People / Restaurants
Tributes paid to much-loved Bristol chef
Tributes have been paid to a much-loved Bristol chef who has died suddenly at the age of just 48.
Andrew Griffin opened Bomboloni on Gloucester Road with his wife Sara in 2017 after the pair had previously worked together in restaurants across Bristol including Tart, Prego and Markwicks
Andrew was a real family man, who leaves Sara and their five children, Molly, Nancy, Lily, Chris and Tom.
In a statement, the Griffin family said: “He was a loving husband, father, son, brother and granddad and will be greatly missed by all who had the pleasure of knowing him. Many people will be very saddened by this news.”
Andrew, a member of Lansdown Golf Club in Bath, was incredibly well-respected within Bristol’s food and drink scene.
Former Pear Cafe owner and author Elly Curshen wrote: “The saddest news. My dear friend Andrew. You’ll be very sadly missed. One of the kindest and most generous men I’ve ever known.”
James Koch, owner of The Gallimaufry and Suncraft, tweeted: “We’ve lost a titan of Gloucester Rd & Bristol food. Andrew Griffin was always kind to me & great company to keep. A tremendous chef. Huge love to Sara, family.”
The Guardian wine writer Fiona Beckett called Andrew “a lovely, lovely man”.
Sara Venn from Incredible Edible said: “One of my favourite Bristol people. Absolutely devastated.”
Food blogger Dan Vaux-Nobes said: “One of the nicest and most generous guys I’ve ever met.”
BBC Food & Farming Awards judge Genevieve Taylor added: “This news is just tragic, Andrew was quite simply the nicest chef I’ve met and his food was banging, so simple, such great big flavours, utterly unpretentious, generous. Just like him. RIP you total legend.”
Andrew and his family outside Bomboloni – photo courtesy of Bomboloni
Main photo courtesy of Facebook
Read more: Bomboloni – restaurant review
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