I finally made it to Willow Lodge in Tenby after a bit of a faff on the drive down from Cardiff. Picture this: I'm humming along the A477, windows down, dreaming of pasties and pints, when I realise I've left my phone charger at home. No biggie, I thought, until the satnav decides to throw a wobbly and sends me on a scenic detour through some narrow lanes that had me white-knuckling the wheel past cheeky sheep eyeing me like I was the intruder. Classic me – always one small mishap away from turning a three-hour journey into an episode of Top Gear gone wrong. But hey, it gave me time to build up an appetite, and by the time I pulled up outside Willow Lodge, I was starving.

Willow Lodge is this cracking little gem tucked away in a quiet spot just a short stroll from Tenby's bustling heart. It's a cosy lodge-style cottage, all stone walls and flower baskets, with that proper Welsh welcome feel – you know, the kind where you half-expect a fairy to pop out with a cuppa. I dumped my bags, cracked open the windows to let in the sea breeze, and made a beeline for the kitchen. First impressions? Bloody brilliant for a foodie like me. The place is kitted out with everything you need to rustle up a feast: a decent oven, a hob that doesn't fight back, and a fridge begging to be filled.

No sooner had I arrived than I legged it to the local market on Tudor Square, just five minutes away. Tenby's market is a proper treat – stalls groaning under fresh crab from the harbour, plump Pembrokeshire new potatoes, and wheels of Caerphilly cheese that could make a grown man weep. I loaded up on cockles straight from the boats (proper Welsh laverbread style, with oatmeal for that gritty kick), some smoked mackerel, and a punnet of strawberries so red they looked painted. Bargain of the day? A loaf of bara brith from a cheery baker who threw in extra sultanas "for the road." Back at the lodge, I attempted my first culinary masterpiece: crab salad with a twist. Cracked the shells (messily, with bits flying everywhere – self-confessed kitchen klutz here), mixed it with mayo, lemon from my stash, and chucked it on sourdough. Sat out on the patio as the sun dipped, scoffing it down with a cold Peroni from the offy. Pure bliss. Who needs Michelin stars when you've got harbour-fresh seafood and a view of the castle walls?

Evening rolled in, and my stomach was rumbling again. A wander down to Tenby town, and I'm in The Plantagenet House – this ancient pub right in the old walls, all wonky beams and candlelight. Pulled up a stool and ordered the fish pie: creamy mash, flaky cod and prawns swimming in parsley sauce, with mushy peas on the side. Washed it down with a pint of Brains Bitter, chatting with locals about the best crab spots (turns out, the harbour lads do the freshest). The pub's got that timeless vibe – felt like I'd stepped into a history book, but with better grub. Laughed my socks off when the barman recounted how some tourist once mistook cockles for chips. Guilty as charged; I nearly did the same on arrival.

Next morning – day two already feeling like a highlight reel of eats – I hit the harbour for breakfast. Grabbed a bacon butty from a shack, using eggs and streaky from the market, fried up back at the lodge. The kitchen's compact but ace; I even managed Welsh cakes on the griddle without setting off the smoke alarm (progress!). Lunch was a heroic fail-turned-win: tried posh fish finger sarnies with my smoked mackerel, but overdid the horseradish. Eyes watering, but deliciously so. It got me reflecting, mid-bite, on how these simple, daft cooking moments are the real holiday magic – no fancy holidays needed, just good local nosh and a bit of solitude to savour it.

By the third day, I'd nailed a full-on Welsh supper: lamb chops from the butcher's stall (tender as you like), roasted spuds, and minted peas, all polished off with a slice of that bara brith for pud. Willow Lodge made it effortless – first impressions sealed it as my new Pembrokeshire food haven. If you're after a spot to eat like a king on a pauper's budget, with markets and pubs on your doorstep, this is it. Can't wait to go back.