LOCAL HOTSPOTS: NATA & CO

Welcome to this brand new feature! First up is the newly opened bakery Nata & Co which is based in Splott and serves up Portuguese-baked delights to the masses.

I was lucky to be invited along by the owner Luis Filipe who is also one of the winners of the Great Roath Bake Off 2013. And judging by the range of cakes on offer, it wasn't difficult to see why.

Before opening the store Nata & Co originally supplied local restaurants with bread and the business evolved from there. Luis originally wanted to open a store in the city centre opposite Cardiff Castle, but the rents proved too high for such a small business. After much deliberation about where to open a bakery in Cardiff, he decided to stay local and open one in Splott.

Once the store opened Luis quickly discovered that the local community, as well as foodies, were ready to embrace a taste of Portugal on their doorstep - all for a reasonable price.

Shauna and Sam of nearby Hang Fire Smokehouse were among the first to welcome the bakery, describing it as 'Sweet, crunchy little custard perfections. Authentic and delicious. A true taste of Portugal in sunny Splott'. 

Cardiff resident and foodie Phil Chappell was another to sing the praises of the bakery, saying 'The pastel de nata were fabulous. Light and crispy bases. I could have bought the lot.'

As well as sweet treats and freshly baked bread, Nata & Co also offer savory snacks (you could be forgiven for just eating natas) which also make it the perfect stop for lunch. The bakery also provides fresh, rich Portuguese coffee that is perfect for the winter months.

So what are you waiting for? This is clearly the bakery of the moment.

You can find Nata & Co at 118 Clifton Street, Splott, Cardiff. You can find them on Twitter here and Facebook here.