James Sommerin facts for kids
| Born | Caerleon, Newport |
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Current restaurant(s)
The Shed, Home
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Previous restaurant(s)
  Restaurant James Sommerin The Crown at Whitebrook |
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Television show(s)
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James Sommerin (born around 1978 in Caerleon) is a talented Welsh chef. He is known for earning a special award called a Michelin star for his cooking.
Contents
Early Life and Cooking Start
James Sommerin was born in Caerleon, a town in Wales. When he was a child, he loved baking with his grandmother on Saturdays. This is where his passion for cooking began.
He really wanted to be a chef. When he was 12, his dad got him a Saturday job at an Italian restaurant. His dad hoped this job would make James change his mind, but it only made him want to be a chef even more!
After school, James went to cooking school to learn more. His first full-time cooking job was at the Cwrt Bleddyn Hotel in Llangybi. At 16, he moved to Scotland to work at the Farleyer House Hotel in Aberfeldy, Scotland. There, he learned a special French cooking style from chef Richard Lyth.
James Sommerin's Restaurants
James returned to Wales in 2000 to be closer to his family. He joined The Crown at Whitebrook in Monmouthshire as a Sous Chef. By December 2003, he became the main Executive Chef.
Under his leadership, The Crown at Whitebrook earned a Michelin star in 2007. This is a very prestigious award in the cooking world. The restaurant kept its star for seven years. It closed in March 2013 due to money problems.
In 2014, James Sommerin opened his own place, Restaurant James Sommerin, right on the seafront in Penarth. This restaurant was very popular. However, it closed in July 2020 because of financial difficulties from the Covid-19 lockdown.
Later in 2020, James opened a new restaurant called The Shed in Barry, Vale of Glamorgan. This restaurant was in a cool, renovated industrial building. It offered delicious food at more affordable prices.
In July 2021, James started another new restaurant venture. He opened Home on Stanwell Road in Penarth.
On Television
In 2008, The Guardian newspaper named James Sommerin as one of the chefs to watch. The next year, he represented Wales in the 2009 final of the BBC show Great British Menu. He competed against other top chefs, including Stephen Terry.
Personal Life
James Sommerin is married to Louise. They live in Penarth and have three daughters.
External Links
- [1] Bio at BBC Food
