Andrew Fairlie Scholarship 2024

Meet the Finalists - Marcin Borek

Chef de Partie, Fingal

Where are you from originally, where did you grow up and where do you live now?

I was born in the South-East area of Poland in Rzeszów City. For the last 8 years I have been living in Edinburgh, Scotland.

What inspired you to apply for the scholarship?

I love cooking and learning new skills, new methods and to acquire even more culinary knowledge. More importantly I love a challenge and constantly try to push myself further, applying for this scholarship is an example of that.

Have you always wanted to be a chef, what made you choose this career?

From a very young age I spent a lot of time with my mother to help her in preparation of all kind of dishes for our family, from fresh pasta dishes to big family gatherings around the table.  From those days I decided to become a Chef, and I chose culinary school which I successfully passed. The fast-paced environment of a professional kitchen drew me in, it’s exciting.

What do you love about working as a chef?

It’s the whole package - the organisation, creativity, pressure and excitement.

What is your favourite ingredient to work with and why?

When I was child, I spent time with my parents where we foraged mushrooms in the forest, grew vegetables and fruits on our farm.  We made preserves, pickles and traditional fermented items like sauerkraut and beetroot for during the winters. Making all those preserves, pickles and fermented foods lit the spark in me to become a chef.

What are your hopes for your future career as a chef?

Progression, like most of us, but not only in the hierarchy but more importantly through all the various sections, it’s a must to learn them all. I want to work in the best restaurants alongside the best chefs and learn from them to become the best I can be.