Bryn Williams facts for kids

Bryn Williams is a famous chef from Denbigh, Wales, born on June 6, 1977. He owns and runs Odette's Restaurant in Primrose Hill, London.

Bryn became well-known in 2006 when he was a sous chef (a chef who works under the head chef). He won a TV show called Great British Menu. He beat many famous chefs to cook the fish dish for Queen Elizabeth's 80th birthday party! Today, many people see him as one of Wales' best chefs. In June 2015, he opened a new restaurant called Bryn@Porth Eirias in Colwyn Bay, North Wales.

About Bryn Williams

Bryn Dwyfor Williams grew up on a farm near Denbigh, Wales. His parents were Eifion and Gwenda. He went to Welsh-speaking schools in Denbigh and St Asaph. When he was 18, Bryn moved to London to start his cooking career.

How He Started Cooking

Bryn's love for food began when he was a child. He visited a bakery in Denbigh and watched how simple ingredients turned into bread. This made him curious about food. As a teenager, he even worked at that same bakery on Saturday mornings. He also learned to respect food by growing vegetables and hunting on his uncle's farm.

After high school, at age 16, Bryn studied catering at Coleg Llandrillo Cymru. Later, in 2009, he became an ambassador for the college, helping to inspire new students.

After college, a head chef encouraged Bryn to move to London. There, he got a job with the famous chef Marco Pierre White at a restaurant called The Criterion.

His Professional Journey

Bryn spent three years learning from Marco Pierre White. Then, he worked for another amazing chef, Michel Roux Jr, at a two-Michelin-starred restaurant called Le Gavroche. A Michelin star is a special award given to restaurants that serve excellent food.

In 2001, Bryn traveled to Paris to learn about European cooking. He also worked at the Hotel Negresco, another two-Michelin-starred restaurant in Nice.

Back in Britain, Bryn worked at the Michelin-starred Orrery Restaurant in London for four years. While there, he entered the Roux Scholarship competition, a big award for young chefs. He came in second place!

Odette's Restaurant

After his success on the Great British Menu TV show in 2006, Bryn was offered a job as head chef at Odette's. This restaurant is in Primrose Hill, London.

On October 1, 2008, Bryn bought the restaurant and became its sole owner. Since then, Odette's has received many great reviews under his leadership.

Bryn@Porth Eirias

In September 2013, it was announced that Bryn Williams would open a new restaurant in Colwyn Bay. This bistro, called Bryn@Porth Eirias, is located by the sea. It officially opened in June 2015.

Other Restaurants

Bryn has also opened other restaurants:

• Touring Club opened in Penarth, Wales, in June 2023.
• The Cambrian is a restaurant in the Swiss Alps where Bryn is the head chef.

Special Honor

In 2013, Bryn was given a special honor by the Gorsedd of the Bards. This happened at the National Eisteddfod of Wales festival in his hometown of Denbigh. He became a new member of the Eisteddfod Druidic Order, which celebrates Welsh culture and arts.

Bryn in the Media

On Television

Bryn became famous on BBC Two's Great British Menu in 2006. He impressed the judges and won the public's vote to cook his "Turbot with Oxtail" fish dish for Queen Elizabeth's 80th birthday dinner. He won again in 2007!

Since then, Bryn has often appeared on TV shows like Saturday Kitchen, Something for the Weekend, and Market Kitchen.

Because Welsh is his first language, Bryn has also been on many shows on the Welsh-language channel, S4C. He was a judge on a cooking show called Chez / Casa Dudley. He also had his own six-part series called Cegin Bryn (Bryn's Kitchen), which started in March 2012. This show was based on his cookbook and explored different ingredients.

On the Radio

In March 2010, Bryn was on a BBC Radio Wales show called Wales on the Menu. On the show, he challenged people to create a dish good enough for his London restaurant. He was so impressed by a young student's rabbit dish that he offered him a job!

Cookbooks

Bryn Williams has written several cookbooks:

• Bryn's Kitchen was his first book, published in March 2011.
• For The Love of Veg came out in October 2013.
• Tir a Môr, a Welsh language cookbook, was published in October 2015.

Supporting Good Causes

Bryn is a patron (a supporter) of Gwledd Conwy Feast. This is Wales' second-largest food festival, attracting about 25,000 visitors each year.

He also supported rugby player Martyn Williams's "Spirit of Wales" year in 2010. Bryn was one of seven patrons who helped raise money for children and cancer patients.

Personal Life

In September 2018, Bryn married Sharleen Spiteri. She is the lead singer of the Scottish band Texas. They got married in a historic church in Llandyrnog, North Wales.