THE tastes of Japanese cuisine, its sushi, noodles and tofu, are popular in the UK, but the delights of Welsh produce are perhaps less well-known on the East Asian island.

However as the Rugby World Cup approaches and the Welsh team prepare to compete in their national sport, the owner of tea rooms in Llangollen was invited to introduce Japanese TV watchers to the country.

Steve Thomas, of Plas Newydd Museum, said: “It’s a long running show which over the years has filmed across the world. With the Rugby World Cup being hosted by Japan this September they have been filming attractions in Wales and one of the things they wanted to include was our traditional food.”

The TV crew was interviewing people at the Llangollen International Eisteddfod when they were told a visit to see Steve at work in the Plas Newydd kitchens would be highly recommended.

“They phoned up to ask if they could come over here. We made them welcome and I presented two dishes. One was lamb cawl and the other was chicken with leeks in a tarragon sauce,” said Steve.

“The crew tried them both and were most enthusiastic, the meals went down well. So much so that afterwards they even bought scones and Welsh cakes to tuck into for the journey back.”

The summer proved a busy period for Plas Newydd Museum and it celebrated Welsh culture and the magnificent landscapes surrounding it. It hosted the launch of a mobile phone app promoting the Welsh language and heritage to hikers and walkers which highlights the original place names and area’s history to the devices’ owners.

The museum then a host site for the ever-popular Llangollen Fringe Festival to perform a laughter-filled production. Its picturesque grounds were also the backdrop for The Big Draw in which artists put the greenery to paper.

Plas Newydd continues to champion the 10 Things To Do In The Dee Valley project, which celebrates the 10th anniversary of the inscription of the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and Canal as a World Heritage Site.

For more information call Plas Newydd Museum on 01978 862834.