Ben Neale, an English Chef in Amsterdam
Anita Bougouneau
At the young age of 23, Ben Neale left his job at the Champneys Tring Hotel and Spa, where he worked as Chef de Parties, and boarded his one- way flight to Amsterdam four days later. He left for Amsterdam with only a one- way ticket and a job interview.
The now 25 year old, first realised his love for cooking from simply cooking for his friends. “They enjoyed it and that made me feel good, so why not get paid for it” He chuckled.
“Ben always used to cook for us, even after a long day out, a group of us friends would end up back at Ben’s house and he never hesitated to whip all of us up some decent food.” Said the chefs close friend, Jade White.
The 24 year old added, “He is just a feeder, he enjoys knowing that we have all had something nice to eat. In the summer, Ben’s place was the place to be for the BBQ’s. It would never just be standard BBQ food, there was always something fancy there.”
Before he worked at the elegant hotel and spa, he worked under a Michelin head chef in a refurbished pub. He added, “It had its own butchery and focused on English pub food presented in a fine dining way.”
Ben now works as Chef De Parties in a contemporary Asian cuisine restaurant called Taiko. The sleek dining space focuses on Japanese food. The restaurant sits within the luxury Conservatorium Hotel, which is a stone throw away from Amsterdam’s central Museumplein. This is a place where people go to splash the cash.
When Ben left England and arrived in Amsterdam Central, he had no friends, no family and nowhere to live. He spent five weeks moving from hostel to hostel whilst working 12- hour shifts. He would then spend the little spare time he had searching for somewhere stable to live.
He tells us of the times he would spend all night searching for somewhere to live and all day working. He said “At times it was really hard, I remember times feeling really lonely and discouraged when I couldn’t find somewhere to live. I was having to move from hostel to hostel.”
Ben Neale added “ I was determined to make it work though, I had the job I wanted and refused to come back to England without a struggle.”
Well the Chef’s determination has definitely paid off, just over two years later he is enjoying his job in the lavish Asian cuisine restaurant, has his own flat, is making friends and is just appreciating life in The Netherlands.
However, Ben has recently decided it was time for another change. He has a flight back to England in a couple weeks, where he intends to spend 5 weeks catching up with friends and family before he continues with his career in Australia.
“I have always wanted to travel, and so whilst I am still young I may as well take advantage. I have already done it once so I know I can do it again
