"I always knew I wanted to be a chef from a very young age. I was brought up by a single mum who had very little money, and the main reason I loved cooking was because my mum used to make the most amazing dinners from nothing. One of my earliest memories is of watching my mum in the kitchen as she whipped up her famous watercress soup. Helping mum chop, mash, and dice inspired my dream to become a chef.
"And, at the age of 16, she encouraged me to leave school and go to catering college at The Ritz. She always did whatever she could to encourage me to get into the kitchen, from cooking some heritage polish food and helping out with Christmas dinner. When I’d burnt a chicken, or ruined a smoked salmon mousse, it was mum that dried my tears, and told me to don my chef’s whites once more.
"Thanks to mum’s love and support, I found my gift. Now, I’ve opened my very own dessert restaurant, Whipped, in London’s Covent Garden. It’s surreal to see a life-long dream come to life, and my mum is incredible proud of what I’ve accomplished.
"So this Christmas, pick a gift for a loved one that could encourage them to follow their passion and dreams. A cake stand may inspire them to become the next Mary Berry! Head to Very.co.uk and give a gift that helps someone find theirs."
This Christmas, head to Very.co.uk to give a gift that helps someone you love discover their gift, and to Very.co.uk/lovegiving for the chance to win a gift for you and a loved one.
Plus, shop our edit of gifts that will ignite a passion for cooking below:
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1 of 86-Cup Muffin Tin, £9.99
This 6-cup muffin tin from Joe Wicks will inspire someone with an interest in baking to try their hand at a variety of delicious treats, from blueberry spelt muffins to baked breakfast eggs.
2 of 82 Tier Square White Cake Stand, £14.99 from Very
This minimalistic cake stand is the perfect gift to give someone who wants to show off all of their baking creations.
3 of 8Westie Set of Apron, 2 x Tea Towels & Oven Gloves, £29.99 from Very
Westie pups wearing bow ties?! This apron, oven mittens and tea towels set is just TOO cute. Plus, it'll definitely come in handy for baking lovers.
4 of 8Colourworks Classic – Set of 4 Melamine Side Plates, £10.99 from Very
Every budding chef needs some slick dinnerware to present their delicious meals on, right? So go on, these minimalistic plates won't buy themselves!
5 of 8Fearne By Swan Hand Mixer, £34.99 from Very
Co-created by Fearne Cotton, this retro-inspired hand mixer will make quick work of any small mixing task. It boasts 5 speed settings plus a powerful turbo function, meaning that it's perfect for creating cake batters and more. We're sold.
6 of 8Airtight Domed Cake Tin, £26.99 from Very
Someone with a flair for baking will love this mint green cake tin, which complements both traditional and modern homes. And with the statement 'cake' wording on the tin, house guests will always know where to find that extra slice of goodness.
7 of 8Sara Miller Chelsea Cake Plates - Set of 4, £37.99 from Very
Know someone who is a bit bold in their design taste? Then gift them these beautifully designed plates, which feature a pretty love bird scene and lush floral trees.
8 of 8Industrial Kitchen Metal Utensil Holder, £14.99 from Very
This vintage-looking holder will be the new home for your loved one's cooking utensils. Made from iron, it will look great in any kitchen, plus it's big enough to hold a whole variety of cooking essentials.