CHEFS FINALLY COME OUT AS COUPLE – ON TV
On day they should have been getting married...
THE celebrity chefs behind barbecue sensation Hangfire Southern Kitchen ended up outing themselves as a couple on national TV on what should have been their wedding day.
Sam Evans and Shauna Guinn, who opened their award-winning restaurant in Barry in 2016, were meant to tie the knot last Saturday to mark their 20th anniversary together.
But with those plans scuppered by the coronavirus lockdown, the pair found themselves with a window in their busy schedule and an invite to appear on BBC One’s popular live cookery show, Saturday Kitchen. And, as the cameras started rolling, the pair were faced with having to explain to the nation why they weren’t having to social distance from each other in the studio.
“Having gone from never ever talking about ourselves and our sexuality, we went to telling everyone watching all across the country,” said Shauna, who, along with Sam, started winning over Cardiff foodies with their brisket and ribs pop-up at the The Canadian pub in Splott in 2013.
“That day was me and Sam’s 20th anniversary together and the plan was to get hitched.
“We’d organised a big three-day bash in Monmouthshire, with hundreds of guests coming from all over the world, but when the coronavirus pandemic kicked in we knew we’d have to postpone everything until next year.
“Then we were asked to go on Saturday Kitchen instead and we thought ‘why not’? – it can be quite male chef orientated and very London-centric, so we figured we’d add a bit of diversity.”
She added: “We are women, we’re from Wales, plus we’ve won the title of Observer Food Monthly Best Restaurant, been handed a BBC Street Food Award, published a cook book and presented our own TV show,” added Shauna, who also pens a column in the Western Mail Weekend magazine – also currently on hold due to Covid-19 – with her partner.
“There’s every reason we should be on there.
“But, when host Matt Tebbutt explained he had to make it clear to the viewers why we were sat beside each other and not observing social distancing rules, we realised it was best to just tell it like it is.
“Only in retrospect did we think, ‘Well, there’s no going back in the b****y closet now,’” she laughed.
Their nuptials, however, are not the only thing to have been affected by the worldwide outbreak – their business too, like countless others, has been hit hard.
“It’s been a painful time on that front as we were only able to furlough 16 of our 22 members of staff – a decision that was made even more difficult by the fact they’re all brilliant workers,” added Shauna.
“Shutting up shop was a big step and we were asked by lots of people if we’d carry on as a takeaway service only, but it wasn’t viable for us.
“But, when we do finally reopen, we’ll add that option to make up for the reduced number of covers we’ll no doubt be forced to have.
“We’re just waiting for the nod from the Welsh Government as to when we can get up and running again and what measures we’ll need to take to ensure the safety of both our staff and customers.”
Nevertheless, there is one good thing which has resulted from lockdown sending the whole UK into stasis.
“Me and Sam have had great success in a relatively short space of time, with both of us pretty much working flat-out eight days a week for seven years – and that’s not sustainable.
“So being able to recharge the batteries has been great.
“That said, we’re now like coiled springs ready for action and can’t wait to get back in the kitchen again.”
The third series of Sam & Shauna’s Big Cook Out is on BBC One Wales on Mondays at 8.30pm.