My Food Journey - so far…
My food journey started at the age of 4, when my Mum started cooking with me. My mum is the best cook I know and was a school dinner lady for thirty years, at the school i attended, which I found inspiring, cooking for hundreds of children every day. I also had three Uncles that were chefs in the army, so I grew up in a family of foodies. At school, it was an easy choice to take GCSE Food Studies, over all the other DT options, despite being one of only two boys in the class and this course just grew my passion for the subject. I then took A'Level Home Economics and Business Studies which led me to my degree at Sheffield Hallam, BSc(Hons) in Food Marketing Management.
From the age of 14, to completing my degree I worked in many different jobs within Food and Hospitality. Starting at Thomas the Bakers, picking fruit and vegetables at local farms, as a cook at an outdoor activity centre, being a waiter at restaurants and hotels, to helping run an outside catering company in the holidays when back from University. Then lastly working for a fruit and vegetable company in that supplied some of the best restaurants in the South of England, for my sandwich year. These experiences gave me a vast knowledge of the food industry.
In my final year at University, i was beginning to apply for jobs as a buyer for major supermarkets, when suddenly i lost a significant amount of my vision. After 4 months of tests, I was diagnosed with a rare visual impairment, known as Lebers Optic Neuropathy. This then changed my career path and a lecturer suggested I undertake a PGCE in Food Technology, so i could access the disabled support from the University I was placed in the blind school for one of my placements. I quickly realised I had a passion for teaching and inspiring young people to cook and learn about food. Upon completing my PGCE I was given all the resources needed to managed my eye condition, through the Access to Work scheme. Advancements in technology made my it even easier to cope with my disability, whilst teaching and after 9 years of teaching in England I was confident enough to move into International teaching, working in Hong Kong for 10 years and has given me the opportunity to travel extensively and learn about different cultures and cuisines.
