Hüseyin Özer, 75-year-old famous chef from Tokat: – “The secret of success is being honest. There is no secret beyond this. The biggest enemy of success is being alert.”
ERZİNCAN (AA) – Chef Hüseyin Özer, who created one of the most famous brands in England with the Turkish dishes he cooks and the restaurants he opens, conveyed the subtleties of the dishes of his country, which he introduced to the world, to university students.
75-year-old Hüseyin Özer, who was born in 1949 in Reşadiye district of Tokat, had to work under difficult conditions at an early age.
Özer, who went to England at the age of 21 after experiencing great difficulties in his business life, which he started as a shepherd, quickly became one of the leading names in the field of gastronomy in London.
Özer, who owned a restaurant chain in London, where he settled after absences, and introduced Turkish cuisine to the world, continues to work despite his advanced age.
This time, Özer came to the city upon the invitation of Erzincan Binali Yıldırım University (EBYÜ) Vocational School of Tourism and Hotel Management.
Özer, who came together with academicians and students here, told his life story and the intricacies of the profession to his future colleagues.
Chef Hüseyin Özer told the AA correspondent that he started his adventure in gastronomy from hunger and poverty.
Emphasizing that for a while due to poverty, he roasted bread in oil and cooked rotten tomatoes to feed himself, Özer said, “I didn’t have a choice, I learned this job out of poverty. “Unfortunately, I couldn’t go to school. We had animals and I was looking after them, so I don’t have any information.” he said.
– “The secret of success is being honest”
Explaining that being honest is the beginning of everything, Özer said, “I know how to cook well, I also know how to serve and wash dishes. The secret to success is being honest. There is no secret beyond this. The biggest enemy of success is being alert. You can make money, you can find your way, but you will no longer be a man. “When you cease to be a man, money has no value.” made his assessment.
Stating that he found the taste in the dishes through trial and error, Özer continued as follows:
“I am like the husband and wife of the house, I cooked food from whatever I found. While I was wondering if the food I was making was a little off, I realized that the food I was cooking had a new taste. There is already a lot of love, and I was taking care of animals at a young age. I left my hometown and came to Ankara. I grew up there as a street child. Then I came to Istanbul. I was very hungry then. I couldn’t make money. With the money I earned, I could drink tripe soup with a quarter of bread. “Later, I got a job in a patisserie and with the money I earned, I took an English course and then went to England.”
Özer stated that after he started earning a lot of money, he established a foundation to provide education to students in his hometown, Tokat’s Reşadiye district, and said, “I will teach all the subtleties of cooking in the course I will open here. I will take successful students abroad and open restaurants there. I am still problematic because I did not read. If I had studied, I would have been more skillful and successful. It is necessary to be educated.” he said.
– “An important role model for our students”
EBYÜ School of Tourism and Hotel Management Director Assoc. Dr. Erkan Güneş also expressed his pleasure in hosting a world-class chef in his schools.
Emphasizing that Chef Özer is someone who adds flavor to Turkish dishes and brings them to the fore, Güneş said, “It is very important for us that our chef brings Turkish dishes to the fore. In addition to his presentation to our students, he talked about his life story and secrets of success. It was very important for the development of our students. “He is an important role model for our students who follow him closely on social media.” he said.
Berfin Altunç, a second grade student at the school, said that chef Hüseyin Özer was an inspiration and hope to them.
“What can we do with our profession? What awaits us ahead? Where can we work?” Stating that they are looking for answers to questions in their minds such as, Altunç said:
“He gave us information regarding these questions. We already know him from social media. He also came here through very difficult paths. Frankly, this gave us some inspiration. “I would like to announce my name to the world like him.”
