Rising Star: Ryan Cessford
s he prepares for a career in the industry.
Rising Star: Ryan Cessford
Age: 18
Course title and college: Professional Catering Craft Skills NVQ Level 2, and NVQ Level 3, City College Plymouth
When will you be graduating?: July 2009
When did you first realise you wanted to work in hospitality?: From the age of 12 when I came home from school cooking class and watched Gordon Ramsay on TV. Everyone said cooking was for girls.
What have been your biggest achievements to date?: Getting through the first stage of ITV Britain’s Best Dish was a great achievement, but passing my NVQ level 2 and getting through to Level 3 was too. I love the cooking but struggle with the theory, so it was good to succeed. I also cooked a meal for Westlife recently. They were performing a concert in Plymouth and had a meal in the Waterfront Restaurant where I was working. The Head Chef took a break and I had do the meal largely myself.
Where would you most like to work when you graduate?: I would like to work for Peter Gorton at the Horn of Plenty restaurant in Devon and maybe on one of the top cruise liners. Ultimately, I would like to work for Gordon Ramsay at one of his London restaurants.
Who do you most admire in the hospitality industry and why?: There are three people I admire the most: One is Gordon Ramsay because of what he has achieved and how he turns other businesses around. He also cooks up some amazing seasonal cooking. Then there is Steve Bowers my tutor at City College Plymouth for the inspiration he has given me and the way he teaches cooking practices. Tom Pyman of Pyman Pßt?s is my third choice. He has always encouraged me to do things I never thought were possible, for example cooking at demos and food festivals with people like Peter Gorton. It has been a great opportunity to learn new skills from experienced chefs.
What are you looking forward to most when you graduate and start work?: I am looking forward to gaining experience and learning all the time and being able to achieve on my own merit. I look forward to having a long and successful career in catering.
What do you think are going to be your biggest challenges throughout your career?:Ultimately I would like to own my own restaurant and realise that I will have to put in a lot of hard work to get there. I can’t think of a bigger challenge than that.
Do you know any Rising Stars? If you are tutor on a hospitality and catering course and would like to put forward a student or if you are a student and want to tell us about your future plans email us at arjf@ovtubfcvgnyvgl.pb.hx
Rising Star: Sergejs Ivanovs
