AN aspiring Romsey chef has thanked staff after a dream stint in the Lake District – with a two-star Michelin restaurant.

The Romsey school pupil has been experiencing life in one of the UK’s top restaurants with Southampton chef Simon Rogan at L’Enclume in the Lake District.

The restaurant has been listed among the top two eateries within the UK’s Good Food Guide for the last five years.

Mountbatten School’s 15-year-old Alfie Good has already completed the junior chef programme at Eastleigh College, but ‘cheekily’ wrote to the Michelin-starred chef for some work experience.

Alfie said: “Simon Rogan is also from Southampton, and went to the same school as me. We learned about his career in year five, and I decided I wanted to be a chef there and then.

“He has been a role model for me ever since.

“Now I’m in year ten, and I’ve completed the junior chef programme in my own time at Eastleigh College – but I needed to organise some work experience. I cheekily wrote to Simon Rogan and asked if I could spend some time with him and his team at L’Enclume, and I was over the moon when he said yes!

“I travelled up to Cartmel and I spent the week there, learning about food preparation, working with the local fresh produce grown on Simon’s own farm, and understanding what it takes to present two Michelin-starred dishes.

“Everyone was amazing to me, and I can’t thank them enough for their support. Now I plan to use this experience to continue plans for my own career. I’m hoping for the chance to return to L’Enclume one day.”

Chef Simon Rogan said: “My team was happy to work with Alfie – showing him everything this exciting career choice has to offer. I have some incredible talented chefs here, and they were only too pleased to help develop Alfie’s skills.

“He has enthusiasm about food – which is an essential tribute – and he settled in very well.

“I’m delighted he enjoyed his time with us.”