My name is Ava, I am 28 years old and live in the borough of Camden. My interests include food, football, gardening, nature and travel. I have just returned from a ten month trip to South East Asia where I explored many different cultures, gained some incredible experiences and ate some amazing food. Since arriving back in the UK I have realised that I should be pursuing a career involving food and cooking as it is a great passion of mine. Cooking has always been a significant part of my life with different family members also being keen cooks from whom I have learnt many recipes and cooking techniques from. I am an enthusiastic home cook with a desire to develop my culinary skills. I enjoy experimenting with new recipes and flavours, and I am committed to improving my techniques in the kitchen. I love being creative in the kitchen and exploring different cuisines. I really enjoy cooking recipes created by Ottolenghi, Claire Thompson, Anjum Anand, Meera Sodha and so many more. I have also recently been learning how to cook more authentic Thai and Vietnamese dishes as they were such a significant part of my travels. However, most of all I enjoyed creating delicious food that brings people together. Prior to travelling I worked as a nanny/housekeeper for a family of four, with two young girls and two pets. My responsibilities involved collecting the children from school, taking the children to extracurricular activities, managing household duties, caring for pets, managing grocery shopping and cooking healthy and nutritious meals, and helping the children prepare for bedtime. After completing my bachelors degree I worked as a class teaching assistant in year two, and have also worked as a one-to-one teaching assistant for a child in year 6 with SEND. In 2022 I completed my teacher training year, graduating with a PGCE and QTS. Teacher training provided me with an excellent insight into the UK education system, SEND and the national curriculum for KS1 and 2.

I have experience working as a nanny and cooking for the family. I have worked in a cafe as a barista and waitress, which also involved helping the chef with food preparation. I have volunteered many times at the skip garden cafe, helping out in the kitchen with food preparation.

PGCE with QTS, 60 credits at Masters Level - Teaching London SCITT First Class Honours in Ecology and Conservation - Manchester Metropolitan University