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London cooks sharpen their knives for Masterchef’s ultimate challenge
Ross Lydall22.10.09
It is the toughest and most exciting cookery show on TV and tonight three London-based chefs will compete to become the champion of Masterchef: The Professionals.
According to judge Michel Roux Jnr, the 90-minute programme is an unmissable end to six weeks of competition. “It's a mega piece of telly,” he said.
Roux, double-Michelin-starred chef at Le Gavroche in Mayfair, said it took him and fellow judge Gregg Wallace an hour to pick the winner.
The title is being contested by three cooks working in the capital — Marianne Lumb, who handles private parties for VIPs; Steve Groves, of Launceston Place restaurant in Kensington; and agency chef Daniel Graham.
Even after four days of challenges — from mastering pâtisserie well enough to satisfy Michel Roux Snr, to coping with a fire alarm at Chelsea FC — Roux said it was almost impossible to pick a winner.
“We are talking about a massive break for these guys. It's not the amateur series and it's not the celebrity series, where they're not necessarily going to make a career out of this,” he said. “For these guys it's their bread and butter — it's their life.”
Stand-out dishes ranged from poached egg infused with wood smoke to a spring chicken salad.
But it was the earlier rounds that made compulsive viewing. Overseen by Monica Galetti, sous chef at Le Gavroche, chefs were eliminated after making disastrous errors. One chopped butter on a board previously used to cut raw chicken.
Tonight's test sees the finalists each cook one of Mr Roux's signature dishes.
“They have to cook for 36 people — Michelin-starred chefs, my father, three Michelin inspectors and Monica,” said Mr Roux. “Then they cook for Gregg and myself.”
Masterchef: The Professionals is on BBC2 tonight from 8pm to 9.30pm.
Kitchen contenders
Marianne Lumb, 34
Cooks for rock stars, racing drivers and politicians and has taught at Prue Leith's cookery school.
Best dish: Spring chicken salad.
Michel's verdict: "Absolutely outstanding flavours making the ingredients shine through."
Steve Groves, 28
Works at Launceston Place, Kensington.
Best dish: Poached hen's egg with wood smoke and truffled soldiers.
Michel's verdict: "A natural innovator. He has a great depth of knowledge."
Daniel Graham, 27
Agency chef after starting at country hotels. Dream is to run a Michelin-starred restaurant in Newcastle.
Best dish: Trio of tequila-inspired desserts.
Michel's verdict: "He took on board every single thing we said and delivered the goods round after round."
MasterChef Live, 13-15 November, Olympia, London. See the winer with Michel Roux Jnr and his sous chef, Monica Galetti. Book now on 0844 579 3198 or online at www.MasterChefLive.com
