Croque of gold

We like a croque-madame at Fine Dining. There's something very mouth-pleasing about its eggy hammy breadness, although we were once bitterly disappointed by its naughty husband, the croque-monsieur in a beer garden in the Lake District.

Here's a croque-madame we had at chain restaurant Café Rouge in Cardiff Bay. It got us through a hangover and was nice and comforting and all friendly-like. We put a load of ketchup on it and it didn't seem to mind. That's your croque-madame: easy-going. So we were somewhat alarmed to learn about the croque-madame's bigger, brasher, beefier Portuguese cousin – the francesinha. Terrifying. We're not sure we could manage one of them. It would be like getting beaten up in your stomach. Although the chips look like they'd be amazing dipped in that sauce. It's got two kinds of boozes in it!

Here's a recipe...
And here's the blog, I Just Like To Eat, that we borrowed the francesinha picture from.

Cheez pleez

A cheese and tomato toastie in the cafeteria in Gelli Aur.

Go west

A daytrip to Aberaeron. Mainly spent eating. A sandwich on the seafront, a Welsh cake at the lovely Hive On The Quay and then finally, a sandwich in a lay-by just a mile outside of Lampeter.

Pork/pie

A nice couple of pork chops, followed by a lovely apple and blackberry pie with low-fat icecream. Low-fat! I know. Wow.

Tearoom with a view

Welshcakes and scones in the tearoom at Rhossili. Here's that view:

Traditional Welsh fayre

Lots of tasty Welshness at the cafeteria in Gelli Aur Country Park: a Welsh cake and a pasty. Filled with cawl! (Bit specialist, that last one).

Party like it's 1971

My dad and his family enjoying a nice spread. The processing date on the edge of the photo is "MAR • 71". Maybe they were celebrating Decimal Day.

The twelve eats of Christmas: 12

Lamb chops, chips and a visit to the salad bar at the Old Bridge Inn, Llangennech.

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The twelve eats of Christmas: 11

Mince pies and mulled wine, over the holidays.

The twelve eats of Christmas: 10

A delicious chicken tikka sandwich – yes! – in the cafeteria at Llanelli North Dock.

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The twelve eats of Christmas: 9

A roast beef dinner, in between Christmas and New Year. At Christmas, I'd eat turkey until the cows come home, but I suppose it's nice to have a change.

The twelve eats of Christmas: 7

A lovely, yolky bacon and egg sandwich for breakfast. Thanks Mum!

The twelve eats of Christmas: 6

Back in Wales. Straight off the train, to the Beefeater. Brains, paté and salmon. We're at the halfway mark! Phew.