An Edinburgh father and son have shared their dream of running a restaurant together as they study alongside one another at a local college.
Dean Reilly, 42, and his 15-year-old son Michael, have been honing their skills at Edinburgh College as they work towards the goal of one day running their own business.
Currently studying professional cookery, Dean developed an interest in cooking during the pandemic when he spent much of his time cooking for his family, often alongside Michael, in their caravan on the east coast.
READ MORE - Incredible Edinburgh clip shows shopping centre's unrecognisable transformation
From these days of practising making pasta and watching MasterChef religiously, Dean was encouraged by his son to apply for the BBC amateur's show in 2021, where he was successful.
After succeeding in both applications, Dean put his college plans on hold to take up the once in a lifetime opportunity of being on MasterChef; but when his time on the series was cut short, he returned to the college in December 2021 to continue learning his craft.
Dean said: “MasterChef was a really great experience that made me think cooking is something I want to do full-time. So, when I got offered the opportunity to come back and do Level 3, I just jumped at it.
“I want to do it so I can be self-sufficient in what I want to do. I don’t want to be a Michelin star chef, I just want to run a family business.”
Inspired by his dad, son Michael is now studying hospitality at the college part-time while continuing his time at Castlebrae High School. Michael said: “My dad’s helped me a lot, and with my work experience days, I’ve learned a lot.”
Defying the odds, Dean was also diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2012, but explained that despite the physical setbacks, he is desperate to achieve his goal.
He added: “There’s days where I can’t get a shoe on, there’s days where I can’t get out of bed, but right from the off, Chris (Dean’s lecturer) and Mandy (Head of School) have said you tell me what you need and we’ll sort it out. It’s been more about how can I help you, rather than you do this. There’s always been an emphasis on support.”
Mandy Purdie, Head of School for Hospitality said, said: “Dean is inspirational not just in the sense that he has inspired Michael to pursue a career in Cookery, but in the example he sets us all, in facing the challenges he has on a daily basis due to his medical condition.
"He works hard and dreams big and it’s a pleasure for us to play our part in helping Dad and son achieve their goals.”
READ NEXT:
Edinburgh police spark urgent search for missing man with unusual face tattoo
Edinburgh skaters play lively game of ice hockey on frozen pond
Edinburgh locals wait in huge queue to get up close to Christmas Coca-Cola truck
Edinburgh dad sleeping on couch for months in 'freezing' flat due to cracked window
Family miss out on trip of a lifetime due to 'surname error' on plane tickets
