Wales: Whisky & the Weather


Pictures & Text: Carletto Ferrari // press travel

Due to that Great Britain isn’t only known for the bad weather, the Union Jack and the Queen (concerning latter, Catrin had definitely made this journey), but rather – particularly by naturelovers and photographs – can impress with it’s impressive nature and the Wales Whisky drinking culture, I hit the road in the last days of summer 2018 to a journey on the trail of the Wales Whisky.

The island beyond the (English) Channel commonly known as “England” – anyhow the ninth biggest island of the world and the biggest in Europe – is correctly to separate in three parts, namely in Scottland in the north, in Wales in the west and in England in the south (this is mostly of high value among the Scots and the Welshman). The climate during my traveltime was partly stormy and a little bit moist, but not cold at all, quite the contrary 4 meter high Yuccas testify of mild temperatures in the winter, as well as the beautiful green grass, that is mostly seen on many sheep pastures.

Since I didn’t only come to wales due to the Nature (to that more in the last part of my report), but also to degust the special Welsh Whisky, my first way took me to a sightseeing tour to the center of Cardiff, where my flight from Munich over Paris brought me. The arrive was very easy by the way, with more flexibility than my working calendar allowed me, I could have found a direct flight to Cardiff.


The City of Cardiff


Cardiff itself is a typical british city with a historical center around the medieval Cardiff Castle, a lot of various pubs and the for the island typical gregorian-viktorian architectural style, that grew with the coal mining. A lot of the old seeming castles and historical buildings have their origin in the Middle Ages, but they – decayed or derelict –  where taken over and repaired by the “newly rich coal-millionairs”. Owing to this investments you can finde some real cool corner in Cardiff in new-historical sheen, others in turn, like the port quarter Cardiff Bay, are modern highlights with cool architecture. With a typical beer (very smooth and with less carbonic acid) instead of a Wales Whisky and brithish cuisine at the port, I resolved the first day in Wales – with the knowledge about the program of the following day – I went to bed.


Penderyn-Whisky


The second day had – after a typical “English Breakfast” – Whisky as main program point, and this in a very small Whisky-distillery in Wales, Penderyn, whose Whisky is distributed in Central Europe from the partner “vomFASS“, a German company, together with high-end vines, liquors, vinegars and oils. The small, independent company Penderyn Distillery produces – proceeding from their own well, that is spring-fed from the Welsh outpack, the Brecon Beacons national park – various sorts of Single-Malt-Whisky, that won a lot of prices over the years. The logo of the company is a gold vein, due to that the basic idea behind the business formation was to produce a Whisky that is so pure and precious like Welsh gold. Well after a lot glasses of Whisky, I can confirm that. PS: Every bottle of the best Whiskies is stickered with a handwritten label.

Centerpiece of the production is a unique copper kettle, that was made by a family member of Michael Faraday (a very prominent english inventor of the 19. century; see “Faraday cage”). After the distillation process in this kennel, the Wales Whisky is stored perennial in oak barrels, that where filled with Bourbon before (due to the flavor extraction during the maturation). I can recommend a guided tour in Penderyn to every pleasure lover, as well as the tasting of this noble drops. In contrast to many Scotish and Irish Whiskey-distilleries is the Welsh Whisky in Penderyn actualy small, but fine and original. By the way, to bend the bow to the Queen: Prince Charles is also guest from time to time for a Welsh Whisky. Cheer, mate!


The Coast


Strengthened by a tasty dinner with steak as main course and salmon with pasta as starter in a church converted to a trendy restaurant (The Chapel in Cardiff), I was ready for the beautiful landscape of Wales the next day. For me I decided to go on a trip along the southcoast of Cardiff over Nash Point at Marcross, Swansea and Mumbles Pier as far afield as Penmaen to the Three Cliffs Beach. The rental car was quickly got and with € 180 it was not expensive at all (ultimately the only option for locomotion). There was only the adjustment to left traffic, but as ambitiously tourist, you may not be put off of this, and after all I was accustomed to the left traffic since our culinary travel to Cyprus 2018.

The south coast of Wales, especially around the lighthouse Nash Ponit, is known for it’s tidal. According to local people the difference between ebb and flow can reach up to 15 meters, what means place 2 worldwide. On the cliffs you can see – especially in connection with the extrem stormy weather at this day – the impressive effects of the waves and the water. Westwards, at Swansea, there are extensive sandy beaches and Piers far stretched into the water, which lend the coast a very “british” striking – and yes, dear Welsh people, I know that we are not in England.


Caerphilly Castle


With a little detour back to Cardiff to the airport (in the small town Barry, about 20 minutes out of the center), I came to the pleasure to visit one of the biggest british castles, Caerphilly Castle. This enormous moated castle with a base area of 1,2 hectare is after Windsor Castle the second biggest castle inGroßbritannien and it was the first castle over here, that was built as a fully concentric castle with two ring walls. In conclusion to my visit to Wales, this was a very dignified finish – only my Princess Catrin of Klagenfurt was missing at this nearly royal culinary travel and Whisky tasting!

Now, when the days are getting shorter and the mornings colder, we are looking forward to cozy hours at home. Who says that adults are too old for pyjama parties? We claim the opposite. If you are looking to the catwalks of the in-designers and the recent fashion trends, pyjamas are suitable for the streets. This trend is reason enough to make a cozy pyjama-party for stylish women and to invite your friends to the flanel’n ice cream party! For that reason you get some new inspirations for cool women based on the motto flanel’n ice cream. Yes, you read it correctly. We swap our chic party outfits and high heels with cozy flanel shirts and feel-good clothes and meet up on Sunday afternoon {or on Saturday evening for a surprise party like in the good old times} in chilled outfits for some gossip, drinking tea together and feasting waffles with ice cream. What looks like a pyjama-party for adults is a cozy get-together with our besties. No calorie-counting, but lots of gossip sweetens up the afternoon.

Pyjama-Party…

According to fall, the flat becomes your comfort zone in warm fall colours with leaves and flanel fabrics! We see red! The flanel theme is inseperable with checked patterns and {red} lumberjack shirts. Cozy flanel blankets and checked pillows, as well as leggings, knit pullovers and cute clogs are the highlight-pieces for this flanel’n ice cream party. We serve tea in different flavours as well as Chai Latte and hot chocolate. Besides a classic marble ring cake the party highlight is our ice cream topping bar! The absolute eye-catcher is our decorative ceramic cookie box at the bar. Next to waffles, ice cream cones, berries, fruits, {candied} nuts, chocolate and different liquid toppings like chocolate-, caramel sauce or chai syrup, every ice cream lover finds his/her personal topping favourites. Häagen-Dazs pints in different flavours with scoops invite the guests to make use of the ice cream bar themselves. Our tip: prepare the waffle dough and put the waffle iron next to the ice cream bar. Your guests can bake their waffles themselves and immediately refine them with their favourite Häagen-Dazs ice cream.


Activities for the

flanel’n ice cream party


After feasting the ice cream, cakes, waffles and co. together, parlour games and DVDs {funny comedies for women} are on the programme.

If the girls stay overnight, we serve some prosecco later and pay attention to the traditional pyjama-party-games:

*spin-the-bottle: in the adult version please – I mean everyone brings five clothes along, who she doesn’t need anymore {scarfs, hats, accessorizes}, the bottle decides. The one at who the bottle points at chooses a piece. Useful for tiding up one’s wardrobe and get new, cool accessorizes.

*truth or dare… love stories are expecially exciting 😉

*planning the next girls trip

* classic parlour games like Twister, Tabu or Acitvity

With these tips for a successful falnel’n ice cream party, we wish you a beautiful autumn season with your best friends.


get together – fajita lasagne mexican style


 


picknick o´clock – veggie picknick wraps


Perfekt for summer picknick on the lake. Easy and fast in the making and super delicious for the whole family. Fluffy wraps from Old El Paso filled with cream cheese, zucchini, paprika, arugula and feta.

More snack-ideas – here.


Veggie wraps with cauliflower wings


Easy, healthy and veggie – how we love our wraps from Old El Paso. Whole wheat wraps with cauliflower wings, fresh vegetables and selfmade curry mayonnaise. Creative veggie alternative to classic chicken wings. For all who wants to eat a little bit more veggie and loves the mexican kitchen as much as we do.


Fiesta Mexicana – rolled and wounded


Rolled and wounded, wrapped and filled. This is the motto of our girls-new years eve –party. No long preparations, relaxed time together, having fun and drinking prosecco. A fiesta Mexicana is not just quickly prepared, really tasty but also makes lots of fun. Perfect for the whole family. Lots of vegetables and dips can be prepared easily together with the help of the kids.

The best: everyone is rolling and wounding according to his own taste. Everyone decides for themselves what comes into their wraps. Fajita party therefore isn´t a typical cooking session, but a new years eve-party taking place in the kitchen.


Colorful, more colorful, Mexican kitchen


The Mexican kitchen is al party, hot, colorful and out of all fast and uncomplicated. Every (mexican) child knows the diversity of mexican classics. Including tortillas prepared as wraps, fajitas and tacos, as much as the world-famous chili con carne and dips, as the well known guacamole. Everyone is loving these Mexican classics. But what is the difference between fajita, wrap and tortillas?


All Star – tortilla


It´s all about tortillas. Weather from what, as the classic Old El Paso Tortillas, corn or wholewheat – Mexicans are loving their tortillas. Soft and crispy, filled, rolled and wounded. For you a small wordrap:

  • Burritos are filled and rolled tortillas
  • Fajitas are filled, rolled and pleated tortillas
  • Quesadillas are filled, pleated, sprinkled with cheese and fried in the pan
  • Tacos are corntortillas for dipping and enjoying

Mexican girls-party  – shoppinglist


All you need:

Fresh vegetables

Old El Paso tortillas and wraps

Chicken or beef

Avocados- for guacamole or avocado-cream

Hot Old El Paso seasoning

Sour cream dip


Our recipe-idea for you new years eve-party:


Shrimps avocado bites

Ingredients:

2 Avocados

juice from one lemon

salt and pepper

2 tbsp oil

200 g shrimps

1 pkg. Old El Paso taco seasoning

1 pkg. old El Paso Nachips

Preparation:

For the avocado-cream: mix the avocados with lime juice and stir it. Season with salt and pepper. Sear the shrimps in a pan with oil and season with taco seasoning, salt and pepper. Place one tablespoon of avocado-cream and one shrimp at each nachip.

Optional: if you like it hot – mix the avocado cream with some chili.


Fiesta Mexicana – the menu


We are showing two creative recipe-ideas for your fiesta Mexicana: colorful veggie taco salad and chickenfajitas with sweet-sour enchilada rice.

And for all sweet loving people out there: sweet chimichangas with fruits.

With this ideas for your Mexican party we are saying “buon provecho” and “salud”!


it´s all about – cheesecake chimichangas


For all lovers of sweet dishes, parties and good times – invite your friends and family and celebrate a fiesta mexicana. Do you know fajita party? If not, you have to try. Good food and lot´s of fun. We are serving colorful taco salad as a starter, chicken fajitas as main dish and last but not least super creamy cheesecake chimichangas. Celebrate the good times – together with Old El Paso your fajita party will be to remember.


let´s party – chicken fajitas enchilada style


Celebrate fajita party with your friends and whole family. Serve chicken fajitas “enchilada style” with sweet-sour rice and vegetables. And don´t forget to invite Old El Paso. With the products of Ol El Paso your party will definitely be a success. So take place and get the party started.


Colorful veggie salad creation – taco salad


Celebrate your fiesta mexicana and serve colorful taco salad. Surprise your guests with a veggie salad creation and make them happy. Together with Old El Paso your fajita party will definitely be a success.


Colorful vitamin bomb – crème soup with sweet potatoes and turmeric


Bring some bright colors to the grey cloudy days. Powerful yellow, full of vitamins and warming from inside – it’s crème soup with sweet potatoes and turmeric. Your immune system will definitely say “thank you”!

 


Curd cheese dumplings


Tasty curd cheese dumplings with seasonal vegetables´ fillng is a perfect dish to enjoy during the cold days. Easy to cook and nice to try. We make it with the help of easy pasta dough and winter vegetables. Both: children and adults will definitely love it.