Member Info
I started my career at the age of 12 working on a Saturday morning in an Italian restaurant in Newport, Chez Chiovanni, after leaving school I took my first full time cooking position at the Cwrt Bleddyn Hotel near Usk.
It was from there , at the age of 16, that I decided to move to Scotland and worked at Farleyer House Hotel under the guidance of Head Chef Richard Lythe, Richard taught me the understanding of seasonality, quality and the essence of flavour.
Whilst in Scotland I cooked for the opening of the Scottish parliament and was also short listed as young Scottish Chef of the Year.
While working in Scotland I met my wife Louise and after marrying and having our first daughter we decided to make the move back to my home country- Wales.
I started working at The Crown at Whitebrook in August 2000 as Sous Chef and became Head Chef in late 2003. I obtained my first Michelin star in 2007, an achievement I’m hugely proud of as I’ve come from a non-Michelin background. I retained the coveted Michelin star until 2013 when the “crown” closed it’s doors.
Although the past year has been a tough one I have enjoyed gaining different experiences from private dinners to pop up restaurants, all of which have been very successful and highly pleasurable.
We have been overwhelmed by the support and good wishes we have received and we are truly grateful and are determined to make our restaurant a success.
Myself, Louise and our 3 girls are very excited about the next chapter in our lives- our restaurant, and who knows maybe one day one of our daughters will follow in my footsteps and join me at the stove.
