We had a superb night in The Carreg last night. As you may know it was Narberth Food Festival over the weekend and to finish the whole event off, we had a wonderful evening with the wonderful Angela Gray making delicious canapés, our lad Jethro preparing the starters, renowned celebrity chef, Steven Terry on main courses and another Narberth culinary master, Carl from The Bridge preparing desserts and petits fours amongst other chefs pitching in. My belly is still full to bursting this morning! We also had author stroke food critic stroke TV star stroke restaurateur stroke generally nice guy, Simon Wright in the restaurant with some wonderful friends and family with him, including another superb chef who has graced TV, Peter Jackson from North Wales.

All in all, it was very much a who’s who of celebrity chefs in The Carreg last night! I really would like to extend my thanks to every fantastic member of Narberth Food Festival, The Carreg Crew for working so diligently, everybody who graced us with their presence in The Carreg last night and Jackie Pallitt who arranged the whole evening. I described Jackie when speaking last night as a ‘social laxative’ as when she enters a room, things really get moving! I meant it entirely as a compliment, Jackie, and I trust you know how fondly I think of you!

Pictures of the event will shortly be on our page on facebook, so if you haven’t joined ‘The Carreg Restaurant’ group on facebook yet it is well worth it to see these pictures and to be kept informed of any other fantastic events we will be hosting.

I have already booked my place for next year!

Quick Update.

I have been told that the rumour in the kitchen last evening was that I could pass for Ricky Gervais’ twin. If you ever seen any of Ricky Gervais’ work on TV, Radio or Podcast, you will know that he is an incredibly talented chap. But I can not/will not do his dance and I do not look like him! www.rickygervais.com

Unrhyw person sydd eisie Cinio Dydd Sul yn y Garreg penwythnos hyn, fi’n flin ond nad ydyn ar agor. Mae Steven Terry  www.thehardwick.co.uk/stephen_terry yn goginio yn y Garreg Nos Sul gyda Jethro, a Carl o’r Bridge. Ond ma’ pob set wedi werthi! Rydyn ni’n llawn! Hoffwn i weld pawb yn y Carreg dros y gaeaf achos ma’ nifer o pethe gwych yn digwedd. Cofiwch disgwyl ar y blog i weld beth sydd mynd ‘mlaen.

Anybody wanting Sunday Lunch in The Carreg this weekend, I apologise because we won’t be open. Steven Terry www.thehardwick.co.uk/stephen_terry is cooking in The Carreg Sunday evening along with Jethro and Carl from The Bridge. Except every seat is sold! We are full! I’d like to see everyone in The Carreg over the winter as we have a number of fantastic things happening. Remember to keep an eye on the blog to see what is going on.

Hi Everyone,Throughout the winter we are holding all manner of different events at The Carreg, which will be original and inspired. Come see time fly and lose yourself in our extensive menu – one of the most fantastic in the world – and enjoy warm service or just pull up a chair, have a coffee and soak up the atmosphere.
We will let you all know, via facebook, what is happening, sometimes with plenty of notice, sometimes with only a matter of hours! Whichever way, you can be guaranteed a classic Carreg experience!
Creating memories that last.
Ian

With all this lovely weather we have been having, we may have a few barbeques left which won’t be tinged by rainwater! If you are interested and thinking of something special for a group of 10 or more, message me or ring The Carreg on 01834 862990 to ask for further details. Let us make the most of the last of the summer’s rays!
Have a beautiful week!

Ian

As the alarm rang this morning and the radio came to life with Roy Orbison, singing his lines in the classic “Handle With Care” my brain (which always wakes up 10 minutes before the rest of me) started thinking about the fictitious family the “Traveling Wilburys”, invented to promote a collection of songs with Bob Dylan, Tom Petty, George Harrison, Jeff Lynne along with Roy Orbison and how you do not need to be a blood relation to be family.

Last night (a title to another Wilbury number!) Wendy’s Mum had a big birthday party at The Carreg. I am not saying what birthday it was, but it was a fantastic evening, seeing all my in-laws, nieces and nephews I inherited when I married Wendy with our favourite Latin influenced Jazz band, Cazuela Acustica playing, with my Mum-in-law occassionally joining in on the percsusion side!

Part of The Carreg Experience is to part of the whole situation, part of the family. The atmosphere must be right, the food excellent and to be blown away with sensational service. Whoever is with you, will be part of your family whilst you are there.

That is the magic of The Carreg.

Daeth Shan Cothi i’r Ardd a’r Bwyty wythnos hyn i Ffilmio Sioe am Aberth o enw ‘Bro’. Welodd hi yr anifeilied i gyd cyn fynd i cael pryd o fwyd ty fewn mas o’r haul. Byddom ni’n lwcus iawn gyda’r tywodd a ges i hwyl gweithio gyda Shan wneud y Sioe sydd mynd ’mas yn mis Hydref ar S4C!

Shan Cothi came to the garden and the restaurant this week to film a show about Narberth called ‘Bro’. She saw all the animals before heading inside out of the sun to have a meal. We were lucky with the weather and we had fun making the show which will be shown in October on S4C!

Yesterday our evening chef, Jethro, was involved in a ‘cook off’ in the final for the Pembrokeshire Tourism Awards at the Really Wild festival, and, whilst the results won’t be known until October, he worked his socks off to create a fantastic meal in the food hall, on camera and miked up to describe what he was doing. Whatever the result I think we can be very proud of him for how far he has gone so far. The honey and rosehip ice cream he made was superb!

We also made a lot of friends for eco eco as well so we look forward to that progressing as more and more believers get to know about it.

We are also up for most exciting new business in the Pembrokeshire Tourism Awards and, whilst I firmly believe that The Carreg is the most exciting place on the face of the planet, full stop, amongst others, we are up against Anna Ryder Richardson and her magnificent wildlife park in Tenby. I am extremely happy that Anna Ryder Richardson has opened her venture in Pembrokeshire, because the more quality businesses which open in Pembrokeshire, the better it is for all of us. But that won’t stop me giving her a run for her money!

Fred Luckman is a friend of ours here at The Carreg and Courtyard Shopping. Fred is putting the finishing touches to a project in some woods in South Pembs. If you e-mail Fred at landvision@ymail.com, he will supply you with further details.

Cheers!

Ian

“Hi Everyone

Work towards the Open Day Saturday 12th Sept progressing nicely, a final programme will be emailed out this week – will be an exciting mix of workshops and events on the theme of Belonging.

To help get ready and generally to progress some of the ongoing work in the woods, a number of volunteering days are ‘offered’ over the next 10 days. Please come along for a few hours or a day or more.

Jobs to do list:

There is a variety of work from levelling a performance area, installing more log seating, finishing a compost toilet, removing lots of branches from main circle area, improving paths, access and drainage, harvesting some hazel and willow for deb building, creating a second log circle

Children welcome as long as they can be involved on weekdays. It will be easier for them on the Sunday as more children will be present

After the Open Day a regular volunteering programme will be launched through CAVS.

Volunteering Days:

Thu 3rd Sep 9 – 5

Fri 4th Sep 9 – 4

Sunday Family Volunteering Day 6th Sep 9 – Late (fire, bring and share)

Mon 7th – Fri 11th Sep – 8 till late (camping overnight possible)

Please let me know if you are coming so I can co-ordinate work, bring anyone else along that may enjoy working in the woods. Ideally bring along some tools, barrows etc, we remain limited at moment.

Material Needed for Open Day:

We need a couple of bales of straw and a lot of wood chip/bark.

Warm regards

Frederick”