It takes around 50 minutes by train from Bristol Temple Meads to Cardiff which makes it a popular day out for many Bristolians in the run up to Christmas. And after all that festive shopping, what better place to unwind with a glass of wine and some delicious small plates than the Cardiff sibling of one of Bristol’s most popular restaurants?
Next to the indoor market in High Street, a five-minute walk from the shops and the main railway station, Parallel by Pasture is a great choice. It’s also next to the Cardiff branch of the Pasture steakhouse but the menu is very different.
Intimate, low-lit and with an open kitchen where chefs perform ‘live fire’ cookery, Parallel is described as an ‘immersive experience’. It also has a genuine buzz as soon as you arrive, and the aromas coming from the kitchen are certainly alluring.
The menu changes daily and, like the original Pasture in Redcliffe, much of the produce used comes from Pasture’s own farm on the outskirts of Bristol.
Divided into ‘snacks’, ‘raw and cured’, ‘crispy’, ‘vegetables’, ‘fish’ and ‘meat’, the menu has around 20 dishes to chose from. Prices range from £4 for a snack of olives, garlic and lemon to £30 for the meat main dishes which are large enough for two people to share.
Between the two of us, we shared everything we ordered and it was just the right amount of food. Portions are generous – that’s Welsh hospitality for you – and nobody leaves Parallel hungry.
We kicked off with octopus agrodolce and sourdough (£6). The tender pieces of octopus had been cooked slowly with onions, pine nuts and honey to create a sweet and sour combination and served with smoky slices of toasted sourdough. A great start.
We then shared the crisp croquettes (£6 for two) filled with a rich and creamy mix of sweet leeks and tangy Caerphilly cheese – a genuine taste of Wales on a plate. A slick of jammy black garlic sauce beneath the golf ball-sized croquettes was seriously addictive.
And then came two neat and crips blocks of breadcrumbed pork terrine (£7). These were served with a spicy curry aioli and crunchy, piquant pickled cucumbers. Again, a great marriage of contrasting flavours and textures.
From the meat section, we shared the sirloin on the bone (£30) – the pink slices of deep-flavoured, generous seasoned steak had been removed from the bone and served with a really good peppercorn sauce.
The duck breast and duck confit leg with blackberry and peppercorn jus (£30) was a huge portion and there was barely room on the plate for all that perfectly cooked duck and dark, fruity sauce.
A side order of grilled tenderstem broccoli with Sichuan dressing (£6) and new potatoes (£7) slathered with salsa verde and crunchy bacon crumb were as impressive as the main dishes. It was all cooked with real care and skill.
We finished with a decadent chocolate mousse and a fluffy, crunchy baked Alaska (both £8) before waddling out with our bags towards the station and the train back to Bristol, agreeing that dinner at Parallel by Pasture would have been well worth the round trip from Bristol regardless of Christmas shopping. Needless to say but we’re already planning a return visit.
Parallel by Pasture, 11 High Street, Cardiff, CF10 1AW.