How did you get into the industry?
My mum and dad ran a chain of Indian restaurants mainly based in Cardiff so I grew up around them in the kitchen and was inspired by the way they cooked. After finishing university in Bristol I wanted to run a business myself away from my family and try something new. I grew up near a fish and chip shop and always said I had wanted to run a fish and chip restaurant myself. After finding a perfect unit in the Llandaff area of Cardiff, I decided to take the plunge and The Posh Fish and Chip Company was born!
What’s your favourite food?
It has always been Pan Asian fusion food. After travelling the Far East for three months in my twenties I fell in love with fusion cooking.
Is there a food you won’t eat?
I’ll pretty much eat anything – and I do!
Where have you had the best fish and chips?
At a renowned Cardiff shop called Albany Fish Bar, coincidentally now owned by a family member. It was and still is a very busy shop and sees long queues on a Friday night. It was tradition for my family to have a Friday chippy tea, and visiting the store to order was the best part of night.
What side is a must with your fish and chips?
Curry sauce is a must in my opinion. It brings the fish and chips together perfectly.
If you could open a fish and chip shop anywhere, where would it be?
We have always wanted to open a shop in Chelsea as most of our family live in London.
Do you have a favourite restaurant?
I don’t get the chance to eat out that often but when I do it would always be an independently owned restaurant. My favourite at the moment is Mowgli’s, it’s my dad’s restaurant but has a new owner. It still feels like home as I spent most of my childhood and young adult life working in the restaurant.
What is your go-to drink?
Fresh mango juice, it hits the spot anytime of the day.
What dish reminds you most of your childhood?
It has to be fish and chips! Having it as a Friday tradition in my family, it was always something that I looked forward to, especially when I had a hard week in school.
What is your guilty food pleasure?
Any kind of dessert. No matter how much I eat, I always seem to find the space for dessert after a meal.
What’s been your weirdest food combination?
After seeing TikTok crazes with deep fried chocolate, I tried it myself in store and, I have to say, it was a delicious combo!
What one piece of equipment would you love to purchase for your business?
In our original store in Llandaff, we have two original Preston and Thomas frying ranges that were built before the company went into liquidation. But in our new store in Penarth we have a five pan KFE frying range with built-in filtration. It makes life so easy with baskets for the chips and cleaning down at the end of the day along with the gas savings we see using a modern built range. So for me, it would be to order another KFE frying range for our store in Llandaff.