A CHEF who trained at Stratford College is living his culinary dream.
Mike Taylor is private chef to a real estate billionaire and his family based in New York – but the job takes him around the world.
The 30-year-old told The Observer: “My dream job was to move to America and work as a private chef to a high net worth client.
“I visited place after place with my portfolio and CV but nothing came up. I sometimes questioned if it would ever happen, and then out of the blue I received the email of my life, which led to the job of my life.
“I was flown to their house in The Hamptons to trial and was successful. After a month we moved to Manhattan to their penthouse property. They travel the world to their various properties, including Paris and London, and I go with them.
“I now work with only the finest ingredients – $1000 caviar and sushi grade tuna.
“It has been challenging. Entering a new property for the first time in a new area with no idea of kitchen layout, suppliers and sometimes local language, can be difficult.
“It’s a fast pace environment and it’s my responsibility to figure it all out before the first meal – but with each new destination it gets easier
“When in New York I live between Times Square and Broadway with fabulous views, and I have a car at each property we travel to.
“I am living my dream.”
And Mike’s food has been going down well with his new employer – with his oregano yellow fin tuna steak with miso and encrusted sesame seed, French beans with soy and chilli flakes and pickled ginger, a particular favourite.
Mike, who was born in Solihull, now lives in Salford Priors when in Britain.
It was his mother who inspired his love of cooking.
His career to date has has seen him work locally at The Beeches in Hampton-in-Arden and Restaurant 23 in Leamington, and further afield at a ski chalet in the French Alps and a stately home in Cheshire.
