Wales has officially stolen my heart. Silly to think I'm only just really discovering it, as its on my doorstep.
A couple of weeks ago we spent the weekend in Hundleton near Pembroke, a stone’s throw from gorgeous, clean and dog-friendly beaches.
Our favourite was Freshwater West, a National Trust-owned surfers’ paradise and home of what has officially been voted the best street food stall in the UK. Having tried it out, I see it as my public duty to announce that Café Mor makes the finest, freshest, butteriest lobster rolls known to man.
Mor excitement
Café Mor is part of the Pembrokeshire Beach Food Company, a business whose story is as inspiring as the food. Owner Jonathan Williams travelled the world after graduating, working at various spots as a chef and caterer. After returning home he gained a masters in sustainable energy and ended up at a desk job in Swindon. But the sea continued to call him, and he eventually handed in his notice and headed back to Wales with a dream of setting up a food stall. After some trial and error, Cafe Mor was born in 2010.
The Mor Story
With a background in sustainability and a love of his Welsh homeland, his focus is firmly on fresh, delicious seafood and zero waste. The unassuming and driftwood-heavy food shack is perched at the end of Freshwater West car park, so you can pick up a seafood roll en route to laying out your beach towel.
As we were there all day it seemed only fair to eat two rolls each, just to double check that we loved them. Yep, we definitely loved them.
Lobster love
Crab. The dogs' fave.
The quality of the seafood speaks for itself, but what adds to the incredible flavour is Café Mor’s use of seaweed, a local delicacy that grows in abundance at Freshwater West. Welsh sea black butter is used liberally - fresh butter with the natural saltiness of finely chopped seaweed mixed in. They also serve laverbread, a traditional Welsh dish that contains more of the black stuff.
I would say that the secret is out, but I think I missed the boat ages ago. Jonathan’s brilliant street food business has won multiple national awards including BBC Good Food, and people travel from miles around for the inventive and delicious food he is churning out.
If you’re lucky enough to live nearby, Café Mor runs a series of seashore picnics and foraging events. Visit www.cafemor.co.uk for details.
