Local Game and Handy X-mas hints

Plan UK

Some of you may already be aware that instead of corporate christmas cards, we support of number of overseas children from some of the poorest countries in the world.  One of them is called Yaovi from Togo and we get updates throughout the year which we pass around the staff.  We find this a lot more rewarding than just the annual christmas card production.  And so we thought we should share this with, just in case some of you were wondering where your card is!

Yaovi has a brother, Kossi and a new born sister, Adjo.  The nearest health facility is over 2 hours away!  Yaovi is 14 (see picture) and attends school in the Blitta area, part of the Sotouboua district.

We also sponsor Prem, now 17 from  Urmul, Lunkaransar, India.

Recipe for Pan Fried Mullet

Pan Fried Mullet on Green Beans and Smoked Bacon

Grey Mullet is a plentiful fish around the North Wales Coast, though a special knack is required in catching them, your best bet is to call at your local fishmonger.

Malcolm’s MermaidSeafood Llandudno has his finger on the pulse and the local fishermen know where to go and sail for their freshest fish.

Ask Malcolm to gut and scale your mullet

Recipe

2 Fillets of Grey Mullet

150g of Green Beans (we use locally grown from Cae Melwr Llanrwst)

75g of Smoked Bacon (O.E Metcalf Llanrwst)

50g of Baby Plum Tomatoes (we use locally grown from Cae Melwr Llanrwst)

50g of Cooked New Potatoes

Method

With a sharp knife scour the fillets and gently rub with sea salt and olive oil.

Place in your frying pan skin side down over a medium heat .

Turn when you see the edges going brown, fry again for a further 3-4 min                                                      Place in a medium over for about 8 minuets

Meanwhile blanch off the beans and leave to cool

To Assemble the Dish

Fry off the Smoked Bacon until crispy, cut green beans into bite size pieces                                                             add the green beans into the frying pan.

Share between 2 plates

Place the mullet on top of the green beans and smoked bacon

Garnish with sautéed potato and warmed baby plum tomatoes, drizzle with lemon and olive oil.

New Summer Grill Room Menu

We are pleased to announce our enhanced value new Grill Room Summer menu.  Hopefully it will change to the weather out lookout as well.  There are some new dishes, notably a creamy mash fish pie, Seafood and chicken Paella as well as local lambs liver and world famous Welsh Lamb Rump.  Our Daily Specials continue to showcase the best of market fresh local produce.

Don't knock the boat

Our thanks go to one of yesterday's younger customers' for leaving us this small but thoughtful 'thank you' card - how lovely!

Days Out

Looking forward to the week ahead, then here are just some ideas of what to do in the area;

Ty Hyll - The Original Ugly House and home of the Snowdonia Society - fine example of a welsh cottage built in a day - Capel Curig 01286 685498 www.snowdonia-society.org.uk

Bodafon Farm Park - family friendly day out with deer, lamas, goats, horses and birds of prey 01492 549060 www.bodafonfarmpark.com

Welsh Mountain Zoo - spend the day with exotic animals from all around the world, with fantastic views included www.welshmountainzoo.org.uk 01492 532938

Great Orme Family Golf - a nine hole pitch and putt with all the fresh air you could hope for and stunning views across LLandudno Bay 07990517020 http://ormegolf.blogspot.co.uk/

Local Go Karting

Dropped in today at our local track, Glan Y Gors near Pentrefoelas, about 15 minutes drive away.  They were hosting the 2012 Karting Championship, basically the Formula 1.  Force India Formula 1 Racing Acedemy drivers and support teams were present.  Really impressive to see the kids absolutely flying around the track at speeds of up to 100 mph about 2" off the ground.  Found the only Lotus Go Kart in the UK as well so no pressure on that young man!  The place was buzzing but it was great to see such a center of excellence in our back yard - good luck to all.

Recipe for Welsh Faggots

 This is a simple recipe you can try at home for a cheap filling meal.

200g Welsh Pork Liver – minced

50g Home Smoked Bacon Minced

50g Pork Fat

50g Pork Mincemeat

1 onion cut into small dice

200g stuffing mix

50g dried bread crumbs

Ask your butcher to mince the meat products together.

Fry the onion until golden brown, drain off excess water and oil.

Put the minced meats into a large bowl and add the onion.

Mix and add the dried stuffing powder and bread crumbs.

Bind together to make balls.  Bake gently on a tray for about 20min (140⁰C).

Wonderful with onion gravy and creamy mash potatoes.

For ingredients, try our local Master Butcher, Elystan Metcalfe of Llanrwst at http://twitter.com/oemetcalfe

Congratulations

A really big THANK YOU to both Steph of the Stables Bar team and Mari of the Hotel waiting on division for wining their respective staff incentives and doing a fantastic job for the business - well done and enjoy!

Who needs Christmas cards....

At the Royal Oak, we make the decision some time ago that although everyone likes to receive a Christmas Cards, corporate cards were merely a process. Accordingly, we decided to re-allocate this budget and sponsor a number of children from around the world via the charity, Plan UK. It is amazing to think of the material difference this approach has made to these children for the sake of a glossy card, envelope and marketing database.

One of our "children" is pictured below and some up to date information. Perhaps by sharing our rewarding experience with you may encourage others to follow suit.

Prem Ratan lives with his brother and family in India and now attends secondary school. A fact sheet of life in his area is also set out for your interest.

Help the Snowdonia Society

Please see this message below from Sarah Metcalf

As many of you know, the Snowdonia Society has applied for vital funding from the European Outdoor Conservation Association to support our conservation volunteering work in 2011/12.

The results of our funding bid will be decided on by YOU!!

We are one of four projects that can be voted for by the public online - the only project in Wales and the only project with a wider scope than just footpath maintenance.

PLEASE VOTE NOW using this link http://www.livefortheoutdoors.com/News-Landing/Search-Results/Outdoor-headlines/Vote-now-for-a-great-cause/

If we are successful, the money will contribute to important work clearing invasive species in Snowdonia and thus preserving our landscape and biodiversity and footpath maintenance on some of the most popular paths in the National Park, including the Miners Track and Pyg path on Snowdon. Pass this email on to friends and contacts and if you're on Facebook or Twitter please encourage your friends and followers to add their vote!

This is a unique and important opportunity to ensure that our fantastic achievements in getting both residents and visitors, young and old, involved in protecting and enhancing the natural heritage of Snowdonia can continue into the future.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!

Update on voting from Wednesday 16th March:

Here is an update on the voting figures for our EOCA funding bid as they stand this morning with Trail Magazine

Snowdonia Footpath Repair - 6% - this is us :>(((

Lake District Footpath Repair -28%

ReWilding Ennerdale - 11%

Yorkshire 3 Peaks Repair - 56%

In total, they have had 3372 votes, so we have had just 202 votes! - Please send this on to as may of your contacts, family and friends as possible, and let's make a difference over the next few days

--

Sarah Medcalf

Cyfarwyddwr Cynorthwyol - Assistant Director

sarah@snowdonia-society.org.uk

Cymdeithas Eryri - Snowdonia Society

Caban, Yr Hen Ysgol, Brynrefail, LL55 3NR

Ffôn - Tel: 01286 685 498 / 07545026156

www.cymdeithas-eryri.org.uk - www.snowdonia-society.org.uk

Mae Cymdeithas Eryri yn Elusen Gofrestredig rhif 253231

The Snowdonia Society is a Registered Charity number 253231

Follow us on www.twitter.com/Snowdonia_soc

Car park can't park

Its not everyday you see something like this; thankfully no one was hurt and everything should be repairable despite the destruction of the original victorian railings.

Nearly there

End of week three and the dining room is nearly finished - the track and spot lights have over run but there is sufficient light for the present needs being a day conference and Sunday lunch. The place has really come together with the arrival of the furniture and LED halo effect lighting which changes colour to suit your needs. Shelly Hocknell's original oil takes pride of place for the time being or to when our mantle mirror is repaired after its falling out with me - at least 70 years bad luck for me judging by the amount and thickness of glass! The chandeliers have really shown - we just now need to resolve what's happening to the one originally supplied being a 2 way mirror effect but as a result, they were simply oversized and intrusive. Next week see the David Cox suite floor sanded, sealed and polished - really looking forward to the rich grain coming out!

Week 2 update

Week 2 has brought some solutions and some issues - we still await the some of the main light fittings but are confident these will soon arrive; we also need to repair some of the small dining room floor before it is plyed ready for the new oak floor. Having meet with floor contractor last Friday, they appear very confident of the finished product and how it should look. The furniture is progressing as expected and will, barring any weather disasters, be with us on schedule.

So, although we are very much upside down, all elements seem to be coming together....so far

Day 3

As you can see, Day 3 of the refurbishment has brought some progress and the plastering is well on track to be completed at the of the week. Decorators should be on site from tomorrow starting in the small Dining Room and so soon they will all be tripping over each other. Awaiting the lighting delivery tomorrow.........

Restaurant Refit

Today with a vengeance, the builders started on the refit of the main restaurant. They soon make a mess but hopefully things will start to come back together next week. It is a big step for us as you always wonder just how it will finish up and whether it will be well received. Also, given the proximity to christmas, you wonder if the fixture and fittings will all turn up in time after the holidays - fingers crossed!

Winter wonderland

Having spoken with various locals, we have come to the conclusion that it has been nearly 42 years since we have seen snow like this - I appreciate that most of the country is also in the grip of the conditions and that with christmas around the corner, the disruption is not all that welcome - still, we plough on and make the best of it.

Children In Need

Congratulations

A big congratulations to our local egg supplier in receiving their National Trust Produce Award, details of which were announced in this North Wales Weekly News - hopefully we will soon have them for sale for our customers! Well done to trefor and Marian Roberts and daughters, Elin and Mari or Ochr Cefn Isa Farm, Ysbyty Ifan

menu details

Autumn/Winter 2010

Starters

Pan Fried Menai Strait Mussels Marinier

with Llanrwst smoked bacon

Japanese Crumb Smoked Haddock and Spring Onion Fish Cakes

tartar sauce and frisse

Slow Cooked Confit Leg of Local Wild Rabbit

vanilla pod risotto & port wine syrup

Crispy Welsh Belly Pork & Seared King Scallops

apple & blackpudding

Fanned Galia Melon & Sliced Figs

air dried Carmarthenshire ham

Pressed Local Feathered Seasonal Game Terrine

beetroot & orange chutney

Roasted Butternut Squash Soup

with an apple & walnut scone

Main Courses

Chefs Celebration of Local Game

please ask your server for today’s selection

Noisette of Famous Conwy Valley Lamb

carrot & caraway gateaux, pea puree & fondant potato

Lightly Grilled Fillet of Wild Llandudno Sea Bass

confit fennel, mussel & lemon broth

Baked Fillet of Codling wrapped in Pancetta

fine cut ratatouille , goats cheese & basil croquettes

Chargrilled 10oz Sirloin of Welsh Beef

chunky chips, mushroom, onion rings & vine tomatoes

Roast Rhug Farm Organic Welsh Chicken Breast

apricot & cranberry stuffing, sage & onion pudding

Roasted Wild Ruabon Moor Partridge

pear tartan & butternut squash puree

(v) Vegetarian Assiette

ask your server for todays selection

All our game dishes may contain shot

Desserts

(Compliment your dessert with Brown Brothers Late Harvest Orange Dessert Wine

125ml Glass £6.00 375ml Bottle £15.95)

Terrine of Bread & Bara Brith Pudding

made with gold award winning Llanrwst bara brith

Cinnamon Poached Pear

chocolate, brandy sauce & Fortes vanilla ice cream

Vanilla Pod Pannacotta

honey glazed figs

Hot Chocolate Fondant Pudding with Caramel Centre

clotted cream ice cream

(please allow 20 minutes cooking time)

Welsh Cream Liqueur Cheesecake

on a crunchy ginger nut biscuit base

Selection of Specialty Welsh Farmhouse Cheese

with Ty Hwnt ir Bont bara brith & savoury biscuits

2 Course £25.00

3 Course £32.50