"I consider myself incredibly lucky to have been given such amazing opportunities at Compass, whilst on an Apprenticeship programme. I will continue to challenge myself and seize all the opportunities that come my way!”
- Miranda Cook - Apprentice, Restaurant Associates, winner of the 2019 Apprentice Chef of the Year
Miranda Cook
I joined Restaurant Associates as an apprentice in 2018 at the age of 19. I started on a Level 2 Commis Chef apprenticeship course and I have just completed it. I’m now looking into the Level 3 Chef De Partie apprenticeship, to continue my learning.
In October 2019, I entered Compass Group UK & Ireland’s 20th annual Chef of the Year competition which was held at The Restaurant Show in London. I wanted to enter the competition in order to challenge myself and to see how far I had come since starting my apprenticeship earlier that year…. And it felt amazing to win - it was a great way to kick start my culinary journey. I’m just at the start of my career and feel like I have learnt a lot already, but there is so much more for me to discover.
What do you love most about your job?
I love the endless opportunities that come with being a chef. There are so many different pathways to take, different cuisines to specialise in and an abundance of amazing chefs to learn and develop with, in kitchens all over the world. You are never short of inspiration to be better.
What made you want to be a chef?
I wanted to make my passion my profession. Being able to express my creativity through such a diverse medium was incredibly appealing to me. The industry is always transforming, and this is mostly thanks to the innovation of the chefs involved. I want to be part of this innovation.
