Jailed Canberra chef returns to his ‘happy place’

Courgette's chef James Mussillon opens up about time in prison and his return to the kitchen.

Transcript

00:00 I feel happy, I feel delighted.

00:03 I've been cooking since I was 15

00:05 and I just feel like at home.

00:08 (upbeat music)

00:11 My life has been up and down for the last three years

00:27 from pandemic to getting myself into trouble.

00:31 I own my mistake and I think that you're a bigger person

00:35 if you can turn around and accept your mistake.

00:38 I'm not asking for forgiveness

00:41 'cause I've done the punishment,

00:43 but I wanna move on with my life

00:45 and I want people to realise that Gourgette Restaurant

00:48 is here for those people who have great memories

00:52 from the last 22 years has been in business

00:56 to hopefully still support us

00:58 and don't let one person ruin a great team effort.

01:02 It's not just me and I felt selfish

01:05 and I felt like I damaged something

01:07 that was a fantastic brand, but that's where I am.

01:10 I've gotta own it and I'll be back out

01:13 and the year before, the year after,

01:17 I was having a great celebration here at New Year's Eve.

01:22 (upbeat music)

01:24 you