A successful business owner and qualified chef, Jonathan Kemble was 23 when he won the 2003 Australian Apprentice of the Year Award. Now 33, Jonathan recalls his memories of the win.
“I remember feeling worried I had not prepared a speech, and sure enough, it came back to bite me when I won! I think I managed to thank my family, and all the chefs that I had worked for over the previous four years. I just remember how bright the lights were on the stage and not being able to see anything past the lectern!”
Despite being unprepared for life on stage, Jonathan’s win did prepare him for a very successful career. Shortly after winning the award, Jonathan worked as the Head Chef of South Australia’s renowned Star of Greece restaurant, a cliff top restaurant at Port Willunga near Adelaide.
“Working at the Star of Greece was the pinnacle of my culinary career. I achieved one star in the Gourmet Traveller Guide and with a great team we produced some amazing food there,” Jonathan said.
Jonathan went on to complete a Certificate IV in Training and Assessment and then began teaching hospitality at TAFE SA – Regency Campus for some years.
“I really enjoyed teaching the discipline of commercial cookery and was privileged to contribute to TAFE SA’s Appetite for Success program supporting young chefs who needed mentoring.”
Jonathan eventually pursued a career in hotel catering management, but wanting less hours because of his growing young family, he moved into a sales representative role at wholesale fine food and wine merchant, Bottega Rotolo. In 2011, he bought into the company and moved to Perth to open its Western Australia franchise. Jonathan now has a warehouse just outside Perth.
When asked if the Australian Training Awards made a difference to his career, Jonathan is certain it made a positive impact.
“Winning the Australian Apprentice of the Year Award definitely helped my career, particularly from a publicity point of view. In cooking, publicity and reputation is pretty much what you use to get the next job. Occasionally I still see my image on the side of buses in Adelaide advertising commercial cookery for TAFE SA, which is quite funny!” he said.