Welsh chefs are coming together for the inaugural Rarebit Fortnight (21 February–7 March) to celebrate an iconic national dish and raise funds for Cegin y Bobl (The People’s Kitchen).

This new campaign led by Wales’ independent hospitality businesses supports the Welsh charity’s mission to transform the nation’s relationship with food from the ground up.

Restaurants and cafes in South Wales will feature Welsh rarebit on their menus in both classic and inventive forms, with a donation from the sale of each dish going directly to the charity.

Participating businesses include Cardiff’s Asador 44, Milkwood, Ogof and Hard Lines, The Shed in Swansea, The Felin Fach Griffin in Brecon, and Pitchfork and Provisions in Llandeilo. Dishes included in the campaign range from Asador 44’s Leek and Galmesan cheese rarebit gratin and chorizo crumb to Ogof’s smoked pollack rarebit tart to The Shed’s Welsh onion soup with Welsh Rarebit croûte.

Every donation made during the fortnight will boost Cegin y Bobl’s work. Since January 2025, the organisation has become a leading voice in Wales’ food movement, having trained over 1,000 people face-to-face in Carmarthenshire, served over 3,000 meals, and expanded its work to five Welsh counties. The charity champions the belief that delicious, nutritious meals that do the planet and people a tonne of good can be the norm in schools, communities, and homes when people gain the skills and confidence to cook from scratch.

Cegin y Bobl delivers hands-on food programmes that build knowledge and skills around food. Its work has engaged primary school pupils, parents in family and early years cook clubs, teachers in school leadership training, adults in home cookery courses, and more, showing the pride and passion that there is in every community to make food a force for good.

Jonathan Woolway, Chef Proprietor at The Shed, Swansea and former Chef Director at St. JOHN, London, said:

“I’m delighted to lend my support to the first ever Rarebit Fortnight, all in aid of getting the nation cooking. As a chef who has returned to my home town of Swansea, I’m passionate about Welsh food, our amazing fresh produce, and spreading essential cooking skills far-and-wide in our communities. Together, we’re sending a powerful message about the power of food to bring people together and bring about real change. Cegin y Bobl’s chefs are on the ground in communities, aiming to get the nation cooking delicious, nutritious food from scratch. Every dish sold will help them get closer to that mission.”

Cegin y Bobl co-founder, broadcaster and restaurateur Simon Wright said:

“Cegin y Bobl’s community cookery workshops are powered by the skills of amazing chefs from independent hospitality in Wales. These chefs share an infectious passion for food and unparalleled experience in preparing fresh food made from scratch. By sharing their top tips and know-how, they are empowering the nation to cook delicious, nutritious food. I’m thrilled by the support for the inaugural Rarebit Fortnight, demonstrating food’s powerful capacity to be a force for good in every Welsh community.”

Cegin y Bobl co-founder, broadcaster and author Carwyn Graves added:

“The rarebit is an iconic Welsh dish, its history linked to our very sense of nationhood. I’m excited to see how the restaurants and cafes taking part put a rarebit twist on their menu as we come together to celebrate St. David’s Day. This fun campaign helps drive our bigger cause: making sure everyone, everywhere, has the skills and confidence to cook food from scratch.”