Bryn Williams
Encyclopedia
Bryn Dwyfor Williams is a chef
originally from Dinbych (Denbigh
), North Wales
. He is the head chef and sole proprietor of Odette's Restaurant, Primrose Hill
, London
. He shot to fame as merely a sous chef in 2006 by beating established and well-known chefs to cook the fish course for the Queen's 80th birthday celebrations on the television programme Great British Menu
. He is now widely regarded as one of Wales
' best chefs and one of Britain
's new crop of "celebrity" chefs.
, Llanelwy (St Asaph), Denbighshire
to Welsh
-speaking parents. He received all his education through the Welsh medium before moving on to college. He attended Ysgol Gynradd Twm o'r Nant, Dinbych (Primary) and Ysgol Uwchradd Glan Clwyd, Llanelwy (Secondary). Williams lived in Dinbych until he was 18, then moved to London.
After leaving high school at the age of 16 he attended Coleg Llandrillo Cymru
- studying catering - where he was awarded student of the year. In 2009 Williams was appointed Skills Ambassador for the college, a position specially created for him.
After leaving college and working in Cafe Nicoise in Colwyn Bay
, he was encouraged by the then head chef to take his skills to London. He was taken on by Marco Pierre White
at the Criterion.
at the Criterion, he was sous chef under the tutelage of another cunilary legend, Michel Roux Jr at Le Gavroche
for a further three years. In 2001 he had an opportunity to experience European cuisine at first hand, working at the Patisserie Millet in Paris
, which is also where the Roux family honed their skills. In the same year, he went on to work at Hotel Negresco
, a two Michelin-star
red restaurant in Nice
.
Back in Britain, Williams moved to the Michelin-starred Orrery Restaurant on Marylebone High Street
in London, working there for four years under the tutelage of head chef André Garrett. Whilst working at the Orrery he competed for the Roux Scholarship, having been encouraged to participate by Garrett who was himself a previous winner of the prestigious award. Williams finished second overall that year.
television series in 2006, Williams was offered the head chef's position at Odette's, a well-regarded neighbourhood restaurant in Primrose Hill
, London
since 1978. The restaurant had recently undergone an expensive refurbishment following its purchase by Vince Power, who was looking for the right name to head-up his latest culinary venture.
He bought out the owner and became sole chef-proprietor of Odette's on October 1, 2008. Reviews under Williams have been good.
's Great British Menu
, impressing the judges throughout the stages of the competition. Williams interviewed his grandmother about dishes she used to eat as a child before settling on a menu. He beat Angela Hartnett in the regional round, and went on to win the public's vote to cook his fish course of 'Turbot with Oxtail' at Queen Elizabeth's 80th birthday banquet at Mansion House. He retained his crown when he beat Matt Tebbutt
in 2007. He has since become a familiar face on Saturday Kitchen
, also making appearances on Something for the Weekend
and Market Kitchen
.
Williams's first language is Welsh, and he has appeared in several programmes on the Welsh language television channel, S4C
. He is one of three judges on the very popular Welsh-language cooking competition programme Chez / Casa Dudley. The third series started in Autumn 2008.
Williams cooked live every day in the GMTV
kitchen with Myleene Klass
during the last week of its 17 years as a breakfast television broadcaster on ITV
. GMTV
came to an end on 3 September 2010.
on BBC Radio Wales
, where food critic Simon Wright challenged the Welsh public to attempt to get their dish on Bryn Williams' top London menu. Williams was impressed enough by 23-year-old student Tom Watts Jones and his complex dish of self-caught Welsh rabbit that he offered him a permanent job as a commis chef.
with around 25,000 visitors each year.
Cardiff Blues
, Wales
and British and Irish Lions
rugby player Martyn Williams
appointed Bryn as one of the 7 Patrons of his Spirit of Wales testimonial year in 2010, to help raise money for vulnerable children and cancer victims. Other Patrons include Ian Woosnam
, Ioan Gruffudd
and James Dean Bradfield
.
Chef
A chef is a person who cooks professionally for other people. Although over time the term has come to describe any person who cooks for a living, traditionally it refers to a highly skilled professional who is proficient in all aspects of food preparation.-Etymology:The word "chef" is borrowed ...
originally from Dinbych (Denbigh
Denbigh
Denbigh is a market town and community in Denbighshire, Wales. Before 1888, it was the county town of Denbighshire. Denbigh lies 8 miles to the north west of Ruthin and to the south of St Asaph. It is about 13 miles from the seaside resort of Rhyl. The town grew around the glove-making industry...
), North Wales
North Wales
North Wales is the northernmost unofficial region of Wales. It is bordered to the south by the counties of Ceredigion and Powys in Mid Wales and to the east by the counties of Shropshire in the West Midlands and Cheshire in North West England...
. He is the head chef and sole proprietor of Odette's Restaurant, Primrose Hill
Primrose Hill
Primrose Hill is a hill of located on the north side of Regent's Park in London, England, and also the name for the surrounding district. The hill has a clear view of central London to the south-east, as well as Belsize Park and Hampstead to the north...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. He shot to fame as merely a sous chef in 2006 by beating established and well-known chefs to cook the fish course for the Queen's 80th birthday celebrations on the television programme Great British Menu
Great British Menu
Great British Menu is a BBC television series in which top British chefs compete for the chance to cook one course of a four course banquet. The first series banquet was for the Queen on her 80th birthday. The second series was to cook for the British Ambassador to France at the British Embassy...
. He is now widely regarded as one of Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
' best chefs and one of Britain
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
's new crop of "celebrity" chefs.
Biography
The middle child of three brothers born in Ysbyty H M Stanley HospitalConwy & Denbighshire NHS Trust
Conwy & Denbighshire NHS Trust was an NHS Trust in Wales. The headquarters of the Trust were in Glan Clwyd Hospital, in Bodelwyddan, near Rhyl, Denbighshire...
, Llanelwy (St Asaph), Denbighshire
Denbighshire
Denbighshire is a county in north-east Wales. It is named after the historic county of Denbighshire, but has substantially different borders. Denbighshire has the distinction of being the oldest inhabited part of Wales. Pontnewydd Palaeolithic site has remains of Neanderthals from 225,000 years...
to Welsh
Welsh language
Welsh is a member of the Brythonic branch of the Celtic languages spoken natively in Wales, by some along the Welsh border in England, and in Y Wladfa...
-speaking parents. He received all his education through the Welsh medium before moving on to college. He attended Ysgol Gynradd Twm o'r Nant, Dinbych (Primary) and Ysgol Uwchradd Glan Clwyd, Llanelwy (Secondary). Williams lived in Dinbych until he was 18, then moved to London.
Early years
Williams's interest in food began as a young child during a primary school visit to a bakery in Dinbych. Seeing the individual ingredients turned into bread sparked an interest in food and its processes that would stay with him. He later worked at the same bakery as a teenager on Saturday mornings. He also developed a respect for food whilst growing vegetables, fishing and shooting for game on his uncle's farm as a youngster.After leaving high school at the age of 16 he attended Coleg Llandrillo Cymru
Coleg Llandrillo Cymru
Coleg Llandrillo Cymru is the largest College in North Wales with around 22,000 learners studying either on campus, in the community, in the workplace or over the Internet....
- studying catering - where he was awarded student of the year. In 2009 Williams was appointed Skills Ambassador for the college, a position specially created for him.
After leaving college and working in Cafe Nicoise in Colwyn Bay
Colwyn Bay
- Demography :Prior to local government reorganisation on 1 April 1974 Colwyn Bay was a municipal borough with a population of c.25,000, but in 1974 this designation disappeared leaving five separate parishes, known as communities in Wales, of which the one bearing the name Colwyn Bay encompassed...
, he was encouraged by the then head chef to take his skills to London. He was taken on by Marco Pierre White
Marco Pierre White
Marco Pierre White is a British celebrity chef, restaurateur and television personality. He is noted for his contributions to contemporary international cuisine, and his exceptional culinary skills....
at the Criterion.
Professional career
After 3 years learning his craft under Marco Pierre WhiteMarco Pierre White
Marco Pierre White is a British celebrity chef, restaurateur and television personality. He is noted for his contributions to contemporary international cuisine, and his exceptional culinary skills....
at the Criterion, he was sous chef under the tutelage of another cunilary legend, Michel Roux Jr at Le Gavroche
Le Gavroche
Le Gavroche is a restaurant on 43 Upper Brook Street in Mayfair . It was opened in 1967 by Michel and Albert Roux although the original premises were on 61 Lower Sloane Street until 1981....
for a further three years. In 2001 he had an opportunity to experience European cuisine at first hand, working at the Patisserie Millet in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, which is also where the Roux family honed their skills. In the same year, he went on to work at Hotel Negresco
Hotel Negresco
The Hotel Negresco on the Promenade des Anglais on the Baie des Anges in Nice, France was named for Henri Negresco who had the palatial hotel constructed in 1912...
, a two Michelin-star
Michelin Guide
The Michelin Guide is a series of annual guide books published by Michelin for over a dozen countries. The term normally refers to the Michelin Red Guide, the oldest and best-known European hotel and restaurant guide, which awards the Michelin stars...
red restaurant in Nice
Nice
Nice is the fifth most populous city in France, after Paris, Marseille, Lyon and Toulouse, with a population of 348,721 within its administrative limits on a land area of . The urban area of Nice extends beyond the administrative city limits with a population of more than 955,000 on an area of...
.
Back in Britain, Williams moved to the Michelin-starred Orrery Restaurant on Marylebone High Street
Marylebone High Street
Marylebone High Street is a shopping street in London, running sub-parallel to Baker Street and terminating at its northern end at the junction with the Marylebone Road...
in London, working there for four years under the tutelage of head chef André Garrett. Whilst working at the Orrery he competed for the Roux Scholarship, having been encouraged to participate by Garrett who was himself a previous winner of the prestigious award. Williams finished second overall that year.
Odette's
Following his success on the Great British MenuGreat British Menu
Great British Menu is a BBC television series in which top British chefs compete for the chance to cook one course of a four course banquet. The first series banquet was for the Queen on her 80th birthday. The second series was to cook for the British Ambassador to France at the British Embassy...
television series in 2006, Williams was offered the head chef's position at Odette's, a well-regarded neighbourhood restaurant in Primrose Hill
Primrose Hill
Primrose Hill is a hill of located on the north side of Regent's Park in London, England, and also the name for the surrounding district. The hill has a clear view of central London to the south-east, as well as Belsize Park and Hampstead to the north...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
since 1978. The restaurant had recently undergone an expensive refurbishment following its purchase by Vince Power, who was looking for the right name to head-up his latest culinary venture.
He bought out the owner and became sole chef-proprietor of Odette's on October 1, 2008. Reviews under Williams have been good.
Television appearances
In 2006 he was a contestant on BBC TwoBBC Two
BBC Two is the second television channel operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation in the United Kingdom. It covers a wide range of subject matter, but tending towards more 'highbrow' programmes than the more mainstream and popular BBC One. Like the BBC's other domestic TV and radio...
's Great British Menu
Great British Menu
Great British Menu is a BBC television series in which top British chefs compete for the chance to cook one course of a four course banquet. The first series banquet was for the Queen on her 80th birthday. The second series was to cook for the British Ambassador to France at the British Embassy...
, impressing the judges throughout the stages of the competition. Williams interviewed his grandmother about dishes she used to eat as a child before settling on a menu. He beat Angela Hartnett in the regional round, and went on to win the public's vote to cook his fish course of 'Turbot with Oxtail' at Queen Elizabeth's 80th birthday banquet at Mansion House. He retained his crown when he beat Matt Tebbutt
Matt Tebbutt
Matt Tebbutt is a chef based in Wales, UK and is a well known food TV presenter. Born in High Wycombe in 1973, Matt Tebbutt moved to South Wales at the age of six months and so considers himself an honorary Welshman...
in 2007. He has since become a familiar face on Saturday Kitchen
Saturday Kitchen
Saturday Kitchen Live is a 90 minute cookery programme, which is broadcast live on BBC One on Saturday mornings. It is currently presented by James Martin; previous presenters have included Antony Worrall Thompson and Gregg Wallace. The programme is currently produced by Cactus TV...
, also making appearances on Something for the Weekend
Something for the weekend
Something for the Weekend was originally a euphemistic reference to a condom, and now may refer to:In television:* Something for the Weekend , a British programme mixing cooking, interviews, and general-interest clips...
and Market Kitchen
Market Kitchen
Market Kitchen is a cookery programme, made by Optomen, that premiered on Good Food in 2007. Presented by Rachel Allen, Amanda Lamb, Matt Tebbutt, Tom Parker Bowles and Matthew Fort, the programme concentrates on seasonal cooking and features visits to a local market to obtain seasonal produce...
.
Williams's first language is Welsh, and he has appeared in several programmes on the Welsh language television channel, S4C
S4C
S4C , currently branded as S4/C, is a Welsh television channel broadcast from the capital, Cardiff. The first television channel to be aimed specifically at a Welsh-speaking audience, it is the fifth oldest British television channel .The channel - initially broadcast on...
. He is one of three judges on the very popular Welsh-language cooking competition programme Chez / Casa Dudley. The third series started in Autumn 2008.
Williams cooked live every day in the GMTV
GMTV
GMTV was the national Channel 3 breakfast television contractor, broadcasting in the United Kingdom from 1 January 1993 to 3 September 2010. It became a wholly owned subsidiary of ITV plc. in November 2009. Shortly after, ITV plc announced the programme would end...
kitchen with Myleene Klass
Myleene Klass
Myleene Angela Quinn is an English singer, pianist, media personality and occasional model. She was formerly a member of the defunct British pop band Hear'Say.-Early life:...
during the last week of its 17 years as a breakfast television broadcaster on ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
. GMTV
GMTV
GMTV was the national Channel 3 breakfast television contractor, broadcasting in the United Kingdom from 1 January 1993 to 3 September 2010. It became a wholly owned subsidiary of ITV plc. in November 2009. Shortly after, ITV plc announced the programme would end...
came to an end on 3 September 2010.
Radio appearances
On the 21st March 2010 Williams appeared on Wales on the MenuWales on the Menu
Wales on the Menu is a BBC Radio Wales series where restaurateur, writer and food critic Simon Wright challenges home cooks of Wales to get their dishes on the menu of top restaurants across the UK...
on BBC Radio Wales
BBC Radio Wales
BBC Radio Wales is the BBC's national radio station broadcasting to Wales in the English language. Operated by BBC Wales, it began broadcasting on 12 November 1978 following the demise of the old "Radio 4 Wales" when BBC Radio 4 became a national network and moved from medium wave to long wave...
, where food critic Simon Wright challenged the Welsh public to attempt to get their dish on Bryn Williams' top London menu. Williams was impressed enough by 23-year-old student Tom Watts Jones and his complex dish of self-caught Welsh rabbit that he offered him a permanent job as a commis chef.
Patronage
Bryn is a Patron of Gwledd Conwy Feast, which is Wales' third largest food festivalFood festival
A food festival is a festival, usually held annually, that uses food, often produce, as its central theme. "These festivals have always been a means of uniting communities through celebrations of harvests and giving thanks for a plentiful growing season...
with around 25,000 visitors each year.
Cardiff Blues
Cardiff Blues
Cardiff Blues are one of the four professional Welsh regional rugby union teams. Based in Cardiff, the capital of Wales, the team have played at Cardiff City Stadium since the start of the 2009/2010 season and are owned by Cardiff Rugby Football Club....
, Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
and British and Irish Lions
British and Irish Lions
The British and Irish Lions is a rugby union team made up of players from England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales...
rugby player Martyn Williams
Martyn Williams
Martyn Elwyn Williams is a Welsh international rugby union player. A flanker, he plays for Cardiff Blues and the Wales national rugby union team as an open-side flanker...
appointed Bryn as one of the 7 Patrons of his Spirit of Wales testimonial year in 2010, to help raise money for vulnerable children and cancer victims. Other Patrons include Ian Woosnam
Ian Woosnam
Ian Harold Woosnam OBE is a Welsh professional golfer.Nicknamed 'Woosie', 'Woosers', or the 'Wee Welshman', Woosnam was one of the "Big Five" generation of European golfers, all born within 12 months of one another, all of whom have won majors, and made Europe competitive in the Ryder Cup...
, Ioan Gruffudd
Ioan Gruffudd
Ioan Gruffudd is a Welsh actor.Trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, he started off in Welsh language film productions, then came to international attention as Fifth Officer Harold Lowe in the film Titanic , and as Lt. John Beales in Black Hawk Down...
and James Dean Bradfield
James Dean Bradfield
James Dean Bradfield is the lead guitarist and vocalist for the Welsh rock band Manic Street Preachers.- Early life :...
.