Community

Emily tastes success with best speciality product

Published

11 years ago

November 20, 2013

A DELICIOUS truffle made by a Pembrokeshire chocolaterie has been named the best Welsh speciality product in this year’s Great Taste awards –the Oscars of the food world.

Fredericks Chocolaterie, which is run by Emily Wright, 26, from a shop in Narberth, collected the coveted award for its ginger and fennel truffle, which also won the highest Great Taste status – a three star gold – and is named in the Top 50 foods.

The best Welsh speciality product award, sponsored by the Welsh Government’s Food & Drink Wales, was selected from the four Great Taste three star gold winning products from Wales.

The truffle was up against lemon curd from Welsh Lady Preserves of Y Ffor, near Pwllheli, grass fed organic Aberdeen Angus rump roasting joint from Rhug Estate, Corwen and Halen Môn Umami Sea Salt, a collaboration between the multi-award winning Anglesey Sea Salt Company at Brynsiencyn, Anglesey and The Mushroom Garden Snowdonia, Beddgelert.

The chocolates have a Grenadian truffle filling infused with Chinese stem ginger and organic fennel seeds and a Javan shell. The Great Taste judges commented about the well-balanced flavours and striking appearance of the chocolates.

“A fine product in a very crowded market,” they said. “The beauty of these chocolates makes them stand out above many others.”

In review of the chocolates, Welsh TV chef Dudley Newbury says: “There is an amazing glazed finish to them and they are shouting out ‘eat me, eat me’. They smell like chocolates used to smell and the taste is something else.”

The Great Taste judges also awarded Fredericks Chocolaterie a one star gold for its chilli, orange and cinnamon ganache chocolates.

“I’m still pinching myself to be honest,” was Emily’s reaction to winning the award. “It was a very pleasant shock and to now have the likes of Harrods calling me up is a bit surreal.”

She revealed that the ginger and fennel truffle was entered for the Great Taste awards at the last minute and was a personal favourite.

Having run the business alone for four years, she is now faced with important decisions about future expansion and is determined to stay loyal to her core beliefs of hand-making her products with the best ingredients and not compromising on quality.

“If you have great ingredients, you generally end up with a great tasting product,” she said. “I would love to grow the business to have a couple more shops and to be able to travel and source the cacao beans myself to make my own chocolate. That way I could control every aspect of the product and it would become more of a brand.”

Climate

Pembrokeshire group plans for larger community wind turbine

Published

1 hour ago

November 22, 2024

Bruce Sinclair - Local Democracy Reporter

A NORTH Pembrokeshire group which has raised more than £76,000 from its community wind turbine for local projects is hoping to expand with a bigger turbine.

In an application to Pembrokeshire County Council, Abergwaun Community Turbine Ltd, through agent Machynlleth-based Dulas Ltd is hoping to get permission for a larger turbine to replace the existing Abergwaun Community Turbine.

The proposed turbine, in a pasture field at Trebover Farm, to the south of Fishguard, would be 67m tall, the existing 2015 one being 45 metres.

In supporting statements, parent company Transition Bro Gwaun said: “The Community Climate Fund (CCF) is the mechanism by which Transition Bro Gwaun (TBG) is fulfilling our ambition of funding projects in Fishguard, Goodwick and across North Pembrokeshire, using income from the community wind turbine.

“The core themes for grants are climate change mitigation and adaptation, enhancement of biodiversity and improvements to community resilience through promotion of community engagement and resource sharing.”

In 2015, TBG raised its 50 per cent share of capital funding for the project by means of loans from 28 local individuals and four community groups, contributing a total of £286,500, the other 50 per cent contributed by landowners Parc-y-Morfa Farms Ltd.

The statement added: “Profit generated by sale of electricity from the turbine is split 50:50 between TBG and Parcy-Morfa Farms Ltd through the jointly owned trading arm, Abergwaun Community Turbine. By the end of 2022, all loans had been repaid, allowing the launch of TBG’s Community Climate Fund. This year we have awarded our third round of grants bringing the total amount granted to £76,036.”

In 2022, £15,274 was awarded to seven projects, including Fishguard Sports AFC to install solar panels on their clubhouse as part of their Tregroes Park development, Ysgol Bro Gwaun for their Increasing Biodiversity and Bees project, and Nevern Valley Veg / Llysiau Cwm Nyfer to install a solar powered vegetable irrigation scheme.

In 2023, £39,85 was made available for seven projects, including Sea Trust Wales to part fund the installation of solar panels on the Ocean Lab roof and to produce a display on solar technology, Letterston Memorial Hall to part fund the installation of an air source heat pump heating system, and Fishguard and Goodwick Rugby Club to install solar panels on their clubhouse.

2024 awards of £20,917 were made to six projects, including Theatr Gwaun to insulate their loft to reduce heating loss, Parc Cerrig Growers for developing a rainwater harvesting system with a pond to irrigate their allotments, Caerhys Organic Community Agriculture for an electric cargo bike for delivering organic vegetables in the Fishguard and St Davids areas, and Nevern Valley Veg to develop wildlife ponds and rainwater harvesting for food production.

The supporting documentation concludes: “The repowering of the existing turbine at Trebover would require a limited increase in turbine size which would result in a very limited change in landscape and visual effects in comparison to the existing Trebover turbine.”

The application will be considered by planners at a later date.

Community

Council warns of icy conditions as temperatures drop

Published

8 hours ago

November 21, 2024

Tom Sinclair

ROAD users in Pembrokeshire are being urged to exercise caution tonight as temperatures are forecast to dip below freezing.

Pembrokeshire County Council has announced that road surface temperatures could reach as low as -2°C, with the possibility of sleet or snow on higher ground. In response, precautionary salting of the county’s primary routes will be carried out this evening and overnight.

A spokesperson for the council said: “Road users are advised to take care if travelling on untreated roads.”

Motorists are reminded to plan ahead and drive carefully, particularly in areas that may not have been treated.

Stay tuned to The Herald for updates on road conditions and weather warnings.

Community

Stallholders wanted for Milford Haven Christmas Market

Published

8 hours ago

November 21, 2024

Tom Sinclair

MILFORD HAVEN BUSINESS CIRCLE is calling for stallholders to join the town’s festive Christmas Market, set to bring holiday cheer on Friday, December 6, and Saturday, December 7, 2024.

The market will take place at the Lower Charles Street Car Park, promising a vibrant mix of stalls and attractions. Organizers are seeking a variety of vendors, including those offering gifts, children’s toys and games, food, cakes, flowers, and more.

There’s also an open invitation for someone with small children’s rides to add to the festive fun. A highlight of the event will be the Grinch’s Grotto, offering an entertaining twist to this year’s celebrations.

If you’re interested in having a stall, contact the Milford Haven Business Circle via email at [email protected] for more information.