“The discipline and challenges of the kitchen are what first interested me. When I first began thinking of exploring the kitchen, someone told me that there’s no way in hell I could survive in the kitchens. Which naturally made me want to challenge myself to try as I felt I needed to find focus and thought I could get it in the kitchen with the hard work.

Like most young people I wasn’t taking the right path in life at first, but then the kitchen was the first place where someone saw value in my work, and it helped me see that I had a future! It’s tough to push yourself sometimes, but when a good mentor walks in and tells you they’re happy with your work, it really cheers you up and keeps you on the path!”