We know that the Torch will pass through Newport on Day 6 – Friday, May 26 – of the relay on its way to Cardiff.

The day will start with the Torch entering Wales at Monmouth and heading to Newport via Abergavenny, Brynmawr and Pontypool.

We’ll have to wait until the New Year for the street-by-street detail but the commonsense route will take it through the city centre and out onto Cardiff Road.

If we are very lucky it will make a slight detour over George Street Bridge and come straight past the restaurant!

You can find out more by visiting the Olympics website www.london2012.com

According to the government an eye-watering £12 billion-worth of perfectly good food is thrown out by consumers every year because many of them don’t properly understand sell-by and other labels.

Defra (the Department of Food and Rural Affairs) wants food and drink manufacturers to stop using labels such as “sell-by” and “display until”.

They make stock rotation in the shop easier but are less helpful if you’re in Pill or Pontypool deciding whether that yoghurt you bought last week will put you in hospital.

Defra has issued new guidance for manufacturers aimed at cutting confusion and making clear once and for all when food is safe and good to eat.

The guidance says “use-by” dates should only be on foods such as soft-cheese and smoked fish where it would be unsafe to eat them after the date.

Most other food should have a “best-before” date, which would indicate when a product is no longer in peak condition but is still safe to eat.

If the industry takes note then perhaps some of the 8.3 million tonnes of food and drink waste – at least 60 per cent of which is avoidable.

That 5.3 million tonnes of good food which goes out is equivalent to £680 for each household with children.

As a business we keep a close watch on our costs. Anything that helps our customers do the same thing at home can’t be bad.

Our Sunday lunch menu has a fantastic reputation and is always popular:-

Sunday Lunch

Selection of Rustic Breads with olive oil, balsamic and unsalted butter £2.50

________________________

French Onion Soup (V)

Gruyere croutons

Rabbit, Wild Mushroom & Leek Terrine

Fruit chutney, melba toast

Crab & Herb Fishcakes

Sweetcorn salsa

Deep Fried Taleggio

Pickled vegetables, honey mustard dressing

________________________

Roast Top Side of Welsh Beef

Yorkshire pudding

Poached & Roasted Chicken Breast

Lemon & Thyme polenta

Thai Style Mussels

Garlic bread

Twice Baked Perlas & Caramelised Red Onion Soufflé

Thyme foam

All Served with a Selection of Vegetables & Roast Potatoes

_________________________

Stem Ginger Cheesecake

Palm sugar, lemons grass sorbet

Jersey Crème Brulee

Hand Made Ice Cream and Sorbets

Selection of Welsh & Continental Cheese

Biscuits, Apple & Pear chutney – (Supplement £1.00)

1 Course £9.95 – 2 Courses – £13.95 – 3 Courses £16.95

Call us TODAY to book – 01633 256622

The festival has been going now for 12 years and was described by the Observer as being to food, what Cannes is to film – a great place to spot the rising stars of the artisan food movement.

What we love about Abergavenny is the way in which the festival takes over the whole town. The streets are paved with food gold and there’s a unique sense of fun in the air.

There’s stuff to watch and take part in and, of course, glorious stuff to taste – there’s more than fifty masterclasses, tastings, walks, talks and debates and, for the first time, pop-up restaurants.

And then there’s another 50 events in the Fringe Programme. We reckon it’s no idle boast that there is something for everyone.

The festival takes place on Saturday and Sunday and tickets are on sale now. Good news is that children under 16 go free.

There is a website with as much information as anyone is ever likely to need where you can find the details of exactly what’s going on where and when and you can book tickets. The address is http://www.abergavennyfoodfestival.com/

The organisers are keen for as many of us as possible to get there on public transport (parking being at a bit of a premium) and there will be park and walk and park and ride facilities.

We look forward to seeing you there!

For 60 years The Good Food Guide has been the place to go if you want to find quality dining in the UK.

The first Guide was published in 1951 by social commentator Raymond Postgate who was determined to improve the quality of food on offer.

Just as it was in 1951, the 2012 Guide is built on recommendations from members of the public and from that feedback a list of potential inclusions is drawn up.

There are  – they never announce who they are and can turn up individually or in groups on any day of the week.

There is only one way to get into the Guide and that is by offering great food – restaurants cannot pay to be included and the Guide does not take advertising.

Nicola Miller, of The Chandlery, said: “We are delighted that The Chandlery has made it into the Good Food Guide for the first time.

“We would particularly like to thank our customers who took the time and trouble to recommend us for inclusion.

“Without them we would not even have been considered for the Guide and it is wonderful to have that sort of loyalty.

“Nobody is guaranteed a place in the Guide and we are determined to continue providing the quality dining experience that delights our customers and makes us worthy to keep our spot in the Guide,”

The Good Food Guide is published on September 8 and the recommended retail price is £16.99

Why not get your folks to treat you to a slap-up dinner at The Chandlery this weekend before you head off into the big, wide world - you deserve it!

Of course, if you didn’t quite get the grades you were hoping for- don’t despair as there are still many, many opportunities out there – just go and grab them!

Call us to bok a table TODAY – 01633 256622 and we will help you celebrate in style.

Personally, I prefer my Pomegranate juice as a Pom Royale Cocktail – the perfect summer drink!

POM ROYALE:

Dash of Lime juice

1 part Pomegranate juice

2 parts Champagne

Wedge of Lime

Pour the Pomegranate and Lime Juices into a champagne flute. Top up with Champagne (or sparkling wine as a substitute). Add a wedge of lime to garnish.

Enjoy!

Here at The Chandlery our homemade varieties have remained firm favourites amongst our clientele and our current offering is a delicious Coconut version served with a Pineapple Sorbet.

Creamy, delicious and comforting (and more than a little bit naughty!) with normally just a bit of a crunch we really do think that cheesecake is the ultimate sweet treat.

If you want to give it a go yourself, why not try this simple recipe for a sumptuous Strawberry Cheesecake from Paul Rankin for BBC Good Food.

Enjoy!

He states that ‘Welsh food deserves to be recognised as a major industry’ and here at The Chandlery we couldn’t agree more!

The Chandlery are proud to source locally grown produce wherever possible offering fresh, local fare and a seasonal dinner menu that changes approximately every 8 weeks.

Most of us know there are all sorts of reasons to eat locally grown produce, from supporting local suppliers, to caring for the environment by decreasing carbon emissions by from transportation, produce). But have you ever wondered if eating produce very close to the time it was harvested gives you more nutrients and antioxidants?

Fruits and vegetables are packed with powerful nutrients and antioxidants and it makes sense that when you eat fruits and vegetables right after they are harvested, you are getting the highest amounts of these helpful components.

There are a number of reasons for this. Firstly, if the fruits and vegetables are going to be eaten within a day or two after harvesting, the producer will usually let the produce ripen more fully before being picked. The more time produce is ripening on the vine or branch, the more nutrients it tends to have.

Also fresher means fewer nutrients lost during storage and transportation.

Plus, local, organic foods will not only give you the extra nutritional value described above, but unlike foods that have been irradiated or pasteurized to prolong shelf life, fresh from the farm organic produce is loaded with enzymes. Food enzymes are the work-horses of digestion and are the reason foods break down both in our bodies and on the shelf (think brown spots on an apple). Enzymes are also necessary for just about every function within our bodies, so eating fresh, enzyme rich foods may benefit you in innumerable ways!

So, you see, eating a delicious meal at The Chandlery is a great way to look after your health! See you soon – call us today to book your table 01633 256622

LITE BITES
Available for lunch and early evening till 7:30pm:-

Rustic Bread Selection £2.50
Olive oil and balsamic vinegar, unsalted butter
* * * *
Beer Battered Cod & Chips £9.95
Minted mushy peas, tartar sauce
6 oz Sirloin & Chips £9.95
Coleslaw
Chicken Caesar Salad £9.95
Croutons, parmesan
Stir Fry Vegetable Noodles (V) £9.95
Soy sauce, ginger, garlic
Speciality Sausages £9.95
Creamy mash, gravy
* * * *
Desserts £3.95

For more details, please visit our website….