The Hardwick Named “Welsh Restaurant of the Year”

TV’s Great British Menu chef, Stephen Terry, named in Top Annual Award

It’s been quite a summer for Welsh chef Stephen Terry. Not only has he won BBC TV’s Great British Menu, but his restaurant, The Hardwick in Abergavenny, has been named the Penderyn Restaurant of the Year for 2008, the premier award for restaurants in Wales.

Stephen is a gifted chef whose passion for food earned him a Michelin star when he was at The Walnut Tree in 2001 and, more recently, BBC TV viewers have seen his flair and imagination in the Great British Menu. On the final show from the top of London’s Gherkin building, he cooked for four of the world’s greatest chefs who were effusive in their praise for his skills.

The Penderyn panel of judges was unanimous in its decision that The Hardwick should be awarded the title of Restaurant of the Year 2008. They all agreed Terry has earned his place at the top of the tree for his unfussy, simple and precise, style of cooking that has an Italian flair and the provenance of genuinely local ingredients.

Neil Quigley, sales director of Penderyn, congratulated The Hardwick at the presentation of the prize, saying:

“The Penderyn distillery has been awarding the Restaurant of the Month and Restaurant of the Year titles now for over two years because we wanted to find the world class Welsh restaurants that complement our own philosophy of fusing the finest ingredients with time and skill to create a perfect product. Being widely acknowledged as one of the world’s best single malt whiskies, and the only whisky made in Wales, Penderyn is uniquely placed to champion the exceptional quality of a new generation of Welsh restaurants and hotels by making this prestigious award.

Quigley further explained:

“The standard of Welsh ingredients, talent and restaurants is superb and very often the international plaudits and awards are too London-centric. We know that there are many chefs in Wales that can equal or better the standards found anywhere else in Britain and Stephen Terry is one of them. Penderyn is proud to name The Hardwick as our Restaurant of the Year as it emanates all the qualities we are looking for – it is run by a team who are fanatical about excellence, fiercely independent, proud of its Welsh heritage and is consistently creating dishes of the highest standard.”

Terry has developed an enviable number of regulars who return to order his signature dishes. Some have even said that they are addicted to his Crispy Breadcrumbed Gloucester Old Spot Pork Belly & Black Pudding with Dandelion and Apple & Mustard Sauce.

Stephen says: “The secret is in the preparation and the fact that all of the ingredients come from within five miles of the restaurant. It is always moist, succulent and bursting with flavour; the layers of crumb, black pudding and pork belly look stunning, but they also create a wonderful taste combination.”

Terry’s success in based on his unswerving belief in freshness and he is renown for his dedication to Welsh produce. Such are his standards that he knows most of his producers by name and many are regulars at his table.

He states:

“We buy local ingredients and, as we see the produce growing in the fields when we are driving around, we know what to expect. Wales has a fast-growing reputation for its food because our farmers use traditional methods that take advantage of the climate and virtually pollution-free countryside to produce excellent results; also the waters off our coasts are home to a wide variety of fish which are landed daily at our small harbours. It all comes down to the fact that farmers, producers, and fisherman know that perfection takes time – cutting corners is a recipe for disaster, not success! I am thoroughly enjoying blowing our Welsh trumpet as we have the best produce here and I am showcasing it with relish!”

All the best Welsh restaurants and pubs can be found in the What’s On chapter of the Penderyn website – www.welsh-whisky.co.uk.

About Penderyn Distillery:

Located in the small Welsh village of Penderyn beside the Brecon National Park, Penderyn Distillery is the producer of the award winning Penderyn Single Malt Whisky, along with other brands including Brecon Gin, Brecon Five Vodka and Merlyn Cream Liqueur.

Established in 1999, the independent company produces more than 100,000 bottles each year, and is now available throughout the UK and sold throughout the world and available in the finest hotels and restaurants.

Penderyn revives a whisky distilling heritage in Wales that goes back 250 years. The unique copper still is charged daily with a specially fermented single variety malted barley wash to produce a limited quantity of pure single malt spirit. This is married with spring water (drawn directly from our own source) before being laid down to mature in specially selected premium oak barrels.

About The Hardwick
The Hardwick, Abergavenny
Tel: 01873 854220
www.thehardwick.co.uk

The Hardwick is a refurbished old pub on the old A40 (B4598) just outside the town and has quickly gained a reputation with locals and non-locals alike for serving consistently good, innovative and traditional food in a comfortable, unpretentious environment. Stephen Terry, the chef/proprietor, uses many local suppliers to produce his changing seasonal menu.

Stephen is very accommodating when it comes to children as he has two of his own and makes a point of welcoming them. After all, he sees them as his future customers!

There are eighteen wines by the glass and a selection of a further twenty four half bottle carafes available from the main list. Two Welsh real ales are always on offer along side two premium lagers and a cider. There is also a very good selection of non alcoholic drinks including local organic apple juice.