East Lothian Courier - October 3 2008
Top rural chef at the tender age of 20
DANIELA COCCHIA, head chef at the popular Osteria restaurant, has proved she is more than a pretty face by landing a major culinary accolade at just 20 years of age.
The daughter of owner Angelo Cocchia has been named Rural Chef of the Year 2008, capping a meteoric rise in the catering industry.
She came top out of 13 category finalists in the prestigious national industry competition. A team of four judges had nominated her after making an incognito visit to the award-winning High Street eaterie.
The first she knew about it was when a letter announcing her nomination came through the post in April.
"That was a surprise in itself, but nothing compared to the shock of finding out I had won." said Daniela, who received here award at a glittering ceremony in Glasgow's Radisson Hotel.
"It was a real honour especially at my age to receive such an award.
"From a very young age I have always been interested and had a real passion for cooking which is due to growing up with two Italian grandmothers."
Only a few years ago, Daniela, who lives in Edinburgh, was washing dishes in the capital's Cosmo restaurant. She started working there part-time at 16 and from then on her interest in cheffing grew rapidly.
She trained with Alex Thain, winner of the Gordon Ramsay scholarship, for a year. It was, she said, the springboard to her success.
Daniela came to North Berwick in April 2006, when her dad Angelo and his former business partner Cosmo Tamburo opened Osteria.