Hotel in Cardiff, UK Indulges Its Appetite for all Things Local With Groundbreaking New Menu

CARDIFF, UNITED KINGDOM--(Marketwired - Oct 25, 2013) - Revisions are almost always a good thing. From news articles going to print, to PowerPoint presentations destined for the boardroom, it never hurts to give something a second look. And that holds true for food as well. As the Cardiff Marriott Hotel debuts a stunning new menu in collaboration with Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall's River Cottage, hotels across the UK and around the world are taking note.

The first thing one notices about the new menus at this hotel near Cardiff's city centre is their strong local connection. Launched on 21 October 2013, the menus embrace River Cottage's SLOW (Seasonal, Local, Organic, Wild) philosophy to the point where up to 80 percent of the food is sourced from local Welsh farmers.

But the other letters in that acronym are just as critical to the new menu, which debuted at the hotel's Zest Restaurant. The seasonality is reflected in the frequency of the menu changes, which, instead of happening quarterly, now happen daily. And organic and wild foods dominate each dish, from Marriott's Future Fish programme (which uses sustainably-sourced fish and shellfish), to the exclusively featured organic meat and free-range chicken.

Chefs at this restaurant in Cardiff, Wales take these ultra-fresh and local ingredients, draw on their rigorous training at River Cottage's Chefs' School and create signature dishes like shoulder of lamb flavoured with smashed celeriac, chillies and thyme. Creativity plays a role not only in the composition of dishes, though. The partnership between River Cottage and Marriott asks participating restaurants to reduce food wastage from their current five-percent levels while also improving their ratings with the Sustainable Restaurant Association.

Not only will these new menus up the ante for other restaurants in the Cardiff dining scene, they spell big changes for restaurants in hotels around the world. Marriott implemented the fruits of its partnership with River Cottage in two hotels this month, but more of its 50 UK properties are expected to adopt the menus in the near future. 

With the dramatic changes underway at Zest Restaurant, this hotel near Cardiff's Millennium Stadium is pioneering new ground for hotel cuisine. Travellers interested in learning more may visit http://www.marriott.com/hotel-restaurants/cwldt-cardiff-marriott-hotel/zest-restaurant/5551607/home-page.mi.

About the Cardiff Marriott Hotel
Visitors to Cardiff can access the best in attractions and amenities by staying at the Cardiff Marriott Hotel. Not only are guests just steps away from Millennium Stadium (home of Wales' international rugby team), they are also near Cardiff's city centre and St. David's Shopping Centre. Before the exploring gets underway, however, travellers can relax within the hotel's 184 plush guest rooms and suites. High-speed Internet, thick mattresses and 24-hour room service make visitors feel right at home. Plus the fitness centre, complimentary fitness classes, indoor pool and sauna provide ideal outlets for relaxation, especially for those travelling for work. To that end, the hotel offers seven meeting rooms with 5,759 square feet of event space and a full-service business centre. Guests can also continue networking or just relax socially at the hotel's two eateries: Zest Restaurant specializes in a revolutionary new approach to local and sustainable fare; and Chat's Café Bar serves up traditional British favourites alongside internationally-inspired dishes.