I have been an Italian chef for as long as I can remember. I started cooking when I was very young! Seeing people enjoy my food gives me confidence. I like to make people happy. One of my signature dishes is linguine with prawns, lemon zest, cherry tomatoes and bottarga (an Italian fish roe). Really delicious.
Though I loved my work, there was a darker side to my life for many years - drugs. My addiction lost me everything. My job, my family, my money, and my friends. I became street homeless and couldn’t see a way out. I was slowly killing myself, stuck in a vicious cycle. But I found the strength to ask for help. I reached out and was given a place in detox.
I completed rehab and slowly rebuilt my life. I'm more than 2 years clean. I'm ready to take the next step in my recovery and get back into work. It's a few years since I've been in a professional kitchen so I need to bring my qualifications up to date. I'm hoping to cook in a more relaxed setting - like a school - so food safety and nutrition certificates will be really important as well.
I know what I'm aiming for in life. I want somewhere to live with my partner, a steady job which gives me gratification, and good peace of mind. Thank you for giving me this second chance.