BBC Chef ‘Flamebaster’ Transitions from Carer to Culinary World Traveler
Chris Roberts, known as ‘Flamebaster,’ shares his inspiring journey from support worker to celebrated chef.
Chris Roberts, Flamebaster, Caernarfon, Wales, Cooking, BBC
Caernarfon: Chris Roberts has been passionate about cooking since he was just six years old. While his friends were glued to cartoons, he was captivated by cooking shows featuring chefs like Keith Floyd.
Growing up in a family of great cooks, Chris credits his grandmothers and mom for his culinary foundation. He fondly remembers enjoying hearty meals like stews and oven potatoes with his family.
For nearly ten years, Chris has been a well-known figure on Welsh TV. His show, Bwyd Epic Chris, has allowed viewers to see him whip up delicious dishes while adding his unique personality and humor. Now, he’s taking it up a notch with his first English-language show, Chris Cooks Cymru.
In an interview, Chris shared that it took him a while to turn his love for cooking into a career. After leaving school at 18, he traveled and participated in long drive competitions worldwide.
During his travels, he returned to Wales to work as a support worker for people with learning disabilities. What started as a temporary gig turned into an 18-year career, and he wrapped up his long drive career at 24.
Chris believes that his time as a support worker opened his eyes to the power of home cooking. He realized how food could bring joy to others and started thinking of ways to enhance his shifts.
He would ask clients what they wanted for dinner, make a shopping list, and then cook from scratch. It wasn’t just about the meal; it was about teaching life skills and boosting confidence.
Chris’s dad, Colin, also inspired his love for cooking. Colin would travel to Patagonia, sharing stories of amazing Argentinian barbecues, which sparked Chris’s interest in cooking over flames.
After Colin’s passing in 2013, Chris dove deeper into his culinary passion. He launched an Instagram page in 2016, showcasing his spit-roasting skills.
Chris fell in love with cooking over fire, enjoying the primitive feel of it. He taught himself through trial and error, and now it’s second nature to him. He believes food tastes better when cooked over flames.
As his skills grew, so did his social media following. His friend Aneurin filmed his cooking, leading to a commission for his first show, Bwyd Epic Chris, in 2018.
Now, Chris is affectionately known as ‘Flamebaster’ and has inspired many young people to explore cooking. His culinary journey has taken him to places like Scandinavia and New York, where he has cooked alongside renowned chefs.
His Instagram is thriving, with around 30,000 followers. Food critic Jay Rayner praised him for his engaging cooking videos, even if he didn’t understand the language.
In 2022, Chris won two BAFTA Cymru awards for his show. He cherishes the opportunity to cook with his culinary heroes and showcase Welsh produce.
In his new show, Chris Cooks Cymru, he travels across Wales, including his hometown, to highlight local chefs and producers. He aims to celebrate Welsh food and culture.
Chris wants to bring people together through cooking, emphasizing that fire has a unique way of uniting everyone. He believes that food cooked over fire creates a sense of community.
You can catch Chris Cooks Cymru on BBC One Wales at 7:30 PM or stream all episodes on BBC iPlayer.