Latest news with #MattPowell
Western Telegraph
11-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Western Telegraph
Narberth restaurant named among UK's best by national awards
The National Restaurant Awards took place on Monday (June 9), celebrating "the brilliance and vibrancy of the UK restaurant scene, honouring the best chefs and operators across the country". Awards handed out at the annual event included: National Restaurant of the Year Gastropub of the Year Chef of the Year Cocktail List of the Year Wine List of the Year Opening of the Year Best Restaurant in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland (four individual awards) A list of the UK's top 100 restaurants was also revealed, featuring one Pembrokeshire restaurant - Annwn. The best restaurants in the UK The best restaurants in the UK, according to the National Restaurant Awards, are: Why Annwn is among the UK's best restaurants Annwn was ranked the 68th best restaurant in the country at the National Restaurant Awards. The Narberth-based restaurant describes itself as "a Welsh food movement" that pays homage to its Welsh surroundings and landscapes. It was recommended by the National Restaurant Awards for its "hyper-local food with a sustainable conscience". The Awards website explains: "Chef-patron Matt Powell serves a single 10-course menu that changes during the seasons using ingredients that are not only local to the area, including many that are foraged close by - often within walking distance of the restaurant - but those that support sustainable producers and the country's wild ecosystems. "A meal at Annwn starts with a selection of snacks, that might include bread 'cooked on the planc' and seasonal offerings such as cured and air-dried meats before getting to the heart of the matter with a procession of dishes that celebrate Pembrokeshire's bounty and which feature some unusual and not often used ingredients. "Plating is meticulous, with dishes served on a wide variety of crockery and items from the natural world to accentuate the restaurant's natural approach. "By contrast, the dining room is less formal than the food's presentation might suggest, with wooden tables and chairs, dark slate flooring, and vintage furniture creating a rustic but comfortable space in tune with its surroundings." Previous dishes at Annwn have included: Kilpaison oyster with purée, estuary plants, and an oyster cracker A broth of velvet swimmer crab, St Brides prawns, sea buckthorn emulsification, sea radish and (nicer than it sounds) scurvy grass Mallard accompanied by damson Paste, hazelnuts, and preserved hogweed seeds Customers agree Annwn is "one of the best in the world" It's not just the experts who love Annwn, but customers as well, with it boasting a perfect 5 rating on Tripadvisor from 46 reviews. It has been described by visitors as a "culinary gem", "one of the best in the world" and a "beacon worth travelling a long way" for. Have you visited Annwn before? (Image: Tripadvisor) One person, commenting about their experience at Annwn, said: "Top 3 restaurant in the world for a special experience. "I am fortunate to have eaten at highly rated restaurants all over the world, including those with multiple Michelin stars. "Annwn stands out for the authentic and deeply immersive experience into Welsh food, history, and community. It was worth every penny and much more." RECOMMENDED READING: Another customer, posting on Tripadvisor, added: "True to name, Annwn is out of this world, in the best of ways. "A fabulous experience of top Michelin quality food in a wonderfully intimate and personal setting. Cannot recommend highly enough. "Surely Annwn will be awarded its star very soon. "Matt is the most committed and passionate chef I have spoken with and, together with Naomi, they host a brilliant experience."
Yahoo
11-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Allbirds makes zero-carbon shoe available to the public
This story was originally published on Retail Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Retail Dive newsletter. Two years after teasing the product, Allbirds has made its zero-carbon shoe available to the public. A limited, 500-unit run of the 'M0.0NSHOT Zero' shoe is available beginning Thursday at Allbirds stores in New York City and London, and on Friday in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates. The shoe will later be available in Seoul, South Korea, on April 1 and in Tokyo in the spring, according to a press release. The shoes are priced at $200 and offered in unisex sizes 6 through 11 for both men and women. The release of Allbirds' first zero-carbon shoe comes as the brand executes on a multiyear transformation. As of November, Allbirds had shuttered 15 stores and revised its outlook for 2024, lowering full-year revenue guidance to a range of $187 million to $193 million. The Moonshot project began in 2022, according to the company. After debuting the shoe in 2023, the brand created an open-source toolkit to allow other companies to create their own versions. 'Simply put: product takes time, particularly product this ambitious,' the company said in an email. 'These shoes are a world first and are the culmination of years of learnings and innovations, so we wanted to take the time to nail this and create a moment that sparks dialogue, exploration, and action for the fashion industry to make meaningful progress against climate change.' The zero-carbon shoe also comes as consumers grapple with wanting to prioritize sustainability and having to pull back on discretionary spending in the face of economic uncertainty. 'Consumers have told us that they want more sustainable products,' Matt Powell, adviser at Spurwink River, said in an email. 'But they have also said they would not pay a lot more for sustainability. This pricing is probably on the edge here. Some will pay this but will enough do so? Remains to be seen.' Beth Goldstein, a footwear analyst for Circana, added that it also comes down to value, which can mean different things for different consumers. 'For a consumer that prioritizes environmental issues, this price point may be digestible,' Goldstein said. 'But for most this isn't going to be the key selling point, so there need to be other benefits as well. It needs to be a great product, not just an eco-friendly one.' Items made with any recycled materials generated 20% of running and lifestyle sneaker sales in 2024, up from 5% in 2021, according to Circana's Retail Tracking Service. The release of the Moonshot publicly also comes as Allbirds reworks its product portfolio. The brand in late 2023 released an updated version of its classic Wool Runner and last year launched the Tree Runner Go sneaker. Allbirds also revealed a vintage-inspired style dubbed the Courier in 2023.
