Jade cooks up new venture

Jade Ostler is out to get mouths watering with the launch of a new baking venture.

After a whirlwind 10 years, the 24-year-old – who is originally from Grantham – has settled in Lincoln and launched a new venture, Jade’s Bakes, whilst doing part-time bar work.

The chef, who lives in uphill Lincoln, is finding herself increasingly busy, making cakes, pastries, tray bakes and preserves, as well as decorating celebration cakes and making-up hampers and she is also creating some cordials.

Jade has got off to a great start by selling her bakes at markets, but she is also starting to supply some shops and hopes to deliver to more as her business grows.

Her story could have been very different because – at one point – Jade was set for a sporting career, having trained hard for the London Olympics, but food won the day.

Jade began honing her passion for food and hospitality as a young teenager, by working in the background at pubs in Colsterworth and Burton Coggles, as she studied for her Professional Cookery Diploma at Stamford New College, in Stamford.

But she grasped every opportunity to learn from others running bakeries and restaurants. Eager to boost her skills, Jade has also gained experience at The Hambleton Bakery (which has shops in Rutland, South Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire) and The Lavender House Restaurant and Cookery School in Norfolk.

Jade is also proud to have done a three-week spell at Rick Stein’s Seafood Restaurant, in Padstow, Cornwall.

“I’m passionate about working with food and, while I was doing my course at Stamford, I was doing about three part-time jobs, which was exhausting,” said Jade.

“It has been great learning so much from many different people. Working at Rick Stein’s restaurant, taught me a lot about the preparation of all kinds of fish and seafood. Yet the highlight was meeting the man himself – such a humble chap!”

But Jade’s experience as a chef, also includes a three-year spell in Australia.

“Although the UK has always been my home, I went to Australia when I was twenty. The main reason was because I am very ambitious and adventurous. I wanted to see the world and also get further experience,” she said.

“During that time, I worked at Baroque Bistro in Sydney Harbour, The Quay in
The Rocks, Jones the Grocer in Westfield Tower and also Two Good Eggs in Surry Hills

“I came home last Autumn because my dog Rossi, who I had had for more than
ten years, had become old and I wanted to spend time with him and also return to my family,” said Jade.

Sadly Jade lost Rossi, but now she is ploughing her energies into her new venture.

“Working for myself is something I have really wanted to do since starting chef training. I knew I would enjoy it more than working for other people and I am now one step closer to realising my ambitions.”

But no-one should doubt Jade’s determination – after all she could have been an Olympics star.

“When I was ten I played tennis for Lincolnshire, then I followed my brother Michael when he switched to cycling and actually trained and got into the British team for the Olympics in 2012.

“I went through all the training and then side-tracked to concentrate on my baking. I love food too much! I want to say a special thank you to my parents Gail and Dave, as well as my grandparents, for their continuous love and support.”