Hospitality guru joins Potishead cocktail and tapas bar
The arrival of a new kitchen and front of house manager at Venga, in Portishead High Street, heralds a transformative era for the cocktail and tapas bar.
The exciting news revealed this month is that Roman Jarana Vidal, who has worked in Michelin-star restaurants including Bristol’s Casamia and Bath’s Olive Tree, has joined Venga as a business partner. Spanish-born Roman is excited to put his authentic culinary skills to good use and with his love of people and extensive front of house experience he will be ensuring guests enjoy an engaging, immersive experience that celebrates the rich tapestry of both Spanish culture and cuisine.
Roman has lived in Portishead with his wife and daughter for around 10 years. He said: “I was looking to open a place of my own in Portishead but then I saw Venga was finding it difficult to find the right chef, which was making life complicated for owner Campbell. I thought to myself, ‘I can make a difference there’ and so I approached Campbell and we made good plans.”
Talking to Enjoy, Cam said: “Roman is just what we need to future-proof Venga and I am so excited at what is in store for our lovely High Street venue. There won’t be drastic changes made overnight, but his deep-rooted passion for Spain’s culinary heritage and the vision Roman has, will elevate the restaurant’s profile and re-imagine its offerings over the coming months.”
Roman insists he will spend time with the guests as well as in the kitchen and his innovation and his flair is expected to breathe new life into the restaurant’s already highly rated ambience.
Roman added: “I will talk to our guests and I will take their feedback to help us keep improving both our food and service.”
So the future is looking rosy for Venga and with Roman’s connections within the culinary world it may also open doors for unique events in the future from taster evenings to wine pairing with Spanish wineries. Watch this space!