His cool and practical demeanour has served him well over the latest series of Great British Menu but everyone who knows the kind of start chef Nathan Davies has had to 2022 would forgive him for a few air punches and pats on the back as he not only excels on the TV competition, but his nearly new Aberystwyth restaurant, SY23, has achieved not one but two Michelin accolades in its 2022 guide.
Opening SY23 back in 2019, Nathan is former sous chef at Ynyshir, has worked as a private chef in France and in restaurants across the UK and his winning starter featured on this week's grand end-of-the series banquet, a tribute to 100 years of British broadcasting. Then in February SY23 was named as 'Opening of the Year 2022' by the UK’s most prestigious restaurant guide one day and awarded a star the next. Read our review of his restaurant here.
But who is the man who blew the judges away with his Merlin-themed, Welsh lamb starter and constructs his own mini-coal BBQ while staying as calm as a champ on national TV? The dad-of-two talks about the "ride-or-die" phenomena of working in the kitchen of double Michelin starred Ynyshir, where he worked with his pal Gareth Ward, his brilliant year so far, what's next on the horizon and how his kids keep him grounded when watching him on telly.
