A restaurant at a Pembrokeshire hotel, which was transformed from a former working windmill built over 200 years ago, has been included in the Michelin Guide's Inspectors' Favourite New Restaurants list.
Blas - or 'taste' in English - Restaurant, which has three AA Rosettes, is situated in the Twr y Felin Hotel in St David's and is the latest Welsh addition to the prestigious guide thanks to its dishes, interior design, creativity and flavour.
Of the reasoning behind this recognition, the Michelin Guide states: "Blas (meaning ‘Taste’) is situated within the contemporary Twr y Felin Hotel, and features some striking modern art. Appealing seasonal menus showcase fantastic Pembrokeshire produce – including some foraged ingredients – in a pared-back, modern dishes. Expect choices like local Solva crab, Welsh lamb and baked custard tart with local honey."
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The restaurant explores experimental flavours which create a 'feast for the senses' and serves dishes that reflect the interior design of the place - 'art on a plate' as stated by the website. Their menus feature contemporary dining with a focus on seasonal and local produce.
With its fish caught fresh and daily from the sea nearby, the beef, duck and fowl are all farmed locally too. Foraging, too, is something the restaurant prides itself on, with chefs fetching ingredients like samphire and wild garlic from the areas around the hotel.
Blas' website states: "From the windmill, you can see lush green fields above Caerfai Bay, dotted with a herd of grazing dairy cows. It is their milk that the local farmer churns into Cheddar and Caerphilly organic cheese, and is a must to taste."
For a little pre-dinner tipple, diners can visit the Cornel Bar, which is described as an "art-lovers snug" and features work of self-portrait artist Cherry Pickles. The restaurant's backdrop also features a myriad of artworks such as paintings and sculptures, a tour of which you can request during your visit.
This isn't the first year it has been included in the Michelin Guide - it was recognised in 2019. It has been awarded the AA Breakfast Award 2022 and an AA Hotel award, as well as winning the Wales Gold Award in 2019. It's also been included in The Good Food Guide and won silver Historic Top Hotel Restaurant Award 2022 at the Historic Hotels of Europe Awards 2022. Its Junior Sous Chef, Sean Phillips, was awarded runner up at the World Young Chef, Young Waiter, Awards.
Its customers shout the restaurant's praises too. One wrote on Tripadvisor: "Outstanding in every way! Lovely food, beautifully presented and cooked to perfection. Staff most helpful and informative. Simply superb.", while another said: "As Craig Revel-Horwood would say - A-MAZ-ING!! Wonderful flavour combinations, beautifully presented and served with a smile by the wonderful staff. The menu here is small but perfectly formed so great for a special occasion."
For more information, see the website.
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