Pathways Routes to the top
Routes to the top
Lazslo Kovac Head baker, St John Bakery
The valuable skill of being able to make something with his own hands was the driving force behind a career that has touched different cultures
What was your first job in hospitality? As a pastry chef in small café and shop called Gara Cukraszda in Debrecen in Hungary.
What initially attracted you to working in hospitality? It was something my grandmother said to me: “People will always need bread, no matter how times change or where you go”.
something tangible with your own hands that people can enjoy, and to make a career out of it.
What different roles have you had in your career? When I started my career, I was both the baker and pastry chef for seven years and I then moved up to lead baker and then to manager after four years. I then left Hungary to travel to Vienna, in Austria, where I learned about Austria’s culinary historical repertoire and new skills such as decoration. I then headed to London to continue my
baker’s journey. I had both supervisor and head baker roles before I took on my current role at St John Bakery eight years ago.
“There is satisfaction
in having the skills to create something
How did you decide on your career direction? I did not come from a wealthy background – I saw a lot of poverty growing up, so I saw the importance of being able to make ends meet and being able to make your own food, which makes you less dependent and more self-reliant. There was a level of necessity and forward-thinking in terms of what career is timeless. On top of that, there is satisfaction in having the skills to create
tangible with your own hands that people can enjoy”
What are the biggest challenges you’ve faced? Being successful in this industry not only involves being skilful in baking, but also understanding the market, the demands, realising the potential differences in cultures and tastes, and being able to cater to all of them. I was worried that my English was not good enough to communicate my skills, but, in the end, it was enough. My knowledge, my experience and my ideas were all welcomed.
What advice would you give someone starting out in the industry? Learn, learn and keep learning. Be humble and don’t think you know everything because you have completed your studies. Always be open and eager to learn more.
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