Cooking is his dream

Nashauna Drummond, Lifestyle Coordinator

Odain Smith was born to be a chef. He always knew he didn't want a regular nine-to-five job he wanted something cool and different, and that was cooking. He told Food, "I always love watching Food Network and I didn't want a regular nine-to-five job. I wanted to do something that paid and that was cool."

Growing up with his grandmother he had no choice but to learn how to cook at a very early age. He now spends many sleepless nights coming up with new dishes using his family as guinea pigs for his new recipes. He does this because he eats out a lot and all the dishes were what he describes as 'on the record'. "No one was daring enough. Oji was different he was not afraid to take risks," he told Food. His best moment on the job is when a customer asks him to make them something new and different that's not on the menu. "I love it," he notes simply.

At just 21 years old, Odain Smith had the sole responsibility of the kitchen at Village Blues Café in Orchid Village Plaza on Barbican Road until he left in November.

On a busy night when he has multiple orders, he gets into his zone and moves around the kitchen like a man possessed. Smith started working part-time in a kitchen when he was 14 years old peeling potatoes. Since then he has fine-tuned his skills by working and learning from some of the best in the industry. He has worked at Evitas, Starapples, Gee Jam, Margaritaville in Ocho Rios and with famed chef Oji Jaja. And in the process has helped prepare meals for Hollywood superstars such as Tom Cruise.

Special love for Italian

Smith's favourite cuisine is Italian. "I would cook it every day." But the rule in his house is that he doesn't cook during the week. "On the weekend it's my duty to cook for my family anything they need."

Orginally from Duhaney Park, Smith was determined not to be influenced by the situation around him, and as soon as he could he moved from the area. His dream was to attend Culinary Institute of America. He applied and was not only accepted, he received a partial scholarship, but was not able to supplement the additional expenses.

He has also applied to the Runaway Bay HEART Academy, but the institution never seems to have enough space to accommodate all the hopefuls. But Smith is not deterred and this year has sent in his application again waiting for that call. He has also applied to universities abroad who offer financial aid to international students. "It's very important to have the paperwork," he told Food. "Without it you're just another skilled youth who doesn't have anything."