Journal36 posts
Deri, thinking out loud.
Written over the last year, mostly at odd hours. Food, suppliers, Carmarthen, and the slow business of working out whether The Warren comes back and what it is if it does.
Community Inspiration Day
A room full of people trying to work out how community food projects can survive and grow
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Volunteer Thursdays: Week Six
Yesterday was week six of our volunteer Thursdays at The Warren, and for the first time it felt like we’d properly moved from getting the Warren ready to actually starting to wo…
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Food, Community and What’s Possible in Carmarthen
Yesterday I had the pleasure of sitting on a panel here in Carmarthen with Jen from Cegin y Bobl and Mary Sherwood, hosted by Owen from LocalMotion.
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The Tenth Year Speech from Deri
This is what we’ve all been waiting for, huh? The big announcement. But first, I think we should start with a big happy birthday to The Warren. Ten years. It’s amazing to see so…
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Fallow
For those of you who missed the chat with me and Lisa at Fallow, here it is…
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So, how’s it going?
It’s been just over two weeks since I shared the idea of trying to reopen The Warren differently. Not simply reopening the restaurant as it was, but spending the next few months…
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What does The Warren reopening mean for Cegin Hedyn?
With everything I've been sharing recently about The Warren, I want to talk about something that is really important to me, and hopefully clear up some understandable confusion.…
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Roast Glasbren Vegetable Salad with Cannellini Beans
A simple celebration of what’s growing now
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The next chapter begins
It’s been a long time since I wrote a blog post. The last one was on 16 May, and a lot has happened since then. The truth is, I’ve been wrestling with the future of The Warren f…
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Nine years ago I bought 11 Mansel Street.
A crowdfunder raised more than £20,000 and we opened The Warren.
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Is There Another Way Forward for The Warren?
Over the past few months, I’ve been thinking deeply about the future of The Warren. To be honest, I don’t think I can go back to running it in the way I used to. For a long time, I carried most of the…
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A Trip to Stroud: Sitting at the Long Table
Last weekend I made a trip I’ve been meaning to take for a long time. Stroud. A place that’s come up in conversations again and again over the years, usually with a certain kind of reverence. This time I…
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Fermented Wild Garlic
Hey friends, the season is in swing, here the recipe I used for mine! Let me know how you get on! Happy fermenting! Recipe: Simple 2% ferment (no fuss, no waste) You’ll need: • Wild garlic leaves • Fine sea…
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Cocoa in Crisis
If you’ve been trying to buy cocoa powder recently and found the shelves empty, you’re not imagining it. There is a serious global cocoa shortage right now, and the organic Fairtrade cocoa that meets the…
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The next chapter of The Warren
For the last while, I’ve been sitting with a big question: How does The Warren continue in a way that is sustainable for the people inside it, not just the people eating in it? I’ve built something I’m deeply…
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Wild Garlic, Gooseberries & Me
There are certain moments in a life that quietly but decisively change the direction you are heading in. Often, you only realise their significance many years later. For me, one of those moments came over 15…
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Pop-Up Info
Suppliers List: Bwyd Sir Gar | Hael Produce | Glasbren CSA | Blaencamel Farm | Watson & Pratts | Andrew Davies Game | Plas Y Maes Soft Fruits | Holden Dairy | Caws Teifi | Y Felin Mill | Felin Ganol Mill |…
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Coming out of Hibernation
Every now and then in this industry, you meet someone who feels like a creative sibling, someone who sees food not just as ingredients, but as a way of telling stories, building community and honouring the…
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9 Years at The Warren
Thank you to each and every one of you who have been part of The Warren journey so far, to find out whats next make sure you sign up to our newsletter. Below is a recording of my speech from the evening &…
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Pressing Pause: Health, Reflection, and What’s Next for The Warren
As we step into the very last week before The Warren goes into hibernation, I’ve been feeling a mixture of gratitude, relief, and excitement. The past few weeks have been nothing short of incredible, so many…
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Closing Shindig
Buy your tickets here After nine years of pouring my heart and soul into The Warren, it feels surreal to be writing these words. On Wednesday 24th September , we’ll be gathering for a little “farewell for now”…
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We’re Closing
Dear reader, It’s taken me a long time to write this announcement, as it’s something I’ve been putting off for too long. For those of you who know me well, you’ll know how much weight I’ve carried in running…
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The Warren Named One of Britain’s Top 100 Local Restaurants 2025
I’m absolutely thrilled to share that The Warren has been named one of the Top 100 Local Restaurants in Britain by The Good Food Guide for 2025! This means so much to me and the team. The Good Food Guide is…
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Restaurant for sale
After nearly 9 years of running The Warren, I’ve made the decision to start looking for someone new to take over the day-to-day running of the restaurant. This place has been my life’s work, shaped by big…
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Community Kitchens: A Homegrown Solution to Today’s Food, Health and Environmental Crises
In a world facing the triple threat of climate change, a public health crisis, and disconnection from nature and each other, community kitchens are emerging as unlikely yet powerful places of transformation.…
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May Newsletter
Dear friends, customers and supporters, I wanted to take a moment to share something from the heart. We started 2025 with a few changes – a smaller menu, ordering at the bar, and no evening service. At the…
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March Newsletter
Hello friends, (Welsh Translation Below) We’ve got lots going on at The Warren and beyond this week, and we’d love you to be part of it. Sign up to our weekly newsletter here 🌸 Mothering Sunday – A Feast Worth…
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End of year thoughts
As we close The Warren for our annual three-week break , I want to take a moment to share a heartfelt reflection with you – our loyal mailing list community – who’ve been with us through thick and thin. This…
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Veganuary
Happy New Year! 🎉 As we step into 2025, I want to take a moment to share some thoughts and invite you on a journey of reflection and intention—particularly when it comes to what’s on our plates. At The Warren,…
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We Won! BBC Morning Live’s Community Food Champion Award 2024
I am overjoyed and deeply humbled to share that I, Deri Reed, have been named the BBC Morning Live Community Food Champion 2024 at this year’s BBC Food & Farming Awards ! These awards are among the most…
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Beetroot Curry
Delicious yummy vegan, gluten free organic beetroot curry!
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Wild Garlic, Leek & Potato Soup
No faff Wild Garlic & Nettle Soup from The Ethical Chef
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Embassy Cafe: Butter Bean Cassolet
This butterbean recipe is particularly popular with our customers, having been introduced by former Embassy chef Nicola Pledger. It’s been lovingly copied into our big faded boo…
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Rhubarb Crumble
Rhubarb is one of the great vegetables (which we treat as a fruit most of the time) that we can grow very easily in our climate. May/June is the perfect time for buying it seaso…
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Jerk Haloumi Kebabs
These jerk haloumi kebabs are perfect summer barbecue fayre, relished by meat eaters too, so make extra and get to the barbecue quick, before they are all devoured!
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Banana Pancakes (Gluten Free & Vegan)
Pancakes are suggested to be one of the earliest food we used to eat in prehistoric times. Pancakes are such a versatile dish, they can be sweet or savory, for breakfast or lunc…