PRESS COVERAGE – SUNDAY 31ST JULY 2022 – THE OBSERVER MAGAZINE
On Wednesday evening 29th June 2022 a group of 8 customers walked in to the restaurant in Swansea Marina. Little did Gigi Gao know but what was about to happen would change her business…and to some extent her life (and that’s no exaggeration knowing what I know, but can’t divulge).
As the customers finished their meal Gigi realised that Chinese TV celebrity Chef Jeremy Pang was amongst the party. It was on photographic confirmation with her business consultant Steve (me), that she identified UK’s top food critic Jay Rayner.
There were some hints that despite the fact that the party was there to record Kitchen Cabinet radio programme for BBC Radio 4 (hosted by Jay Rayner) Jay was so impressed that he decided that evening to write a review on Gigi Gao’s Favourite Authentic Chinese.
Of course this was a double endorsement knowing that an incredibly talented and credible chef such as Jeremy Pang was in attendance and was instrumental in discussing the dishes with the party.
The review was published on Sunday 31st July 2022 in The Observer (Guardian newspaper group) and the rest is history, as they say…
You can find the review here….Gigi Gao’s Favourite Authentic Chinese, Swansea: ‘A fabulous creation’ –
PRESS COVERAGE 2 – SUNDAY 31ST JULY 2022 – WALES ONLINE
Following the wonderful review by top UK food critic Jay Rayner on 31st July, WalesOnline and SwanseaOnline were both quick off the mark in reporting the article and you can read the WalesOnline article here…
Jay Rayner raves about ‘fabulous creations’ and ‘thrilling’ dishes at Welsh Chinese restaurant
PRESS COVERAGE 3 – SUNDAY 7th AUGUST 2022 – WALES ONLINE
Already overwhelmed by the press coverage to date, WalesOnline, through Kathryn Williams, contacted us to do a more in-depth article regarding the woman behind the business. The article was great and published on Sunday 7th August… you can read it here
The amazing woman behind the one-of-a-kind Chinese restaurant that had Jay Rayner thrilled
READ WHAT UK’S TOP FOOD CRITIC 2023 JAY RAYNER SAID BELOW IN THESE TWO REVIEWS:
31st JULY 2022 – THE OBSERVER/GUARDIAN
1st JANUARY 2023 – THE OBSERVER/GUARDIAN
GIGI GAO’S WINS “THE BEST (ORIENTAL) RESTAURANT IN WALES” FOR THE SECOND TIME IN THREE YEARS!
Gigi and her staff are incredibly proud to announce that they won the accolade of Best (Oriental) Restaurant in Wales at The Golden Chopsticks Awards 2021. These Awards are considered to be the most prestigious and important for the Oriental Cuisine in the UK, and are often referred to as the Oscars of the Oriental Culinary world. The Awards themselves are founded by Fashion and Cookery TV Personality Gok Wan alongside Lucy Mitchel, Managing Director of See Woo Supermarkets and Sarah Lewis, owner of SALT PR company in London.
The Awards are held annually in the London Marriott, Grosvenor Square London, but due to issues surrounding COVID were delayed from 2020 to 27th September 2021. The judges are made up from an array of top culinary experts, headed by Chef Ken Hom OBE and included TV’s Jeremy Pang, Simon Rimmer, food critics and writers and notable culinary professionals. Unfortunately Gigi couldn’t attend the ceremony itself but she was represented on the evening by her Business Consultant, Steve Homer who collected the award on her behalf.
This is the third successive year that Gigi Gao’s Favourite Authentic Chinese has been a Finalist at these awards and the second time the restaurant has been awarded the top accolade. Of course none of this would ever be possible as much of the judging is undertaken by you the customers and our success can only be a reflection of how much you enjoy the Gigi Gao’s Favourite experience.
And the news doesn’t end there… arrangements are being made within the Swansea Marina premises to extend our services (with a twist) to the first floor (upstairs), but before that Gigi will be announcing the launch of a new brand/business…more on that soon.