A POPULAR TV chef has been giving tips to a group of enterprising teenagers who are setting up a pizza-making business.

The budding entrepreneurs are regulars at Cellb, the innovative community arts complex based at the former police station in Blaenau Ffestiniog.

Chris “Flamebaster” Roberts conducted a workshop teaching them the finer points of making dough and adding toppings.

Their new venture, Pizza 'Stiniog, is based in a converted shipping container that’s been kitted out with three pizza ovens.

READ MORE:

Caernarfon chef and Anglesey comedian star in adventure to New Zealand

North Wales Police officer denies wounding teenager in Bangor

Chris went to Cellb with his fellow presenters, stand-up comedian Kiri Pritchard-McLean television presenter Alun Williams, from the S4C series, Alun, Chris a Kiri yn Seland Newydd (Alun, Chris and Kiri in New Zealand).

The series sees them drive more than 1,000 miles from Queenstown in south island to Auckland, the country's biggest city in the north, carrying out various challenges along the way.

The presenters’ visit to the pioneering project proved a real inspiration for the three would-be pizza makers, all pupils at Ysgol y Moelwyn.

Chris said: "They've got an amazing set-up with three pizza ovens, two small and one large, and they are capable of making pizzas very quickly so they maximise the number they can cook and serve.

"The lads are very keen and we had a workshop where they made the dough and rolled them out and added the toppings and cooked them.

"We made some Margherita pizzas to start and then we added some pepperoni and herbs and they were epic.”

Chris, who lives in Caernarfon, added the Cellb garden has planted herbs like basil, thyme and parsley which although are currently out of season will be very useful during the summer.

During the workshop, another group of youngsters filmed Chris at work.

"Once they get going they're hoping to film themselves cooking and posting their videos online to attract customers. It's a great idea and it worked for me," said Chris.

According to Carys Thomas, head of food and nutrition at Ysgol y Moelwyn, the boys were "buzzing" after their workshop.

"They said it was an amazing experience and they all want to do it again," she said.

Noa Hughes, aged 14, said: "I love Chris' programmes and getting the chance to get tips from a famous chef here (at Cellb) was great."

Jac Roberts, also 14,  added: “It was a mega experience getting tips from top chef Chris. He's banging.”

The pizza workshops were part-funded by a Playworks Holiday Project Grant from Gwynedd Council.