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My name’s Jessica Laker. I work for Rockpool Bar & Grill.
I’m a second-year apprentice.
My passion for food
came from growing up in a family that was surrounded by food.
After school I’d be doing experiments and things like that
before anyone came home.
That was what kick-started me wanting to cook for other people,
because it brings everyone together.
There’s definitely a stigma around apprenticeships.
A lot of people,
when I brought up the idea with my friends and my family,
they had the idea that I wouldn’t be as well educated
or I’d probably work in some slummy restaurant.
It’s the complete opposite.
I feel like I’m fast-tracking myself
quicker than my friends who are still in their university degrees,
working part-time jobs at Gloria Jean’s and McDonald’s
while I’m working in a kitchen with Neil Perry.
When I first applied for apprenticeships,
I researched it and I found three- and two-hat restaurants in Sydney.
Rockpool Bar & Grill replied,
saying that they’d love to see me for an interview,
I can come in for a trial, as well.
It was one of the most exciting moments ever.
I’m still blown away.
You come in and you’re walking up… from Wynyard Station,
you’re walking up, just looking at the restaurant.
And you come down in your chef’s uniform,
and you’re still kind of looking around every day.
When my parents first came into the restaurant,
I could see how impressed they were.
Because it’s an open kitchen,
they sat down and they’re looking around at everything,
and they were just amazed at the beautiful building,
and that they could see me cooking their food.
Cooking for people, you can see them enjoying their food,
and it’s right in front of you, and you’ve made that.
And it gives you this sense of pride,
that you can make someone feel that way.
An apprenticeship like this,
especially at such a fantastic restaurant,
it gives me the opportunities to go anywhere I want to.
I can only go up, really.
I want to be the best I can be.