Island Life Magazine Ltd February/March 2011 | Page 132

food

Island Life - February/March 2011

Photo: Connor pictured with
executive chef Alan Staley

Photo left: Connor pictured with Executive Chef Alan Staley

Connor on way to
top chef dream
Connor Black is just 14 years of age,
but he already has his future firmly
mapped out.
Connor has his sights set on either
running his own restaurant, or working
as a chef in one of the country’s leading
kitchens.
For many it would perhaps appear a
far flung dream, but for Connor, who
lives in Ventnor and attends Medina
High School, the dream is already well
on the way to becoming reality.

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He was invited to work one morning
a week at the renowned Royal Hotel,
Ventnor, as part of his school course,
but so impressed the staff he has now
extended his hours to Saturdays and all
his spare time during school holidays.
Connor simply loves cooking, or
learning about food, even when he and
his family go on holiday. On recent trips
to Thailand the family were happy just
to laze on the beach or at the poolside,
but he was heading for a restaurant
kitchen to pick up invaluable advice.

Such has been his enthusiasm that he
has even been offered a job in Thailand
after he leaves school if acquires the
necessary qualifications.
Connor said: “I like cooking Thai food
with various spices, but really I enjoy
all types of cooking, and my family like
their food, and seem to like what I do
for them. I like working at the Royal,
and I do whatever they want me to
do. Sometimes I am even given a little
dish to cook, and I watch dishes being
prepared, and then do them myself

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