An acclaimed Greek chef with a penchant for unique dishes has opened a stall at Cardiff Market. Antonis Alexandris, whose CV includes cooking for royalty and a Guinness world record, only launched Ya Souvlaki last month but he has described its immediate popularity as "crazy".
Although Antonis — better known as Antony — is used to working in big-name kitchens, he is enjoying life in a small street food spot that allows him to interact more with customers. When we visit one morning, his rapport is quickly apparent. Towering at 6ft 3ins, the affable Athenian warmly embraces two friends as they pass and tells them: "Come by later, I will make you whatever you want." Shortly afterwards a young man stops to say: "The chips yesterday were beautiful, I don't know what you did with them."
The key to the chips, the 48-year-old chef says with a smile, is in his secret mix of herbs. "There is one particular herb that makes the difference," he adds. The care Antony takes over ingredients is a recurring theme as he explains the philosophy behind Ya Souvlaki, which he has opened in a partnership with the owners of Woodville Road's Corfu By Night restaurant.
