The reason we were on bleak and windswept Newborough Beach on the last Sunday of December (being unexpectedly wowed by intrepid kiteboarders) was because we thought we should work up an appetite before lunch. And no ordinary lunch either. Sister Jo had booked it weeks before – at the Marram Grass – a little beach shack eatery that has become a legend not only on the island of Anglesey, but far beyond.
To say the premises are unassuming is an understatement. It truly is a large shed – and that’s how it began. Nine years ago, when two young men – Liam (newly graduated surveyor) and Ellis (self-taught chef) Barrie came to help their parents set up a small caravan park, it was an old potting shed. And from it grew a thriving enterprise whose raison d’etre is to serve freshly made food that highlights local and seasonal produce, much of it home-grown.
They’ve won awards. And so they should. We stepped out of the freezing wind and into an all-round glow. We sat in our cosy booth as the afternoon grew darker, ‘50s tracks on the sound system, low hum of chatter beyond, and a complete unknowing of what we would eat. There was no menu. All depended on what the chef had decided to cook, and so instead of feeling like run-of-the-mill clients, we became guests. And it made me think that there was nothing more blissful on a dreary winter’s afternoon than a long, slow Sunday lunch, impeccably created and presented with love.
Tish Farrell 
Sounds like my kind of place. Envious
Delicious food too.
Definitely sounds like my kind if place. Wonderful:)
What an amazing place
Sounds marvelous, but might be a bit awkward for us veggisaurs.
I think they would cater for vegetarians. You just had to let them know in advance if there were particular requirements.
Fair enough.
They did a very scrumptious beetroot soup with a little sprinkle of goat’s cheese for starters.
Not much for eating out but this place sounds like a fun place to visit.
It was!
My kind of place!
Hello to Jo! 🙂 🙂 Sounds like a perfect way to spend a rainy day, Tish. I’m off to the kitchen to juggle with a few meatballs soon.
Ooh – meatballs. Bon appetit. We’re off out into a chilly night for a curry. Will send hellos from Jo to Jo 🙂
Looks chilly, what did you eventually eat?
Bonne année Memsahib.
🙂
Beetroot soup with a goat’s cheese sprinkle; home grown roast pork and veg; and an extraordinary rhubarb trifle creation. Lots of simple ingredients creatively concocted. Happy New year to you too, Brian.
Sounds lovely. Rhubarb now? Reminds me of my mother, she made a rhubarb pie once, centuries ago…
Stay warm Tish.
A humble thing rhubarb – but magic can be made of it – surprisingly when combined with strawberries; or made into a jelly. Needs to be a good variety though.
This sounds heavenly. I do like hearing stories like this – where unassuming people seemingly from scratch create something wonderful and hugely successful.
Alison
It certainly has lots of ‘feel good’ factor.
That looks like such a unique and relaxing way to dine. Reminds me of a place in the mountains above Kyrenia I went to years ago. Lovely. Happy New Year, Tish.
It’s much more a continental approach, isn’t the family restaurant that serves what it does best. I get frustrated with eating places that think they need a HUGE menu.
What a lovely place to enjoy food and companies. A wonderful story behind the scene.
It looks like a perfect place to spend an afternoon, and your description of the food has me salivating.
Sounds marvelous and just the way we love to eat if possible. Nice to catch a selfie of you as well. 🙂
janet
You spotted me! 🙂
But of course.
What a fabulous place . . . reminds me of restaurants in Alentejo. You get what is good that day, best way to dine out I say!
Like minds…
Reblogged this on Hutts New Blogging World.
Heh, who photographs the photographer? 😀 … my kind of eatery! 😀
🙂 🙂