 1GH

Telephone: 07939 211809

Pettigrew Tea Rooms, Cardiff Afternoon Tea review

David Le Masurier ‘s inspirational story is an example of someone who has pursued their dream. In 2010 he packed in a successful career in the hotel industry with the intent of establishing a traditional British tea room. Two years later Pettigrew tea rooms opened in the gate house of Bute Park.

David’s story isn’t unique. Other people pluck up the courage to follow their dream on a daily basis. What is unique is that David shared his journey via his compelling blog – iwanttobakefree.blogspot.co.uk. Before I’d even visited Pettigrew tea rooms I was emotionally invested in the place. I was rooting for it to be fantastic. Thankfully it doesn’t disappoint. And the owner is just as affable in the flesh.

Pettigrew tea rooms is a slice of old fashioned British charm. Wooden display cabinets are filled with freshly baked cakes and loose leaf tea, and mismatched teaware and bunting all add to the vintage feel.

3 out of the 4 of us ordered the Pettigrew afternoon tea (£13.50 for one, £24.95 for two). This buys you a bucket load of food and drink: a choice of loose leaf tea, a selection of finger sandwiches, two scones with jam and clotted cream, and your chosen slice of cake.

I ordered a pot of Angel Peach tea; a refreshing blend of green tea with a taste of peach. Mrs G and Mrs G’s mum enjoyed their pots of pot pourri-esque Lavender Grey and seriously fruity wild berry blend respectively.

Finger sandwiches were on the nail. The bread was soft and the quantity of filling generous. Our selection included egg mayonnaise (with a welcome dash of salad cream), cheese & tomato, smoked salmon & cream cheese, ham & English mustard, and cucumber.

Mrs G’s sister rated her beef and horseradish sandwich (£5.45).

Next up were the scones. Even though the scones were a touch on the dry side, a generous dollop of fruit rich strawberry jam and indulgent clotted cream provided some welcome moisture. Having been advised to save room for our slice of cake, we each doggy bagged our second scone.

Saving some stomach space for cake was certainly sound advice. Pettigrew’s cakes are the star of the show. Freshly baked on the premises by a rather talented young baker, every cake on display in the retro glass cabinet looked equally tantalising. Thankfully we each settled on a different one.

My Victoria sponge was light and packed with strawberry jam and butter icing.

Mrs G’s lemon drizzle cake was as moist as can be with a delightfully sharp and oozing lemon icing.

The mother in law’s banana and pecan cake was a dense banana hit with a good background note of pecan.

Finally Mrs G’s sister ‘the self appointed carrot cake connoisseur’ gave her doorstop of carrot cake her seal of approval.

By the end of this tea and cake marathon I was suffering from the cake sweats.

As far as quintessentially British afternoon tea experiences go in Cardiff, Pettigrew tea rooms takes some beating.  

The details:

Address - Pettigrew Tea Rooms, West Lodge, Bute Park, Castle Street, Cardiff, CF10 1BJ

Web - http://www.pettigrew-tearooms.com

Telephone - 02920 235 486