Student Profile - Kelly Pook

For my placement I was sent to London to work for Angela Hartnett at the Connaught. It was the first time I had been into a Michelin starred kitchen and at first it was a little bit daunting. But I very quickly started to feel comfortable and really enjoyed the time I spent there. I worked mostly on the cold starter section and after a couple of days was helping out during service plating food and sending the amuse. I also got to help prepare the food for Taste of London.

There were so many great opportunities open to me through studying at the college including being chosen to participate in competitions and to go and study and work in France. By far the best opportunity was my placement in London. I went back to Angela Hartnett at The Connaught in my second year for another placement and was offered a job there.

I worked with Angela Hartnett at The Connaught for 6 months until the hotel closed for refurbishment, after that I was sent to Boxwood Cafe one of the other restaurants in the Gordon Ramsay chain. I worked there for another 6 months and was then sent to work at Restaurant Gordon Ramsay, the 3 Michelin starred restaurant in Chelsea. I worked there for over a year and a half and now I’m working in New York.

I'm working for a chef called Daniel Boulud who has a few restaurants here in New York and others around the world. I came out to work in his new restaurant and so far it’s been really exciting as I’ve never helped to open a new restaurant before. It’s also really exciting to move to a new country and experience a new culture.