Wrexham has certainly had something of a turnaround in recent years with the north Wales town, now city, being catapulted onto the world stage since the takeover of its football club by two Hollywood stars.
The subsequent 'Welcome to Wrexham' documentary by new owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney has showcased the highs and lows of this corner of north Wales and the impact they themselves have had on the club and community.
Tourists have flocked from all over the globe to visit this now world-famous football club and while in the city, they of course need somewhere to eat.
And they're not short of places in Wrexham!
There are an abundance of independent eateries in Wrexham to suit all tastebuds, from the likes of the well established Marubbis and Cafe De Galles to the new kids on the block such as Thai dine and Safar.
One cafe in particular has certainly hit the ground running since it opened back in June 2022.
Toast Cafe and Deli, run by husband and wife team Paul and Claire Wright, is an incredibly cosy cafe located on Charles street.
They were showered with awards in 2023 alone, most notably they can boast being named the Best Cafe in Wales 2023 by in the Best of Welsh Business Awards.
I popped in for some breakfast on a chilly, drizzly Saturday morning - and was served with sunshine on a plate.
A far cry from your average cooked breakfast, I went for the eggs benny on a slowdough crumpet with ham hock and hollandaise sauce.
On the one hand it looked too good to eat but on the other I couldn't wait to dive in.
The hollandaise sauce was delicious and on slicing into the poached egg I was not disappointed.
I confess this was not my first time at Toast, but the beautiful menu selection is such that I need to keep returning to sample their delights.
Priding themselves on using locally sourced produce, the Wrexham Lager Welsh rarebit on sourdough is one not to be missed!
If its coffee and cake you're after you're also spoilt with the choice on offer. I resisted the temptation of the fine selection on display however, as there was another cafe stop I just had to make later in the day.
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Vasco Da Gama is a Portuguese cafe located on Lord Street and having recently enjoyed a long weekend in Porto, I was keen to pop in to get my fix of the Portuguese delicacy pastel de nata.
There were a variety of pastries on offer but I didn't ponder over the menu. If you're a fan of an egg custard - then you won't need to either!
Another Portuguese eatery in Wrexham was also under the spotlight last year.
Lisbon Tapas, a Portuguese tapas bar and restaurant on Church Street was visited by Jay Rayner, a top UK food critic who wrote a glowing review for The Guardian.
With the city as a whole under the spotlight - who knows who you might bump into while out for a bite to eat!
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