I Have had a dream to become a chef or just have some sort of career in food for all my life, it's all I'v ever wanted to do and if I didnt do it I dont have a clue what I would be doing haha. I'm only 18 and desperately want to make it in this industry, i'v worked soo hard trying to learn as much as possible from different people (including the legendary Rick Stein!) and have recently secured a place at Tante Marie school of cookery. The food industry is without a doubt I think one of the hardest industry's to crack largely down to the long hours and little money.

I'm loving the advice from Jamie up there, he is such an inspiration and hopefully I'll have my name published like him one day haha. Everyone out there who had a similar dream like mine keep going, we'll get there eventually, NEVER GIVE UP ON YOUR DREAMS! if you want something then go and get it people!  xxx

Nics tips Jamie, thanks for sharing with us!

I will tell a experience i´ve passed here in Brazil. We are still getting on in the world of high gastronomy and besides São Paulo, the other cities or states has only few good restaurants or no one at all. I searched for a job in the two most commented in my region, and got in one of them.

The chef is French, and has a good name, but what was my surprise when i find out that he was never in the restaurant, so the kitchen was camanded by a guy with no formation at all that not delegated any tasks. All the food was frozen and the two microwaves works much more than i.

I´ve ended up neraly loosing all the passion i have in cooking, scared and thinking if all restaurants would be like that.

So be careful on where you will work for free, ´cause all can win you can loose too;

please can you all answer my questionnaire for my vegetarian college project, would be much appreciated. thank you.
www.surveymonkey.com/s/L8JPGDQ

Done Dori.  You used to (and may still have) a good catering college in St George's, where I have visited, knowing a chef lecturer who worked there for 2 years.  However, if it's your intention to live in Essex, I would suggest you somewhere like the Harlow council who I'm sure will advise you on who you should contact.

Good hunting.