Chef ‘lost for words’ after being crowned winner of MasterChef: The Professionals 2023-Emily Bashforth-Entertainment – Metro

The winner of MasterChef: The Professionals is… (Picture: Shine TV/BBC)

We have our winner of MasterChef: The Professionals 2023!

Tom Hamblet, 24, has been awarded the prestigious title of MasterChef: The Professionals Champion, it was announced in the final on Friday evening.

As the 17th chef to claim the coveted trophy, Tom takes his place in MasterChef history alongside other exceptional champions, from 2008 winner Derek Johnstone to last year’s champ Nikita Pathakji.

Tom, who comes from a cheffing family, took on 31 other professionals, all striving to make it to the end of seven weeks of increasingly demanding culinary challenges.

Along the way, he delivered some outstanding plates of food, impressing not only the judges but also the restaurant critics and some of the country’s leading chefs.

In the quarter-final, former I’m A Celebrity campmate and food critic Grace Dent said: ‘That is the best dessert I’ve had on MasterChef in all the years I’ve been here.’

Tom is the new MasterChef: The Professionals champ! (Picture: Shine TV/BBC)

Michelin-starred Jun Tanaka also said his food was ‘absolutely on point’ during the final week Chef’s Table challenge.

Reacting to his win, Tom struggled to know what to say.

‘I’m lost for words. It’s been such a good experience. I’ve done it!’, he exclaimed with glee.

‘The trophy’s here. I’m holding it! I couldn’t be happier right now. I’m just going to enjoy the moment.’

After calling his parents to give tell them the news, who are also both chefs at the same hotel as Tom, he said: ‘It’s really nice to hear how proud they are. It’s a big moment for me and them.’

Marcus Wareing commented: ‘From the minute that young chef stepped into this kitchen he’s been consistent and he’s delivered at every single level.

‘Tom’s food today was technical, it was beautiful and most importantly, it was delicious.’

Monica Galetti praised: ‘I find now he’s bringing his little modern twists, his personality, his cheekiness into his cooking. His food has been cracking throughout, and he’s still so young.’

The 24-year-old was ‘lost for words’ after learning of his win (Picture: Shine TV/BBC)

Gregg Wallace added that the flavours of Tom’s dishes especially ‘enter the world of exquisite.’

‘His food is beautiful and it’s absolutely banging delicious,’ the TV star praised, hailing Tom ‘a talent.’

‘I think today, we watched a very young chef come of age. Someone who’s always had the technical ability, but today was brave enough to put his own stamp on the classical.’

In an intense Final Week, Tom was up against ambitious and talented chefs: Charlie Walters (22 at the time of filming, now 23), who left on Wednesday; Kasae Fraser (29); and Tommy Thorn (27) who both also competed in tonight’s grand final.

The first challenge of the week saw them cooking a four-course dinner at the daunting Chef’s Table, hosted in the legendary Midland Grand Dining Room in London’s King’s Cross.

The diners were 24 culinary giants with 22 Michelin stars between them and included three former MasterChef: The Professionals contestants who have gone on to have stars of their own.

Tom amazed the judges with his final dishes (Picture: Shine TV/BBC)

The final three then embarked on the trip of a lifetime to the boundary-pushing two Michelin-starred Alchemist in Copenhagen, Denmark, as Head Chef Rasmus Munk led them into an immersive, breath-taking world where science, art and food collide.

It’s safe to say the pressure was on, as the chefs had just hours to master extraordinarily creative dishes as part of an epic 50-course tasting menu and deliver to a whole new level.

In tonight’s ultimate bid for glory, the three chefs poured everything they had into serving the three most spectacular courses of their lives to the judges.

Over three hours, they needed to bring together a starter, a main and a dessert of their creation, surpassing all the culinary ability, technique and knowledge they had demonstrated so far and impress enough to be the last chef standing.

Tom’s winning menu started with a poached native lobster tail with blanched red and yellow cherry tomatoes, filled with lobster claw meat in lobster and chilli oil, topped with a lemon verbena gel, courgette balls and a creamy lobster and tomato sauce Américaine.

Gregg told Tom: ‘This is a great, light dish that really packs a flavour punch.’

The main was seared beef fillet on a bed of pan-fried oyster mushrooms, served with braised beef cheek wrapped in brick pastry, topped with a poached oyster, a lovage emulsion, salsify, beef and red wine sauce and a beef and oyster tartare.

Marcus reacted with: ‘I’m finding it really difficult to find a problem with this. Everything on this plate is cooked beautifully and your attention to detail is exquisite.’

To finish, Tom served an olive oil sponge filled with an olive oil jam, topped with a set of lemon curd, crème fraiche cream, fennel tops and a fennel pollen tuille, served with a fennel seed ice cream.

He fought off some stiff competition (Picture: Shine TV/BBC)

Monica’s take on the dessert was: ‘It’s just a delightful way to finish your meal. I love it, love it, love it!’, while Marcus added: ‘Absolutely sublime. You’ve just hit the notes beautifully. It’s like a great piece of music. You get to the end of it and you want to play it again.’

As for life after MasterChef, Tom is still ‘working hard to deliver high standards’ at his restaurant.

‘I’d love to aim for my own Michelin-starred restaurant and maybe do more TV. I’m keen to take on projects that allow me to become a better chef and person so hopefully there are more exciting things coming!’

MasterChef: The Professionals is available to watch on BBC iPlayer.

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