It is a great time of the year to enjoy some of the finest locally sourced seasonal foods in many of Wales� finest restaurants. Now is the time to visit Wales before the main season when places will be a lot busier.

Many of the hotels and restaurants have special offers on rooms, inclusive breaks and set menus to tempt you to travel to Wales for great food and a relaxing time. From gentle walking to hill climbing, horse riding to mountain biking, sailing to water skiing, playing golf to sea and river fishing, there is always plenty to do. After a day in the country there is nothing better than comfortable, relaxing accommodation and dinner of wonderful locally sourced seasonal food cooked by a competent chef to complete the day.

Taste the seasonal food menus at these selected Wales� top twenty restaurants:

North Wales

Castle Cottage, Harlech. Glyn and Jacqueline Roberts. www.castlecottageharlech.co.uk

Neuadd Lwyd , LlanfairPG, Anglesey. Susannah Woods. www.neuaddlwyd.co.uk

Plas Bodegroes , Pwllheli. Chris and Gunna Chown. www.bodegroes.co.uk

Tan-Y-Foel, nr Betws y Coed. Peter, Janet and Kelly Pitman. www.tyfhotel.co.uk

Tyddyn Llan, Llandrillo. Bryan and Susan Webb. www.tyddynllan.co.uk

Wynnstay, Machynlleth. Gareth and Paul Johns. www.wynnstay-hotel.com

Mid and South Wales

Falcondale, Lampeter. Chris and Lisa Hutton. www.falcondalehotel.com

Gwesty Cymru, Aberystwyth. Huw and Beth Roberts. www.gwestycymru.com

Harbourmaster, Aberaeron. Glyn and Menna Heulyn. www.harbour-master.com

Angel at Salem, Nr Llandeilo. Rod Peterson and Liz Smith. www.angelsalem.co.uk

Fairyhill, Reynoldston. Andrew Hetherington and Paul Davies. www.fairyhill.net

Welcome to Town, Llanrhidian. Ian and Jay Bennett. www.welcometotown.co.uk

For more information visit www.colinpressdee.com

Food Wales seasonal food in June and July: (Page references Food Wales a second helping)

Vegetables and wild plants -

The wild and wet spring with the occasional mild day certainly produced a most unusual growing pattern with many vegetables and wild plants. Everything has been late and some very slow and reluctant. The asparagus season (P146) is continuing longer than usual; broad beans, courgettes, and salads are becoming plentiful. New potatoes from Gower, Pembroke, Anglesey and the Llyn are a must on every menu. Hedgerow fodder such as wild garlic (ramsons), alexanders, nettles (P 164-5) is still abundant. Wild herbs such as mint and sorrel are growing well. All wild mushrooms (P148) have been scarce so far and even elderflower has been slow to show. Trees have been late coming into leaf, but walnuts (P167) are now appearing, and it�s time to get harvesting the green walnuts for pickling before St. Swithen�s Day, July 15.

New season�s lamb -

June is when the real flushes of grass come in the meadows and at last they have the verdant appearance that means pasture fed lamb is starting. Radnorshire farmers always maintain that as June progresses so does the quality (and availability) of new season�s lamb. There is no meat sweeter than that from young pasture fed lamb, and this is now featured on many menus of top restaurants. The growth of vegetation on the tidal marshes is now flourishing providing grazing for large flocks. In the coming months this will give a supply of salt marsh lamb par excellence. The offal from new season�s lamb, the liver, kidneys and neck sweetbreads (ris d�agneau) are particularly delicious, mild and savoury. (P143, 175-8)

Fishing boat landings -

The fishing season is well underway with landings of crab, spider crab and lobster (P138, 153, 156-9) increasing every week. These are mainly exported, but for the keen chef there is always some available. Line caught bass (P139) is starting and the first mackerel are shoaling in Cardigan Bay. Best value is grey mullet (P140) that is starting to run into estuaries; it is not dissimilar to bass, perhaps a little more oily and coarse, nevertheless excellent eating. Black sea bream (P140) is a very fine eating species, now caught in quantity by angling boats in Cardigan Bay and off the Gower and Llyn peninsulas.

Migratory fish �

On the rivers salmon and sewin (sea trout) (P142) catches have been very disappointing and the season seems to be getting later and later every year. There is no more beautiful a fish than a fresh run salmon, and Welsh sewin, though milder and more delicate are particularly delicious and should not be missed if featured on any menus.

Check out the menus of the Top Twenty Restaurants in Wales for special offers on rooms, inclusive breaks and set menus to tempt you to Wales for a great time.

To visit these hotels and restaurants to sample the cuisine and hospitality and for further information contact Colin Pressdee on 07768 948339 Email: colinpressdee@aol.com Website: www.colinpressdee.com

Follow the link: www.colinpressdee.com/top twenty.html