Chef lands dream job

A GREAT Yarmouth College student has landed every trainee chef's dream first job - a full-time post at one of Gordon Ramsay's top London restaurants.

Ricky Barber will go straight from the college training kitchens to the cutting edge of modern cuisine at Ramsay's Michelin star Maze Restaurant in Mayfair.

Ricky, 19, was offered a permanent post on the spot during summer work experience in the high pressure kitchens, which he described as “just like you see on the television.”

The former Yarmouth High School pupil returned to college to start the new term to show his tutors a letter from The Maze offering him the post of commis chef when he completes his third year NVQ level 3 later this year.

His achievement is all the more remarkable because he only stumbled on to a catering course after failing to achieve high enough grades at school to join an electricians' course.

He said: “Now I'm so glad I didn't get my grades.

“When they took me on one side at The Maze after the third of my four weeks there and told me they wanted me to come and work there when I finished at college, I thought they were joking at first.

“It was so hard and the standards were so high but now I can't wait to go and get started.”

Although Ricky didn't get to meet Ramsay, whose worldwide portfolio includes restaurants in the US, the Middle East and Far East, during his work experience, he was prepared for the toughest kitchen conditions.

But his tutors had warned him that The Maze chefs - under the command of legendary fiery executive chef and Saturday Morning Kitchen star Jason Atherton - would put him under intense physical and mental pressure during his unpaid work experience.

But Ricky rose to the challenge and his resolve, attention to detail, competitive spirit and perfectionism led to him impressing the tough chefs where it counted.

Ricky works part-time in the restaurant kitchen at Great Yarmouth Stadium, and lives with his family in Copperfield Avenue, Yarmouth.