Welsh chef says city still has room for improvement

A YOUNG Welsh chef who is looking to put the country on the map by opening a new restaurant in a top London location says Cardiff’s food scene needs some improvement.

Tom Simmons is opening his highly-anticipated restaurant at one of the capital’s top foodie destinations – Tower Bridge.

A month after critic Jay Rayner hit out at Cardiff’s food scene for the second time, the chef, who comes from Newport, Pembrokeshire, said he’s impressed with the way the food scene is growing in Wales – but feels that the capital could probably improve.

“[The food scene] is growing, definitely,” said Tom.

“Where I’m from in Pembrokeshire, there are some great restaurants – places like the Grove and Coast – it’s coming slowly, there’s more of a scene in mid-to-north Wales.”

He adds: “I think Cardiff could be better – there are some great restaurants – you’ve got the Purple Poppadom and the Potted Pig – but I think there’s a demand now in Cardiff, as a capital, to have more of a food scene.”

Tom argues that maybe there should be some help from the Welsh Government, noting that most of the restaurants around the capital are chains.

He said: “The only reason is because they’re the only ones who can afford it.

“It takes one person to set the trend and go in and the rest will follow.”

However, talking about his plans for the future, Tom added: “That is the long-term goal – potentially Cardiff.”

So we might just see the in-demand Welsh chef cook up a storm on home turf again.

The restaurant at London’s One Tower Bridge development will be open at the end of June.