The Bay is blossoming thanks to Sunflower & I

Opposite a derelict building and sandwiched between a dirty alley way and the pub The Captain Scott is an unassuming doorway which advertises ‘gifts, art, gallery, flowers, tea and coffee.’ The sign gives no indication of the class that lies on the other side of the door.

Four months ago, Sunflower & I opened on Bute Street and it’s predominantly a florist. Lucasz and Sebastian are the people behind the place and Sebastian has crafted more than one unique bouquet for my girlfriend. A few weeks ago my conversation about flowers turned to food and I found out that they also served afternoon tea.

Their offering is a little vague. It isn’t clearly advertised but you can order* an afternoon tea with the usual suspects: sandwiches, cakes and tea, or upgrade and add a glass of Champagne. Sunflower & I is in the process of refining their precise offering and this ambiguity made me take up their alternative offer of bringing your own. When they say BYO, they genuinely mean just that. Sandwiches, tea, cakes, fizz…even a music playlist, you can cater for your own occasion and simply hire the space.

I invited my brothers and ‘WAGs’ to join me for afternoon tea and not wanting to prepare anything myself, I decided to order food platters from M&S for the food and Prosecco from Lidl. I dropped off the supplies before the guests arrived and the food platters were instantly given a grander feel when presented on beautiful vintage plates. Despite this being a food blog, I’m not going to dwell too much on the food here – suffice to say, the finger sandwiches and macaroons were particularly good and the Prosecco was excellent value at just over £7 per bottle.

Sunflower & I’s main competition for afternoon tea is the nearby St Davids Hotel where a celebratory afternoon tea costs £30 per person. More than double the price at Sunflower & I. While St. David’s Hotel has views of the water (if you’re sat next to the window) the interior of Sunflower & I is truly stunning: tastefully decorated and unique. I cannot think of a more atmospheric place to have afternoon tea in Cardiff.

The service was perfect. Lucasz effortlessly struck the balance of making sure that we had everything we needed, without being overbearing. When discussing how much we were enjoying our visit, Sebastian brought over a rose for each WAGs. A lovely touch which further contributed to what was already a successful afternoon in a wonderfully unique environment.

Lon, Elinor, Sian, Jenny a Lisa

*Afternoon tea catered by Sunflower & I must be ordered in advance.

@sunflowerandi

111 – 112 Bute Street
Cardiff Bay
CF10 5AD
029 2048 4211

info@sunflowerandi.co.uk

Mae'r Bae yn blodeuo diolch i Sunflower & I

Rhwng stryd gefn brwnt a thafarn The Captain Scott a chyferbyn ac adeilad adfeiliedig mae yna arwydd ar ddrws sydd yn hysbysebu: ‘rhoddion, celf, galeri, blodau, te a choffi’. Dydy’r arwydd syml yma ddim yn rhoi syniad o’r safon sydd ochr arall y drws.

Yn bennaf, siop flodau yw Sunflower & I ac agorwyd ei drysau am y tro cyntaf 4 mis yn ôl. Lucasz a Sebastien sydd tu nol i’r cwmni ac mae Sebastian yn hynod o dalentog a chreadigol ac mae wedi llwyddo i greu sawl tusw o flodau arbennig o dda i fy nghariad. Rhai wythnosau yn ôl ‘roeddwn i’n sgwrsio gyda Sebastian a newidiodd y pwnc o flodau i fwyd a chlywais i am y te prynhawn.

Braidd yn aneglur yw’r union beth sydd ar gynnig. Mae yna frechdanau, cacennau, te ac opsiwn o champagne. Mae Sunflower & I yn y broses o gadarnhau’r union beth sydd ar ei bwydlen te prynhawn ac roedd y diffyg gwybodaeth yma yn ddigon o reswm i mi ddewis opsiwn o bring your own. A phan fo nhw’n cynnig BYO, maen nhw wir yn meddwl hynny, o frechdanau i de, i gacennau…hyd yn oed dewis cerddoriaeth.

Wedi dewis yr opsiwn yma a gwahodd fy mrodyr a’u ‘WAGs’ ymuno â mi, doedd dim chwant paratoi’r bwyd felly nes i droi at M&S am fwyd a Lidl am y prosecco. Ar ôl gadael y platiadau bwyd gyda Sunflower & I mi oedd edrychiad y bwyd wedi newid yn llwyr wedi iddyn nhw gael eu harddangos ar blatiau vintage. Er mae blog am fwyd yw hwn, dydw i ddim am dreulio gormod o amser yn trafod hwn yma – yn fyr, mi oedd y brechdanau bysedd a’r macarŵns yn sefyll allan fel y rhannau orau ac mi oedd y prosecco yn fargen am ychydig dros £7 y botel.

Prif gystadleuaeth Sunflower & I am de prynhawn yw Gwesty Dewi Sant sydd yn cynnig te prynhawn am £30 y person. Mwy na dwbl pris Sunflower & I. Tra bo gyda Gwesty Dewi Sant yn cynnig golygfeydd o’r môr (os ydych yn eistedd ar bwys y ffenest hynny yw) mae tu fewn i Sunflower & I wedi ei addurno mewn ffordd sydd yn wirioneddol wych ac unigryw iawn. Gallai ddim meddwl am le cystal i fwyta nac yfed yng Nghaerdydd.

Mae’r gwasanaeth yn berffaith a llwyddodd Lucasz i daro’r cydbwysedd yn berffaith rhwng sicrhau ein bod ni’n hapus gyda phopeth ond heb fod yn ffyslyd. Gyda’r WAGs yn siarad am ba mor pleserus oedd y prynhawn, daeth Sebastian at y bwrdd gyda rhosyn ar gyfer pob un, rhodd neis i gwpla a choronu’r prynhawn.

Lon, Elinor, Sian, Jenny a Lisa

Cofiwch bo rhaid archebu te prynhawn o flaen llaw @sunflowerandi

111 – 112 Stryd Bute
Bae Caerdydd
CF10 5AD

029 2048 4211

info@sunflowerandi.co.uk