Myddfai Food and Culture Trail

The community of Myddfai have recently launched a Food and Culture Project to celebrate local food and social history in the area. They will be organising Welsh medium cookery workshops, hosting a Welsh food and entertainment evening, prepared by the volunteers who attended the cookery workshops, and developing a bilingual booklet of local recipes and heritage.

A social enterprise incorporated in 2010, Myddfai Tŷ Talcen aim to provide employment and volunteering opportunities and their profits are used for rural regeneration within the surrounding area.

The project has received funding from the RDP Sir Gâr Innovative Hubs scheme Dathlu Diwylliant. Dathlu Diwylliant is funded by the Rural Development Plan for Wales 2007-2013 which has been funded by Welsh Government and the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development.

The grant aims to widen access to quality cultural events through the medium of Welsh and provide opportunities for people of all ages to enjoy and participate in the arts in rural Carmarthenshire. Community groups can apply for up to £5000 towards the cost of putting on such events.

Each cookery session will follow a theme; The Physicians of Myddfai’s Herbs, Celtic Meat, Celtic Fish, Welsh cheese, bread making, and creating a menu for the grand dinner. A simultaneous translation system will be available in the Hall to ensure anyone wishing to take part can do so.

The first session, a hands on introduction to traditional and modern baking with a visit to a local farm producer, was very well attended. The group visited Lady of the Lake Lamb, based in Myddfai, who recently won third prize in the ‘Business Start-up’ category of the Countryside Alliance’s Champions for Wales award and have been supported by RDP Sir Gâr’s project for young entrepreneurs: Mentro.

Myddfai member Margaret Rees said: “It is hoped the Trail will be a good way of sharing Myddfai’s culture and ensuring that traditional recipes are preserved for future years. The community and hall volunteers will have the opportunity to develop their skills and it will give tourists visiting the area the opportunity to have a taste of Welsh culture. It also corresponds with the wider aims of Myddfai’s business plan to regenerate the area.”

Workshops:

• Monday 2nd September – Traditional Baking Day: A hands on session making a selection of sweet and savoury breads, cakes, pies using locally sourced ingredients/produce.
• Monday 9th September – One for the Pot! Learn how to prepare and cook the spoils of hunting, shooting, fishing and foraging from the countryside.
• Monday 23rd September – Autumn Fruits and Edible Flowers: A session to re-evaluate old preserving skills and create new recipes for the Myddfai Heritage Autumn Menu.
• Saturday 5th October – ‘Hwylnos’ A Welsh Harvest Feast –7pm: Celebrating local culture with a taste of tradition

For more details on the Myddfai Food & Culture Trail and sessions, contact: Margaret Rees 07771 973622 welshartisan@gmail.com or visit www.myddfai.org

All sessions are held between 10am-3pm at Myddfai Hall, Myddfai, SA20 0JD