As he launches his new London restaurant, Fred Quartey looks back on his leap from IT Programmer to Chef and restaurateur.

For anyone looking for a taste of Africa in the heart of London, the recently opened Just Freddie's might be just the place to go.

Offering classic dishes with an African twist, Just Freddie's combines Quartey's Ghanaian roots and European training.

It also offers typical Ghanaian warmth and hospitality and has been described by one food reviewer as "the 'local' - the one around the corner with the owner who knows your name, where you get a coffee on the house and you take your best mates before you go out on the town."

Even without today's challenging economic climate, a restaurant is more likely than any other business to fail rather than succeed and almost 60% of restaurants in the UK close down within three years. But if risk can be mitigated by sheer hard work, few would care to bet against the owner of Just Freddie's.

Setting up a business in what must surely rank as one of the highest risk sectors has not come easy to Fred Quartey who, in common with many other professionals, had very different ambitions when he left Ghana for the UK.

"I came to this country as a computer programmer from NCR in Accra," says Quartey. Instead of an abundance of opportunities, however, he was unable to break into the British IT sector. "I found it very difficult to find a job and took up a part-time job as a kitchen porter."

It was while working in the kitchens that Quartey started to develop a real interest in cooking which, as he admits, is "something that women from my part of the world do - or so my wife keeps telling me!" Over time, his frustration at not finding the right job turned into something else.

"During this transition I actually started enjoying and keeping a keen and open minded view on cooking", he says.

Just Freddy's combines Quartey's Ghanaian roots and European training. It also offers typical Ghanaian warmth and hospitality.

Luckily for Fred, his growing interest was encouraged by the kitchen's Head Chef who recognised his potential. A recommendation from the Head Chef led to an offer to Quartey to train as a junior Chef and assist in the kitchen. "The rest," he says, "is history."

Quartey's catering career went from strength to strength and he moved on to work for the SAS Radissons Hotel, Novotel in West London. This was followed by stints with LWT and the BBC.

Continued hard work brought its successes and Quartey eventually progressed into catering management, working with successful eateries such as Nando's, Horse, Leon and Giraffe.

With a growing family to support, Quartey began to take on more assignments in addition to his regular work. "During these times," he says, "I was also moonlighting with Philip Small and Tony Page who were, then, the biggest Jewish banqueting companies."

Quartey’s strong Christian faith has sustained him during the tough periods in his life and directs the course he chooses to follow. Combining his talent for cooking with a strong desire to help others, Quartey's next steps turned him towards the hostel sector, where he still works today.

"As my faith took a greater hold of me", he says, "my passion has directed me to managing hostels. I am managing 15 hostels under a catering company called Caterplus and we provide food for the homeless and for emotionally, physically and substance abused people."

Quartey's faith was also a key factor in deciding to take up the challenge of setting up his own business. By his own admission, the process has involved a level of commitment and hard work that he never envisaged. But, judging by the reactions of his growing clientele, Just Freddie's has been well worth the effort and energy put into it.

Located in Blackstock Road, in the heart of North London's bustling multicultural streets, Just Freddie's is a cosy eating place where you are made to feel at home.

The restaurant specialises in homemade American-style beef and lamb burgers, grilled tilapia, bream and croker.

The restaurant specializes in hearty, homemade, American-style 100% homemade beef and lamb burgers, from as little as £8.00 per dish, as well as grilled tilapia, bream and croker fish. There is also a tasty selection of chicken dishes including Peri Peri and Jerk chicken.

Keeping to the homely feel of the restaurant, Quartey deftly handles all the cooking at Just Freddie's himself, serving up an eclectic and exciting range of international dishes.

Quartey's Ghanaian roots are evident in the flavouring of the extensive range of grills and pastas, while his grilled fish, couscous and curried goat have become staple weekend favourites with the local African community.

Just Freddie's Restaurant, 131 Blackstock Road, London N4 2JW, 020 7226 2484