One guarantee in my life is that my kids will never (ever) say no at the mention of pizza for dinner, whether that be a frozen supermarket job, a Saturday night Domino’s Pepperoni Passion ‘hangover special’ (ok that’s me with the hangover, not them!) or a trip out to a local Italian.  Therefore, when we’re away from home it’s usually a foregone conclusion that locating a pizzeria will be on the cards, if only that I can ensure they have one decent meal. Recently, this came in the form of Taormina, an independent Italian restaurant located in Crawley, and owned by three friends.  ..read more

*This post is sponsored by Bulmers and middle age.  It comes to you from the comfort of a bed.  In no way, shape, or form, is it an endorsement to drink the aforementioned beverage…   Rugby International days sure have changed. Long gone is the first pint at 10am, and a cooked breakfast to purposefully line the stomach to limit the effects of 12 hours of solid drinking…it never worked. The mile long queue up Guildhall Place to bag a BK Whopper, and the inevitability of cheesy chips down Caroline Street to wrap up the night. Twenty years later, and the view looks a little different.  It’s 1.30 ..read more

Where to start… As I sit here with a day remaining of 2019, awkwardly attempting to forge its highlights into some kind of discernible blog post (hmm, this is starting to sound familiar…) One word stands out. Thankful.  This time…thankful that 2019 is drawing to a close  This year has certainly been more challenging than expected, and as such, the blog has suffered.  However, I remain constantly grateful for everyone’s support and encouragement to continue to put finger to key. Still onwards and upwards, and with any luck January will see the return of Krak’en Bites, along with a few random r ..read more

“Back once again for the renegade master D4 damager, with the ill behavior. Back once again Back once again” …or some such insightful lyric.  As you can tell from the limitations of my current Old Skool Spotify playlist, I am evidently losing the plot, again! It’s been a few months since I put finger to key, so naturally I thought I would defy Octopus Diaries convention, and temporarily desert my ‘independent’ cause with an all hail to the almighty chain restaurant.  Don’t all gasp at once.  To add insult to injury, it was also an invite; yes, I sold out for complimentary food.  I am not go ..read more

So the July/August lull seems to be here.  The sun has finally put in a consistent appearance in Wales – with intermittent Met Office yellow weather warnings; the kids are halfway through their break – yes I am actually ticking off the weeks; I’ve switched comforting casseroles for summer salads – yes it is a cry for help (from my bathroom scales), and personally a much needed holiday is just around the corner (sod what the bathroom scales think). In view of this, July’s Krak’en Bites remains close to home, primarily to appease the Bank Manager.  If you happen to have missed the June edition ..read more

The primary aim of the Octopus Diaries has always been to celebrate, and share unique dining out experiences and dishes in the independent sector.  To give a shout out to all those businesses where 9-5 doesn’t exist, and which are run by individuals and teams with a passion and insatiable desire to offer their guests a unique dining experience, value for money and quite simply great food. Yes, I may have misled a few individuals along the way who believed me to have an unconventional obsession with cephalopods, oh, and that I was apparently male…that came as news to me, and a few others!  But ..read more

Well another month has come and gone – it doesn’t seem long ago that I posted April’s Krak’en Bites round-up.  Yet here we are, seemingly at the end of May. This month has been all about Cardiff; from pop-ups and fine dining to new openings. it’s fantastic to see the food scene starting to move forward again.  Although I hasten to add, it sometimes very much feels that as a city we take one step forward and two steps back, with further restaurant closures announced this week, and I fear, more to come… In this respect, it’s important to recognise and celebrate the culinary talent that Cardiff ..read more

Ahh Bristol.  Bursting with choice when it comes to the independent food scene; I have to admit I’ve always found an appeal in spontaneous car journeys along the M4 to ‘eat out’.  Now made all the more pleasurable by the fact that the non-discretionary £5.60 to re-enter my own country of residence, is no longer added to the overall bill . Do I feel like I am cheating on Cardiff when I head over the bridge to dine out?  A little.  Ok, I’m in a different postcode – is that still a valid excuse?  Probably not.  After all it is an hour away, while it takes me just shy of 20 minutes to travel into ..read more

As a person who struggles to maintain a hobby – primarily anything that involves a certain level of physical effort; if you’d have asked me whether I would still be writing about dishes I enjoy eating 24 months later, I may have replied “not a chance”.  As it turns out the exertion of lifting fork to mouth suits me just fine, and this month saw The Octopus Diaries turn two.  Thankfully, with no full-blown toddler-style tantrums in sight; my passion for food, exploring independent restaurants and writing hasn’t diminished over the past few years, and I continue to be thankful for the ongoing s ..read more

Is anyone else struggling with the fact that a quarter of the year has already gone?  Just me?  Due to a quick adventure over the Atlantic last week, March has been on my radar for sometime, but quite frankly this month has flown. If you missed February’s Krak’en Bites – where have you been?  However, before I subject you to this month’s restaurant round-up, I wanted to give a quick shout out to the most recent Kickstarter restaurant project to hit Cardiff.  One of the Capital’s best-loved pizza restaurants are hoping to raise £40,000 to assist them in refurbishing an old park-warden’s bunga ..read more