It was a privileged experience, being given the opportunity to sit in a cooking class conducted by none other than international celebrity chef Marco Pierre White.

Eight lucky readers of the Jamaica Observer (Janise Butler, Toni Spencer, Marvin Robinson, Janice Davis, Colleen Royes, Safiya Brown, Shirley Pryce and Rochelle Laing) got their chance to live this experience when the culinary mastermind visited the island to participate in the just-capped Jamaica Observer Food Awards.

Established and aspiring chefs alike made their way to the Spanish Court Hotel where MPW got into his element, moving deftly about the outdoor ATL kitchen as proficiently as if it were his very own kitchen in one of his restaurants.

His ‘students’ soaked up his techniques, a few shared trade secrets and numerous cooking tips — notebooks in hand, and pens going a mile a minute. And it was evident they were not only impressed by MPW’s skills, but also admired his easygoing nature, charm and humility.

They expected greatness, and were not disappointed. In addition to a superb demonstration of culinary talent, the winners of the competition also walked away with an autographed copy of MPW’s book Hell’s Kitchen, as well as the memory of their very own personal encounter with a leader in his class, Marco Pierre White.