Sunday 15 May 2011

Madame Fromage

Today (11th May 2011) saw the release of the new Lonely Planet Guide covering Wales. It is generally upbeat about Cardiff (Saturday nights on St Mary’s Street excepted). The new Cardiff Story Museum, National Museum Wales, Millennium Stadium, Cardiff Castle and the Victorian Arcades are considered highlights. The Riverside Farmers’ Market is recommended, as are food establishments Brava, The Plan, and Madame Fromage.

Madame Fromage was founded in 2004 by Karen Cunnington, initially in Duke Street and then soon after in its current location in Castle Arcade. She runs the café, shop and online deli with her family. As the name suggests, the specialty is cheese. Around 150 interesting cheeses are typically in stock, predominantly from Wales, England, France, Spain and Italy. This is a good place to go for cheeses (e.g., Y Fenni, Stinking Bishop, Saint Nectaire, Gorgonzola dulce, Picos blue) you’ve heard about but not yet tried.

Around a corner from the cheese and patisserie counters is the well-stocked delicatessen. Bread and cakes are also a feature, with large cupcakes currently popular. The establishment has taken over both sides of a corner in Castle Arcade, with the shop restaurant on one side and the Little Café on the other. The restaurants focus on Welsh and Breton cuisine.
Madame Fromage: 18 Castle Arcade and 21 - 25 Castle Arcade, Cardiff.

Sources:
Madam Fromage: The Fine Cheese Specialist. http://www.madamefromage.co.uk/

Wales Online: http://yourcardiff.walesonline.co.uk/2011/05/11/the-lonely-planet-guide-to-cardiff/

Confessions of Madame Fromage, by Vikki Davies, South Wales Echo, 25 November 2010.

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