Gorse
Cardiff, United Kingdom
ā1 Star
The Experience
From Michelin Guide
You get a good feeling about this intimate, personally run restaurant from the moment you arrive and are greeted by the chefs in the open kitchen. Go for the longer of the tasting menus and you wonāt regret your decision, as local chef Tom and his team show a great understanding of flavour and balance across dishes founded upon the bountiful Welsh larder ā from seaweed and seafood to Gower salt marsh lamb. The service is genial and unobtrusive, perfectly befitting of such an impressive operation.
Unique Things
From Visitor Experiences
Here are three unique and unconventional aspects of the Michelin-starred restaurant Gorse in Cardiff:
1. Deep Connection to Welsh Heritage and Ancestral Food Culture
Gorseās founder and chef, Tom Waters, emphasizes preserving the traditional flavors and techniques of Welsh cuisine, aiming to keep the food culture of Welsh ancestors alive. This philosophy drives the restaurantās modern Welsh menu, reflecting a nostalgic and cultural approach rather than just contemporary fine dining trends.
2. Intimate, Earthy, and Minimalist Design Inspired by Gorse Shrub
The restaurantās interior design is inspired by the gorse shrub, featuring earthy tones, simple wooden tabletops, and gorse-themed artwork made from actual gorse flowers cast in plaster. The space is minimal yet warm and convivial, seating only 22 guests to maintain intimacy. The open kitchen removes barriers between chef and diners, enhancing the personal dining experience.
3. Innovative and Playful Modern Welsh Cuisine with Surprising Elements
Gorse offers a creative tasting menu featuring inventive dishes such as a chamomile custard with strawberry sorbet and preserved rose scent, a toasty oat custard with smoked raspberry jam and apple caramel, and a carrot jelly with lemon verbena sugar. These dishes showcase a blend of bold flavors and textures that push the boundaries of traditional Welsh cooking.
These elements together make Gorse a distinctive Michelin-starred restaurant that celebrates Welsh heritage through innovative cuisine and a thoughtfully designed intimate atmosphere.
Ingredient Stars
From Visitor Experiences
The most honored or signature ingredients at the Michelin-starred restaurant Gorse in Cardiff reflect a strong connection to local Welsh produce and the surrounding landscape. Key ingredients include:
Welsh Mountain Mutton: Celebrated for its superb depth of flavor, tenderness, and melting fat, it is used in dishes such as mutton sausage meat stuffed morel mushrooms, accompanied by wild garlic purƩe and asparagus, showcasing rich, layered tastes.
Turbot: A delicately cooked, meaty fish treated with care, served with an oregano-scented buttery sauce and asparagus, highlighting the quality and finesse in seafood preparation.
Celeriac: Featured as a spoonably soft wheel bathed in a creamy, lightly tangy buttermilk sauce with chervil oil, elevating a humble vegetable into a refined dish.
Seaweed (from CĆ¢r-y-MĆ“r): Forms the backbone of the menu, used in kelp stock and laver butter that accompanies their signature Parkerhouse roll ("Bum Breadā¢"), emphasizing native Welsh coastal ingredients and adding umami depth.
Gower Salt-Marsh Lamb: Another prized local protein, used in dishes that highlight its exceptional quality and flavor, often paired with delicate accompaniments like cucumber, onion, and lavender.
These ingredients are integral to Gorseās identity, combining local sourcing with precise culinary techniques to create dishes that are distinctly Welsh and seasonally inspired. The use of native elements like seaweed and Welsh mountain mutton underscores the restaurantās commitment to regional authenticity and flavor depth. The signature Parkerhouse roll with laver butter also stands out as a unique and beloved accompaniment.