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To pursue his dream of becoming a chef in a 5-star restaurant, Jack Lee had to work unpaid for a year. Moreover, at the peak of his career, after surgery, he completely lost his sense of taste. However, stepping back but advancing 10 steps. He then embarked on the journey to become a chef specializing in serving Hollywood stars.
Actors like Stephen Baldwin, musician and singer Randy Jackson, or even Steve Jobs have all enjoyed dishes cooked by Jack Lee himself. Speaking of his passion for cooking, he said that his mother's dishes have been an endless source of inspiration for him to create and overcome difficulties in foreign lands.
For him, cooking delicious Vietnamese dishes, rediscovering, or creatively creating dishes that express the nation's culture is a way to show love for his homeland and his mother. Jack Lee's journey to becoming one of the top chefs cooking for Hollywood stars is by no means easy.
Working unpaid for a whole year to reach the dream
Jack Lee, a Vietnamese chef whose real name is Ly Vinh Vien, came to the US with his family at a young age and lived a difficult life. Throughout elementary to high school, Jack had to work extra jobs to make ends meet.
Passionate about cooking, he decided to apply for a job at Bel-Air, a famous 5-star French restaurant catering to politicians and celebrities. Despite never being selected for a kitchen position, he persevered and was allowed to work unpaid for a year with many arduous tasks. 'I worked 16 hours and didn't receive any salary,' Jack said.
But with determination, perseverance, and continuous learning effort, Jack Lee proved his abilities and passion. Once, when Raymond - a culinary expert came to Bel-Air to taste the food, the head chef suddenly fell ill and the other members were clueless about what dish to impress with.
At this moment, Jack came up with the idea of making Vietnamese spring rolls. Raymond was deeply impressed by this dish and from then on, Jack became one of the main chefs at Bel-Air and was promoted to sous chef.
Some time later, he left Bel-Air and opened his own brand restaurant. Over time, his name became known for his skillful combination of European and Asian flavors. 'I want the world to know Vietnam not just for pho, banh xeo, and spring rolls, but also many other dishes that we can creatively make special,' he shared.
A nightmare for a chef: losing taste
For Jack, life is not simply 'rosy'. When his career was at its peak, Jack developed a breathing problem when sleeping due to overwork and had to undergo a complicated jaw surgery. The surgery left him completely without taste. In fact, this is truly terrifying for any chef.
'For nearly 2 years, I confined myself at home, no one hired me, no money, and I myself had lost the confidence to stand in the kitchen. Until one day, my 12-year-old daughter suddenly said to me: 'Dad taught me how to cook, taught me to persevere, taught me never to give up. So why are you giving up now?'
At this time, actress Roma Downey found me, asked me to come home and cook, and said 'you just do it, even if it's not good, I'll pay, I trust you.' Summoning all the remaining courage, I determined to stand up once. I cooked with my daughter's expectations, with Roma Downey's belief, and with the duty of a chef,' Jack Lee shared on the media.
That time, his dishes made everyone exclaim: 'Jack, that's delicious.' He woke up, like a magnificent motivation to return to the profession. His taste also gradually recovered. Stepping back but advancing 10 steps, he embarked on the path of cooking for Hollywood stars.
Jack was invited by Hollywood stars like Angelina Jolie, Janet Jackson... to cook for their private parties. To do this well, Jack said he had to study carefully how they ate, adhere to the diets of the 'stars'. He had to season meticulously, select ingredients very carefully.
He said it's not easy to earn from superstars because the higher their status, the more demands they have. Superstars often have to diet and stick to it but always feel delicious, which is not an easy task for chefs.
'In Hollywood and the world of celebrities, of the top figures of nations, there is no room for mistakes, nor for those who don't try. There is no paradise for those lacking effort, someone else will replace you immediately,' Jack Lee shared on the media.
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