Since packing up my life into a travel size suitcase six months ago, I have finally come to understand the meaning of such a proverbial Italian saying.  I arrived in London to experience what the city had to offer and with hopes of making a career for myself.

First stop, Canary Wharf.  It was among the sky scrapers that I began as a Waitress for Jamie's Italian.  In the training week I was immediately taken in by the passion and pride that everyone appeared to have in the venture we were about to undertake.  Every detail from the food on the menu to the design of the restaurant was considered with the utmost care and attention.  Gennaro even managed to make breadsticks sound sexy!

The next few months proved to be just as intense as that first week.  With long hours and little sleep I was loving every minute and I was ecstatic when I was offered the opportunity to become a junior manager.  For the first phase of my management training I was shipped off to Jamie's Italian, Brighton for a week in the kitchen with head chef Vince showing me the ropes.  I couldn't wait to experience the restaurant from the other side of the pass.  I got involved in each section from pasta to fish to my favourite desserts and everyone I worked with made me feel like part of the family.  They all took the time to teach and enlighten me with that same passion that was exuded in the opening weeks.

I thought that leaving Canary Wharf would feel like waving goodbye to my home all over again but what the last few weeks have taught me is that home is wherever you put your heart.  The next stop and new home for me will be the beautiful Kingston on Thames where I can't wait to get involved as a manager.  I now truly believe that it's the heart felt passion that goes into all things Jamie's Italian that make it feel like home and what a fantastic, crazy casa it is!!

Aoife Morris, Department manager