Dreaming big cooks up brilliant career path

Wairarapa College old boy Lance Corbett is cooking up a bright future after quitting school with nothing more than a dream of becoming a chef.

Mr Corbett, 21, left Wairarapa College five years ago after studying cooking at the school throughout his secondary years.

He had started cooking at home aged about 10, and has been relentless in his journey toward working, and owning, a professional kitchen.

Shortly after leaving school, Mr Corbett walked into the then Cafe Cecile at Queen Elizabeth Park in Masterton and asked for a job. On his second try, he was offered an apprenticeship.

After discussing his plans with his parents, Mr Corbett started up a blog, The Ultimate Chef, and invited some of the best chefs to view his site.

A little more than 12 months later, he began work in the kitchens at the Copthorne Hotel and Resort Solway Park in Masterton before starting work at the neighbouring Cobb & Co Restaurant.

He's struck up friendships through his blog with a handful of chefs, including Master Chef judge and restaurateur Simon Gault.

His national break came in July, when Mr Gault and Eugene Hamilton, executive chef at Gault's Euro Restaurant in Auckland, held a cooking demonstration in Lower Hutt.

Lance's parents Steve and Karen Corbett said Mr Gault invited their son to come along and his career came to the boil at the event.

"We got to meet both Simon and Eugene and within minutes, Simon offered Lance a trial at his restaurant, Jervois Steak House in Auckland," Steve Corbett said.

After a day's work at the restaurant in September, Lance Corbett was offered a position on the spot, Steve Corbett said.

Lance Corbett worked at the Auckland restaurant for about a month and on Friday travelled to South Island to work in a new restaurant Mr Gault is opening this weekend in the Sofitel Hotel, Queenstown.

He will be working as a commis chef in the new restaurant preparing cold entrees, desserts and a few hot mains.

His goal is to own a chain store of restaurants within five to 10 years.

He said people who had been vital to his start included Claire Wells at the former Cafe Cecile, Paul Condron at Copthorne Hotel and Resort Solway Park, and Wairarapa police officer Dave Drummond.