Why Most Young Chefs Ruin Their Careers by Moving Too Fast…

About this episode

Send us Fan MailChef JKP sits down with Nicolas Lambert, Senior Executive Pastry Chef at Four Seasons Dubai and one of the most respected names in modern pastry. From growing up in his parents’ bakery in France to leading teams across Hong Kong, Russia, and Dubai, Nicolas shares the risks, mentors, and decisions that shaped his career. They discuss apprenticeship, leadership, competitions, learning English from scratch, and why mastering the fundamentals still matters more than chasing recognition. WHAT YOU’LL HEAR IN THIS EPISODE • Growing up inside his parents’ bakery in France • Choosing pastry instead of following his father into baking • The five-year apprenticeship that shaped his career • Learning inside some of France’s most demanding pastry kitchens • Moving to Hong Kong without speaking English • Becoming Asia’s Best Pastry Chef • Leading pastry teams across Hong Kong, Russia, and Dubai • His advice for young chefs building a lasting career CHAPTERS 05:19 Choosing Pastry Over Baking 06:28 The Five-Year Apprenticeship That Shaped Him 09:27 Leaving Home And Building His Career Across France 22:30 The Decision That Took Him Beyond France 30:18 Becoming Asia’s Best Pastry Chef 33:33 Russia, Dubai And Leading Global Teams 45:46 Competitions, Preparation And Advice For Young Chefs 48:02 Why Young Chefs Need Patience And Strong Fundamentals 58:13 The Kitchen Mistake That Changed His Leadership FEATURED GUEST Nicolas Lambert Senior Executive Pastry Chef, Four Seasons Resort Dubai at Jumeirah Beach Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nicolas_lambert/ SEASON 13 PARTNER This season is proudly sponsored by Elle & Vire Professionnel, trusted by chefs around the world for exceptional French dairy products shaped by decades of expertise and craftsmanship. Elle & Vire Professionnel Middle East https://www.instagram.com/ellevirprofessionnel_me/ AUDIO PARTNER RØDE https://rode.com/ SUPPORT THE SHOW Chef JKP Thermos Flask https://chefjkp.com/product/jkp-thermos-flask/ FOLLOW CHEF JKP Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chefjkp/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chefjkp/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@chefjkp Website: https://chefjkp.com/ Food is memories. 🍸 #chefjkp #thechefjkppodcast #nicolaslambert #pastrychef #modernpastry #fourseasonsdubai #asiabestpastrychef #pastryarts #cheflife #culinaryleadershipSupport the showFollow The Chef JKP Podcast on Instagram HERE