Two Coventry chefs have made it through to the next round of MasterChef: The Professionals.
Leo and Brett, who both live in the city but work in Birmingham and Leicester respectively, will be back on air on the BBC favourite on Tuesday, December 5.
Two Michelin-starred Marcus Wareing, renowned chef Monica Galetti and MasterChef presenter Gregg Wallace make up the esteemed judging team – tasked with awarding the chef with the most skill, commitment and creative talent the revered title of MasterChef: The Professionals Champion.
After four weeks of intense competition, Leo and Brett will be two of the 12 most talented chefs who remain from the initial 48.
It is a far cry from the popular chippy in Willenhall, Coventry, where Leo first got the bug for cooking.
Leonidas Kattou with his mum Fotoulla at the Marina Fish Bar, Willenhall.
Tuesday night is the first time they all come together in the MasterChef kitchen where their fate rests in an almighty cook off.
The first challenge for the 12 chefs is to cook against each other in a terrifying Invention Test.
They need to impress the three judges with one spectacular plate of food created from a heaving table of fresh sweet and savoury ingredients.
But Monica and Marcus have raised the bar a little higher, and challenge the chefs to the maximum by removing all the modern kitchen gadgets from the kitchen.
In the absence of a sous-vide or water bath, the emphasis is on classic cooking skills – plain and simple.
With two hours and 15 minutes to create an innovative plate of excellence, they must seize this opportunity to make an impact on the judges.
Only eight chefs will be guaranteed to move onto the next round.
The weakest four must cook again against each other.
In the Cook Off round, the four remaining chefs have their final chance to showcase their talents to Marcus, Monica and Gregg and save themselves from being sent home.
With one hour to create one perfect dish – it’s do or die. Can they sear, blowtorch and pickle their way into the judges’ good books and convince them they deserve to continue in the competition.
For two chefs, it’s the end of the road when they are sent home.
The best two chefs from this round join the other eight and continue their quest to raise the MasterChef: The Professionals 2017 trophy.
began working as a teenager with his parents at Marina Fish Bar, in St James’ Lane, where he laid the foundations of his culinary career.
He then passed his professional culinary diploma and NVQ in food and drinks services with flying colours.
His big break came when he was given a taste of life in the fast lane during a work experience placement for the Michelin-starred Simpson’s, in Birmingham.
[“Source-coventrytelegraph”]