Kemis – craft in the Bay

Kemis – craft in the Bay, Cardiff Bay, 029 2045 3335, www.kemis.co.uk

Today was a wonderfully sunny day and going for a wander around the Secure exhibition at the Millennium centre was a real tonic. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath and I just knew that spring was finally here. As I started to wind my way home Kemis – craft in the bay caught my attention. A spot of shopping then lunch was just the ticket to stave off the back to work blues.

Kemis is attached to Craft in the Bay a shop selling contemporary Welsh craft.  So two necklaces, a silver bracelet and a bowl later I was ready to tuck into my Salad Feast. This was exactly what it said on the tin, it was a feast, the variety of veg and lovely dressings in this mixed salad was tasty filling and healthy, not a limp lettuce or a gloopy mayonnaise potato to be seen. It was like no other salad I have eaten. Sitting on the tables on the top floor with the sun streaming in through the windows gave a great setting whether you are meeting friends or having a business lunch. Looking at the other choices healthy and homemade appears to be Kemis byword.

This is a bustling vibrant addition to the standard beige chain eateries that choke up Cardiff Bay.

Lottie x

Happy Gathering, Canton

Happy Gathering, Canton, 029 2039 7531, www.happygatheringcardiff.co.uk

Usually I can take or leave Chinese food. There’s nothing wrong with it, but it doesn’t make for those OMGI’mInHeaven moments. The Happy Gathering in Canton isn’t any different, but if you’re looking for a change from the limp sandwich and Snickers in your lunch box one day you could do much worse.

Upstairs it’s pretty massive, which always makes it feel empty, but look around and you’ll see plenty of Chinese folks dining here dotted around. The lunch time special lets you pick from a selection of starters and mains with plain or egg fried rice for less than £7. I had the prawn toast and shredded chilli beef.

The toast was great and the beef was quite spicy and wasn’t too sweet and cloying either. Everyone in our group throuroughly enjoyed their food.

Washed down with a couple of Tsing Tao I eased myself back downstairs and onto the street glad I didn’t have any meetings booked in that afternoon. The Happy Gathering never used to be the first place I thought of as a lunch time treat but I’ve made a mental note to try and come back here more often.

Barnabus