Jamie Scott, a sous chef from Arbroath in Scotland, has been crowned the winner of this year’s MasterChef: The Professionals.
He beat Sven-Hanson Britt, 26, and Brian McLeish, 32, to become the eighth winner of the gruelling cookery contest.
Hooray for Jamie Scott! My 1 to win from the beginning! #masterchefprofessionals but the other 2 were also fantastic!
— Carole Miles (@Digifem) December 23, 2014
Jamie said: ”I want to cry a little bit I’m so happy. It’s not settled in yet, I wasn’t expecting to win. The blood, the sweat, the tears – it’s hard to fathom how much emotion goes into cooking and I hope I’ve showed that.”
What were the challenges?
(Plank PR/PA)
The finalists had to feed some very discerning tummies if they wanted to impress.
Tasks including preparing a Michelin-standard dish for 25 acclaimed Michelin-starred chefs, inspectors and restaurateurs.
They also travelled to Spain’s unofficial culinary capital San Sebastian to cook for influential chef Andoni Luis Aduriz at his famous restaurant Mugaritz.
In the final challenge the 26-year-old made a three-course dinner that reflected the story of his career for the judges.
The judges (from left to right): Gregg Wallace, Marcus Wareing and Monica Galetti, with winner Jamie (Plank PR/PA)
For the starter on his winning menu he served crab with pickled cucumber and apples, served with savoury doughnuts filled with flaked smokies and cheddar cheese.
Please invite me to eat at your house says @MGaletti01 after @mrjayger cheese doughnuts #masterchefprofessionals pic.twitter.com/eopuED6tMf
— Great British Chefs (@gbchefs) December 23, 2014
His main course was glazed short rib of beef with beef dripping, fried croutons and onion, smoked beef sirloin, salt baked turnips and burnt shallot puree, served with watercress puree and a beef jus.
"Stunning in every apsect" says @marcuswareing of @mrjayger beef "I can't fault it" #masterchefprofessionals pic.twitter.com/xb3ZS5YGNI
— Great British Chefs (@gbchefs) December 23, 2014
For pudding he served lemon cake topped with Italian meringue with lemon macarons, almond crumb, lemon curd and salted almonds, with a basil sorbet.
.@marcuswareing @MGaletti01 in disagreement with Gregg over @mrjayger dessert #masterchefprofessionals They love it! pic.twitter.com/zGH5WDiWqC
— Great British Chefs (@gbchefs) December 23, 2014
What did the judges say?
Marcus Wareing knows his cheffing – just look at him staring down that whisk! (David Parry/PA)
The judges praised him for his passion. Marcus Wareing said: “Jamie is a fantastic chef that has a personality and a big, big heart. That goes a long way in food and this is reflected in his plates – you can see it.
“I know we have found a true champion, we’ve found one of the future chefs of the country.”
Monica Galetti said: “Jamie has always given us delicious food, food that he enjoys eating. I am going to be so happy to follow this chef’s career.”
Strictly un-hopeful Gregg Wallace (L) was thankfully sans sequins for the entire Masterchef series (Guy Levy/BBC)
Gregg Wallace described it as the toughest judging decision he can remember, and said: “I can’t watch Jamie cook without smiling. He delivers over and over again – the man is just in love with cooking.”
We’re certainly sure it was tougher than the decision the Strictly judges had to make when booting Wallace off the show first this year.
Everyone In my sitting room just let out a collective cheer at the winner of #masterchefprofessionals such a lovely bloke.
— Robyn Ni Uidhir (@AbsoluteHunzo) December 23, 2014
What now for Jamie?
How does a MasterChef trophy change your life? (Matt Crossick/EMPICS)
Jamie started his career at 14 as the most junior person in the kitchen of his parents’ pub, and eventually worked his way up to running it.
He was inspired by his mother, who was the first woman to become a sous chef in Britain, and trained professionally at catering college, which was where he says he fell in love with food.
Go on my son. Great win from Jamie – and what a lovely, happy bloke he seems. #masterchefprofessionals
— Ruth Davidson MSP (@RuthDavidsonMSP) December 23, 2014
He hopes to cook on TV and publish a book, as well as opening his own restaurant, which would be “modern British with personal references”. That would include his love of Thai food and the classic French cuisine he learned to cook with his mother.
He was delighted with the positive reaction to his winning menus. “I feel incredible. Those three dishes were the story of my career up to this point. To condense all that into three plates of food and for the judges to understand – that was just absolutely amazing.”
