Pasture is a staple restaurant in Cardiff where customers flock for an evening of theatrical dining and flame-cooked steak. Now, its owner is getting ready to open its newest sister restaurant - a small, intimate, 32-cover small plates bar and restaurant adjacent to the Cardiff branch called Parallel by Pasture.
The small plates restaurant, which has been decorated with exposed brick, and industrial looking lighting, will be opening its doors to the public on Tuesday, March 7.
They will be serving up "interesting" small plates - some of which include leek and manchego croquettes, diver scallops, beef kofta, albacore tuna and hasselback potatos - alongside a drinks menu that boasts wines, beers, spirits, cocktails - like bergamot spritz, yellow pepper gimlet, pomelo negroni and espresso martini - and non alcoholic 'seasonal shrub soda', as stated on a sample menu.
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Aiming to bring a "new immersive culinary venture" set around an open kitchen - much like its sister restaurant Pasture - its focus is "vibrant and energetic fine dining" whose menu will be changing daily with ingredients celebrating the season's freshest Welsh produce, cooked over charcoal.
Speaking to Wales Online, Sam Elliott - owner of Pasture, who is "very excited for the opening" - says: "Following the success of Pasture in Cardiff, I always wanted to open a smaller, intimate restaurant which can focus on utilising these amazing, seasonal ingredients that we've got, highlighting our amazing Welsh suppliers. And getting a bit more interactive and immersive in the kitchen.
"So we've got a beautiful counter-top dining area. It's a small restaurant, 32 covers, but everyone's centralised around this kitchen. So you're fully involved in the chef's cooking and [it's] a lot of theatre. We're cooking on charcoal again, so open fires. And a really interesting menu that's going to change daily. Small plates designed for sharing with some incredible flavours going on."
He adds of the daily changing menus: "It keeps it interesting for our talented chefs. Chefs are creative people and having a menu that can change daily is very exciting for chefs."
As for his excitement around his vision for Parellel coming to life, Sam says: "I've looked at this spot next door for almost two years. In fact, when I agreed the lease originally on Pasture I always had my eyes on this restaurant. So to be able to get it now, we've had a big overhaul, people wouldn't recognise it - it used to be Fly By Night previously - we've taken stairs out, stripped it all the way back to bare walls and started again. It's all interlinked within Pasture." It means the team and chefs are all under one roof, working in both Pasture and Parellel.
While Parallel is a little different to Pasture with its small plates and a more intimate setting, Sam explains one things remains: "[We've got the same] big, bold flavours that you'd expect from Pasture restaurants." In the summer, it will also be hosting hungry punters on its terrace past its bifolding doors on High Street. "We've got nice bifolding windows and 20 covers outside so you can enjoy small plates and a glass of wine in the sunshine."
He tells us bookings have gone through the roof since announcing the opening - no surprise as Pasture too is a highly sought-after dining experience - and soon after this news was broken, fans of Pasture and foodies alike took to its Instagram comments to voice their excitement.
One user wrote: "Can’t wait to come and try well done guys x". Another said: "Can’t wait to taste", while a third joked: "Ahh great! Another restaurant impossible to get a booking at!", referring to the popularity of Pasture, whose bookings are filled up months in advance.
Parallel by Pasture opens on Tuesday, March 7. For more information, see the website.
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