Welsh Caviar

Truly Delicious (capital D)

One of the first things I do when I find myself in Swansea (which I did yesterday) is head to the market in order to buy that holiest of Welsh delicacies, Penclawdd laverbread. You simply cannot make a traditional Welsh breakfast without it: bacon fried with laverbread and cockles is a stunning meal. Every forkful sending you into orgasmic fits. And no, im not exaggerrating!
So what is this laverbread? In Welsh its called Bara Lafwr, and all it is is seaweed that is collected from the shore and boiled for a few hours before being shredded and pureed.
Its nicknmaed the Welsh caviar but to be honest its much better than caviar, which is quite bland next to it. Unbelievably some folk don't like laverbread, but these have either never tried it (boring) or have deficent tastebuds and in this case they really ought to get them remedied because life is undoubtedly the poorer without Bara Lafwr in it. Again no exaggerration. Of course I could say its good that some dislike it because that means theres more for those of us blessed with a working palate but people should like it, no ifs or buts. Its bloody delicious!
Laverbread can be pretty expensive in some places but it needn't be. Its easy to harvest and make it at home, especially if you are lucky enough to live on the coast. My hometown is Burry Port which faces Penclawdd and the Gower, so I always had an amply bounty of it along with cockles. Good for you too, its packed with iron and has more than enough minerals to get you going in the morning.

Music to eat to ~ Dafydd Iwan, Max Boyce


Todays breakfast: minus cockles but still fabulous!