Restaurateur Giovanni on Come Dine With Me

THE man behind Cardiff ’s wellknown Giovanni restaurants is appearing on Come Dine With Me – and he will no doubt have plenty of showbiz anecdotes to share.

Giovanni Malacrino has two restaurants in the Welsh capital which have attracted plenty of famous names over the years. The restaurateur will now be wining and dining guests during a Cardiffbased edition of the TV series.

From Monday, June 18, until Friday, June 22, episodes will be aired, with five Welsh residents going head to head in the kitchen.

Episodes will be shown daily at 5pm on Channel 4.

Come Dine With Me will see the contestants from the area – Scott, Charlotte, Claire, Anna and Giovanni – host dinner parties during the course of the week, with the winner scooping a £1,000 cash prize.

On the final night in Cardiff, restaurateur Giovanni cooks a menu from his native Italy.

But when the others spy his massive and complex dishes they wonder if he’s tried too hard to impress.

“It was an absolutely amazing experience,” said 51-year-old Giovanni.

“There is quite a bit of fieriness, a few tears and a lot of action. It’s a lot of fun.”

He also has a “bit of a bromance” with contestant Scott, adding “he’s a really nice guy”.

Giovanni added: “I think it’s going to be an amazing programme to watch, because there’s a bit of friction and I had to work very hard not to bite.

“Every night is different. [My favourite] was Wednesday night,” he laughs, hinting towards drama.

Giovanni is a familiar face on the Cardiff restaurant scene and took over the first of his current restaurants 25 years ago.

His two Cardiff restaurants, both called Giovanni’s, can be found at 38 The Hayes and 8 Park Place and showcase photos of celebrity guests, including superstars like Luciano Pavarotti and Sir Tom Jones.

Giovanni – who was born in Reggio Calabria, south of Naples, and moved to Wales at the age of three – is hoping to watch the TV show with his customers as he’ll be showing the episodes.

“We’re hoping the customers will turn up and watch it with us,” he said.

“Most of the week it’ll be in Park Place, and one or two nights will be in The Hayes.”

Series 15 of Come Dine with Me is on Mondays-Fridays on Channel 4 at 5pm.