FOR Nick Rudge, life in the kitchen at Heston Blumenthal’s The Fat Duck in Berkshire was a home away from home.

Originally from Llandudno, Nick had long harboured dreams of opening his restaurant nearer to where he grew up.

And when COVID-19 hit, and with it the mundanity of life on furlough, Nick began to start realising that ambition.

Initially operating as a takeaway business during the start of 2021, The Jackdaw, open from Wednesday through to Sunday, enjoyed its grand unveiling in Conwy in October, and has taken off since.

He may have spent seven successful years at The Fat Duck but for Nick, who has embarked on his first business venture with The Jackdaw, his proudest moment is undoubtedly October’s opening.

Nick said: “I always wanted a restaurant in Conwy; the plan was always to come back to North Wales.

“After months of hard work with my family, putting in a lot of hard work and graft to get the restaurant the way it looks today, the proudest moment has to be when we were able to open the doors.

“The response has been great. I think, for dinners, we’re fully booked for this year, which is amazing.”

Using such ingredients as Conwy honey and mussels, Snowdonia Shiitake mushrooms, Rhug Estate venison and Denbighshire beef sirloin, Nick prides himself on The Jackdaw’s evident ‘Welsh’ appeal.

And he hopes to enhance this further with a unique menu which is in the works for the restaurant’s New Year’s Eve celebrations.

He added: “There isn’t really an identity of Welsh cuisine. People think of Welsh rarebit and Cawl, but it would be amazing to have people travel just to come here (for specific Welsh dishes).

“That (New Year’s Eve menu) is probably the closest thing that we’re going to get to that soon. There are a lot of dishes on that menu are inspired by Welsh folklore.

“There’s a dish we’re working on called ‘Sioni Winwns’. They were men who used to come from Breton to Wales to sell Roscoff onions; it’s a dish inspired by that.

“I love Guinness, and was reading about how there’s another tale of Welsh folklore that in a tavern in Llanfairfechan, a man who was drinking there sold the Guinness recipe to either Arthur Guinness or one of his men, so we’re also working on a dessert called ‘Gynwys’, which apparently is the original spelling!

“It’s good to be different - it took a lot care and pride at the Fat Duck, but this is my baby.”

The Jackdaw, High Street, Conwy.

For more information, visit The Jackdaw’s website at: www.thejackdawconwy.co.uk.

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