I wanted to work with Bottura...

Dreams? I always wonder: are dreams really the only thing that connects the lives of people? As a child, I dreamt of becoming a good chef. Then I read this sentence in a book by Massimo Bottura: "Live your life as if it were a dream". From that moment on, I had no more doubts.

In other words, even before I started to work for him, Bottura was already in my life. In 2012 I finally met him at Identità Milano: he even signed his book for me. After that, I worked, worked and worked: at that time I had a job in an Italian restaurant in my town, Istanbul.

It was the second one in my life, the first had been years earlier, also in the Turkish capital, with chef Giancarlo Talerico. It was my debut, right after catering school, I was 16. I was wondering: how can I become a good chef?

I was happy when it was time for a break because I could use that time to try new things. Sometimes the chef would say that he liked my idea and would put it in the menu, so I was happy. Yet it wasn’t enough: I really wanted to see Italian cuisine from close-up.

I asked for “help” on Facebook: I sent a message to many chefs in Italy in which I said I was looking for experience in the Peninsula. I received an answer from Naples: Le Tre Arcate in Piano di Sorrento. I left right away. While I was with my new staff I thought: “Thank God! I chose the right job!”.

After Naples I went to Rome, at Giuda Ballerino, a moment that will always be special for me because it was at the time that I decided to become a pastry-chef and not a cook. Every day I would prepare fresh pasta, sauces, risotto but as soon as I had a spare moment I would help out with pastry-making. Then it was the turn of Potenza, with the great Frank Rizzuti, who sadly passed away. He made me grow: when I had to return to Istanbul after my father died, I felt sure of myself, confident. Because I could bring to Turkey what I had learnt. Were I thus living my dream? Indeed I was.

Still, at the same time I was wondering: why not try and fly even higher? That “higher” for me meant Massimo Bottura. But I was in Istanbul, it felt like something impossible to accomplish. Then one day I read an article on the web: “Bottura is opening a new restaurant in Istanbul". Is that true?!?

I opened Facebook and sent him a message right away: "We met in 2012 at Identità Golose Milano, you will certainly not remember me. However, I read you will open a restaurant in Istanbul. I’m 21 and full of passion. Passion for my work. I acquired some experience in Italy too and speak 4 languages. Since I started to do this job you’ve always been my dream. I will wait for your reply. Thank you ".

A few days later the answer arrived.

Today I’m proud because I’m living my dream. I returned to Identità Milano in February. This time Bottura called me on the stage: «This is Billy, my pastry-chef in Istanbul». The auditorium was full, lots of people clapping, it’s impossible to describe the thrill. As Massimo sometimes says: “Go Billy, go!”.