PICNIC AT CHAPTER ARTS CENTRE | FOOD REVIEW
Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff. 029 2030 4400 / www.chapter.org
Inspired by summer, Picnic is Chapter’s new deli counter. Placed on the end of the bar, set up beautifully on boards and slates, was a bright and colourful selection of salads and mains. With 10 or so dishes laid out before us, it was hard to decide what to get; you can choose a selection of three of the salads (£6) or get just two salads and accompany them with a panini or one of the deli’s main courses (£7.50-£8). Graciously allowed a nibble of each, I can assure you that all the salad dishes were delicious: there was a tender roasted beetroot salad, a spicy but refreshing cous cous, a soft and sweet carrot and chickpea mix and the best cooked broccoli I have ever eaten (true to their philosophy of keeping vegetables as close to their natural state as possible, the chef, Paul, informs me that the broccoli is barely blanched).
Both the salads and these mains change daily, depending on what that chef feels like creating that morning, and today I went for a stuffed tomato while my pals chose to have the beef with salsa verde. Both these choices were uncomplicated, tasty and went well with the beautiful salads. The highlight of our selection was undoubtedly the soft and scrumptious spicy aubergines, which had just the right amount of kick and plenty of flavour.
The best part of the meal, however, was simply the enthusiasm behind the new picnicy project. Paul served up our food and explained each of the dishes to us. He told me that it was great to be out on the floor, seeing people enjoying the fruits and vegetable of his labour. If you’re looking for enthusiasm and flavour to your lunch then the Picnic is a great choice.
words HEATHER ARNOLD