Sunderland Echo

Michelin stars in Dylan’s eyes

TALENTED TEEN CHEF IS COOKING UP A STORM WITH DREAM JOB

- By Laura Bolden echo.news@northeast-press.co.uk Twitter: @sunderland­echo

“Simon Rogan is an amazing chef and I’m going to learn so much in this job. He is very much all about growing his own produce, making the best out of simple ingredient­s and making it taste really good.

“This is a big step up for A talented teenager has cause for celebratio­n after landing his dream job with a Michelin-starred chef.

Dylan Smith, 19, is now creating a la carte cuisine at celebrity chef Simon Rogan’s eatery Rogan & Co, the sister restaurant of two Michelin star L’Enclume.

The Whitburn lad, who has just finished studying an apprentice­ship at Sunderland College, has been appointeda­scommische­fatthe me but I’m very happy that I three AA rosette restaurant have this chance to learn and in Cartmel, Cumbria. develop my cooking skills.

Dylan said: “When I found “I hope that I’ll be able out I had the job I was ecstatic, to impress the team at Rogan but very shocked. This is & Co and will then move such a massive opportunit­y to L’Enclume. I don’t think for me.” many 19-year-olds can say they’re working at a three AA rosette restaurant with the chance to move to a two Michelin star restaurant. I’m very grateful.

“I want to travel the world working at prestigiou­s restaurant­s and eventually my aim is to be a three star Michelin chef. I don’t think I’ll ever fall out of love with food.”

Dylan first cooked in a profession­al kitchen at the age of 15 while on placement at Sunderland College’s former training restaurant, The Lounge.

He left Sunderland College with a level two diploma in profession­al cookery and then began an apprentice­ship with the College and Hawthorns, at the Crowne Plaza in Newcastle.

He added: “I really enjoyed my time at the college. The lecturers were really supportive and showed me a lot of cooking techniques, and helped me to improve my skills.

“If it wasn’t for the college, I wouldn’t have had the motivation and confidence to go out and apply for this job.”

Rob Stewart, curriculum leader for catering and hospitalit­y at Sunderland College, said: “Dylan is an extremely talented chef and has shown a great amount of commitment and passion to his studies.

“It has been a pleasure to watch Dylan’s flair for cooking develop over the years and it is no surprise that his talents have been snapped up.”

 ??  ?? Dylan Smith has been appointed as commis chef at Rogan & Co.
Dylan Smith has been appointed as commis chef at Rogan & Co.

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