Rosemary and I travelled to Portmeirion for two nights to stay in one of their village rooms. We had booked a cheap non-refundable bed, breakfast and dinner deal for a pretty reasonable rate. There was a little worry a few days before we left, snow and bad weather had arrived in the north, extending down to the latitudes of northern Wales. As it turned out there was some snow in the higher parts of the Snowdonia, the roads though were clear, well salted and in excellent condition. Buckinghamshire County Council please take note.
We arrived at Portmeirion village, checked in at the hotel and were then shown to our village room, Salutation 2 which was above the main tourist shop, where we settled in. A quick lunch, and then a walk through the woods to the far side that overlooks Porthmadog. There were woodsmen cutting up fallen trees. There seems to have been much damage over the past few years to some of the larger pines on the headland. It started to snow as we headed back to the village, though it was not settling.
That evening we had a very nice evening meal in the Portmeirion Hotel. I started off with pigeon cooked two ways (breast, and the legs confit), and then plaice and to finish pear tart with amaretti ice cream and bubble gum foam. Rosemary started with haddock and deconstructed quiche, then roast pork and celeriac. To finish she had a panacotta with mango sorbet.
Tuesday was a beautiful clear sunny and frosty day. Started the day with a lovely breakfast in the hotel, and then explored the village and woods, beautiful view of Porthmadog and of Snowdon covered with snow. We visited the dog cemetery, the ghost garden and the lakes. Back in the village I ate a bacon butty for lunch, more exploring the village and photographing robins. Masses of robins were following us around looking for food. Ended the daylight with an Welsh whisky ice cream.
In the evening walked to the hotel for G&Ts (Brecon gin, of course) and then dinner. Forgot to mention the meal always started with an amuse bouche, a large spoon with a cube of roasted lamb resting on a puree, and a small glass of soup plus foam. We both started with swordfish, Rosemary went veggie with a butternut and rosemary risotto, while I ate a delicious ox cheek. Desserts were the same as the previous night, R chose sticky toffee pudding with brill bits, while I ate a cherry arctic roll with a foamed white chocolate. Yes they served real ponced food. Brilliant.
Wednesday we both ate a Welsh fry up, and then headed on back home, stopping on the way to take a few more photographs of Snowdon.
