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Decades of training? Years of brushing up on the finest points of food and cooking?
Well鈥ot necessarily.
Nick Nairn was awarded an honorary degree by Abertay in 2016, but his rise to the top is one of the most remarkable stories the Scottish culinary scene has to offer.
His career began back in 1986. He鈥檇 never been to catering college and had never worked in a restaurant or received any kind of training. Yet he decided to open his own restaurant.
He borrowed tables and chairs and bought a second hand cooker for just 拢50.
5 years later the self-taught cook became the youngest chef in Scotland to win a Michelin star.
Since then he鈥檚 gone on to cook for the Queen, every First Minister and Prime Minister since Margaret Thatcher and he鈥檚 become one of the country鈥檚 best known TV chefs.
He鈥檚 also a passionate advocate for Scottish produce, promoting it right around the globe. He鈥檚 tirelessly campaigned to encourage healthy eating.
And he does all this while running restaurants and a cooking school.
He鈥檚 also planning to return to the university in October to give a cooking masterclass to students.
So what does it take to become a Michelin starred chef?
Passion, and a dream.