My Journey
I’ve been a Chef all my life. When other children were reading comic books, I was reading books about Food. I loved Food! I grew up in a working class family in Essex, enjoying my Mum’s home cooking. The little boy in me could never have imagined how much Food would shape my entire life, and eventually, save it.
As soon as I left school, I enrolled at Chef’s training at Westminster, the best college in England, and started on the fast road to high end dining. The industry demanded perfection, – and it demanded all of you; 18-hour days, 6 days a week. We worked hard and played harder.
I left behind my quiet suburban life to give my all to this. My only friends were in the industry and I only dated in the industry, as we kept the same ridiculous hours. I had little time for my family back in Essex.
After training, I ended up in NYC. I was at the top of my game, continually pushing for success. There were awards, Michelin Stars, big names and celebrities. I cooked for famous families, Royal families and important events. The food I served was beautiful to look at and tasted divine. It was perfection on a plate, but ironically, I never thought about what was in it.
The States was food heaven; I got plump and ate a lot. I was young and food was my life. When I wasn’t working, I was eating & drinking - a lot. Whatever I wanted, because I could.
In 2010, Gordon Ramsay asked me to join him in Australia. I was now in Melbourne, city of food, and my name grew. I was on TV - Master Chef, The Circle - the cheeky Pommy chef. I catered for all the big events - often travelled by helicopter, & earned a massive salary from food. I was still pushing for more. So much so that I ended a romantic relationship with a great person, accepting a new job, my own restaurant, No.8 in Melbourne. I’d rather have Food in my life than love, and I couldn’t do both. Life could not be better. I was 32 and living the life I’d dreamed of. In control of the choices I made and in control of my life.
And then. I’d been having headaches, and lethargy but, given the last 10 years, it was easily explained.
But, suddenly, I got home from a big night out with friends and;
A seizure. My girlfriend found me, collapsed, and called a neighbour. I was fitting. The neighbour moved me which saved my life.
My next memory; waking up with paramedics placing electrodes onto my chest. I had no idea what had happened, but I was soon told.
A shadow. On my brain. A biopsy. Cancer. Right in my frontal lobe. The part which controls almost everything we need to function. The biopsy itself, quickly done, caused a stroke. A stroke which in turn caused brain damage.
In the space of one night, I had become brain damaged. And now who was I?
Follow John’s Journey
“FOOD is medicine. When used correctly it will improve your health”
- John Lawson
