Padstow’s vibrant dining scene continues to evolve as Caffè Rojano announces the appointment of a talented new head chef
Padstow’s Caffè Rojano, part of The Ainsworth Collection, has announced Andy Appleton as its new head chef.
Andy brings a wealth of experience from across the UK, having worked in a variety of restaurants from London to Cornwall. He earnt his stripes working alongside Jamie Oliver at Fifteen, relocating to Cornwall in 2007 to help launch the restaurant at Watergate Bay.
A decade later, Andy left his role as head chef there to open his own restaurant, Appleton’s at Trevibban Mill, with his wife. The restaurant ran for four years before the pair relocated to Fowey to relaunch as Appleton’s. More recently, Andy served as head chef at Waterside in Flushing, where he helped establish the foundations of the new restaurant.
At Caffè Rojano, Andy is working with the team to develop a seasonal menu that blends Mediterranean influences with Cornwall’s locally sourced produce. From breakfast to dinner, the line-up will be packed with small plates, fresh pasta and Napoletana-style pizza. Highlights on the coming-soon menu include the likes of Cornish crab with squid ink linguine and courgettes, and black truffle and mushroom ragù.
Speaking about his new role, Andy said: ‘I’ve known Paul Ainsworth for a long time – we both moved to Cornwall around a similar time – so there’s always been that connection. When the opportunity came up at Caffè Rojano, it felt like the stars aligned at the right moment. I’ve always had a passion for Mediterranean-style cooking, which is exactly what the restaurant is about, so it felt like a natural fit. I’m really excited to get stuck in and develop new dishes while working alongside such a great team.‘
