James Sommerin
Encyclopedia
James Sommerin is a Welsh
-born Michelin-starred
chef
.
Born in Caerleon
, Sommerin baked
with his grandmother on Saturdays as a child. Determined to become a chef, his father secured him his first Saturday job in an Italian
restaurant in the hope of dissuading his son from getting into the industry, but the job only served to convince Sommerin of his vocation.
After school he undertook formal cookery training, and then worked in a local hotel, before heading to the Farleyer House Hotel in Aberfeldy, Scotland. There he trained further under Richard Lyth, who gave him his under-stated French style.
Returning to Wales to be closer to his family, Sommerin joined joined The Crown at Whitebrook
in Monmouthshire
in 2000 as Sous Chef. In December 2003 he became Head Chef, which under his control gained a Michelin star
in April 2007.
Having been selected as one of the Chefs to Watch in 2008 by The Guardian
, Sommerin represented Wales in the 2009 final of the BBC
's Great British Menu
, having beaten Stephen Terry
.
Married to Louise, the couple live in Pontypool
and have two daughters.
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
-born Michelin-starred
Michelin Guide
The Michelin Guide is a series of annual guide books published by Michelin for over a dozen countries. The term normally refers to the Michelin Red Guide, the oldest and best-known European hotel and restaurant guide, which awards the Michelin stars...
chef
Chef
A chef is a person who cooks professionally for other people. Although over time the term has come to describe any person who cooks for a living, traditionally it refers to a highly skilled professional who is proficient in all aspects of food preparation.-Etymology:The word "chef" is borrowed ...
.
Born in Caerleon
Caerleon
Caerleon is a suburban village and community, situated on the River Usk in the northern outskirts of the city of Newport, South Wales. Caerleon is a site of archaeological importance, being the site of a notable Roman legionary fortress, Isca Augusta, and an Iron Age hill fort...
, Sommerin baked
Baking
Baking is the technique of prolonged cooking of food by dry heat acting by convection, and not by radiation, normally in an oven, but also in hot ashes, or on hot stones. It is primarily used for the preparation of bread, cakes, pastries and pies, tarts, quiches, cookies and crackers. Such items...
with his grandmother on Saturdays as a child. Determined to become a chef, his father secured him his first Saturday job in an Italian
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
restaurant in the hope of dissuading his son from getting into the industry, but the job only served to convince Sommerin of his vocation.
After school he undertook formal cookery training, and then worked in a local hotel, before heading to the Farleyer House Hotel in Aberfeldy, Scotland. There he trained further under Richard Lyth, who gave him his under-stated French style.
Returning to Wales to be closer to his family, Sommerin joined joined The Crown at Whitebrook
Whitebrook
Whitebrook is a small village in Monmouthshire, south-east Wales, United Kingdom. It is located four miles south east of Monmouth in the Wye Valley.- History and amenities :...
in Monmouthshire
Monmouthshire
Monmouthshire is a county in south east Wales. The name derives from the historic county of Monmouthshire which covered a much larger area. The largest town is Abergavenny. There are many castles in Monmouthshire .-Historic county:...
in 2000 as Sous Chef. In December 2003 he became Head Chef, which under his control gained a Michelin star
Michelin Guide
The Michelin Guide is a series of annual guide books published by Michelin for over a dozen countries. The term normally refers to the Michelin Red Guide, the oldest and best-known European hotel and restaurant guide, which awards the Michelin stars...
in April 2007.
Having been selected as one of the Chefs to Watch in 2008 by The Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
, Sommerin represented Wales in the 2009 final of the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
's Great British Menu
Great British Menu
Great British Menu is a BBC television series in which top British chefs compete for the chance to cook one course of a four course banquet. The first series banquet was for the Queen on her 80th birthday. The second series was to cook for the British Ambassador to France at the British Embassy...
, having beaten Stephen Terry
Stephen Terry
Stephen Terry is a professional chef from Wales, who was taught by Marco Pierre White and currently owns, and is Head Chef at, the Hardwick Restaurant in Abergavenny, Wales.The Hardwick was awarded a Michelin Bib Gourmand rating in 2011....
.
Married to Louise, the couple live in Pontypool
Pontypool
Pontypool is a town of approximately 36,000 people in the county borough of Torfaen, within the historic boundaries of Monmouthshire in South Wales....
and have two daughters.
External links
- Bio at the Crown at Whitebrook
- Bio at BBC FoodBBC FoodBBC Food was the name of the BBC's international commercial television channel focusing solely on food until it was replaced in the television markets it was broadcast by BBC Lifestyle. The channel was owned and operated by BBC Worldwide, the BBC's commercial arm.The channel launched in June 2002...