A quicky with Elly Wentworth - 2016 Masterchef: The Professionals Finalist

Image courtesy of Elly Wentworth's Facebook Page

Elly Wentworth was recently a finalist in Masterchef The Professionals 2016. She has links with the South West and has already fulfilled two sell out Guest Chef evenings at The Elephant in Torquay.

Her current place of work, Lucknam Park, details her career history so far:

"Elly Wentworth currently works as a junior chef at Lucknam Park in Wiltshire. Elly started her carreer as the age of 13 as a pot wash. She gained her level 2 at Plymouth City College in professional catering. Elly has worked in various restaurants in Wales and the Lake District before returning to the South West to work at Tanners Restaurant in Plymouth and then at the Elephant Restaurant in Torquay. Elly then moved to the Manor House Hotel at Castle Combe in Wiltshire, where she worked as Chef de Partie.


She entered and won the Young Professional class of the South West Chef of the Year competition in 2012 and again in 2014 before going on to win the title of South West Chef of the Year that same year.

In June 2015, Elly took a position as Chef de Partie at Lucknam Park and graduated to Junior Sous Chef three months later. In the same year, she reached the final of the Craft Guild of Chefs Young National Chef of the Year competition and the following June she was one of four winners of a Royal Academy of Culinary Arts Awards of Excellence (kitchen category)."

Elly, the last standing female in the 2016 Masterchef: The Professionals, impressed the judges from the first round by gaining a perfect 10 from judge Marcus Wareing.

Elly kindly agreed to answer these 5 questions:


1. Many chefs and foodies have a favourite comfort food, nothing fancy; what's yours?
 
Favourite comfy food; would definitely be pesto pasta! It's my favourite, so easy, yet so tasty!


2. The South West has an amazing array of eateries; as a chef myself, I know it's nice to be cooked for, for a change. When you're not busy, where do you like to eat? 

There's one place that I absolutely love to dine in, and it's called the The Pig! Head chef Jamie Golding. His food is so delicious and atmosphere is awesome. (Hampshire)

3. Watching you on Masterchef, it was great to see a confident, young female chef. Who has been your best teacher and what skills/tips have you kept or adapted from each of your previous head chefs?
 
There's a lot of chefs to thank for my career, and they know who they are! But it does go down to two. Chris Tanner, my first head chef, taught me the first part of fine dining. Then Hywel Jones at Lucknam, he's progressed me into the chef I am today!


4. What’s the strangest or most unusual ingredient you have cooked with and how did it turn out?
 
Tofu! It's just a strange texture, and tasteless. Something very delicious needs to go with this ingredient or marinated.


5. What is your favourite cookbook?
 
Best cook book by far: The Skills by Monica Galleti


The End Bit

I look forward to watching her career with interest; brimming with confidence and passion from the start, she has been one of the best professional contestants in years and in a male dominated world of kitchens, this talent is going to take the bull by the the horns and I can't wait to see what she does next.

I Want One

To experience Elly's food, keep an eye out on Lucknam Park website for upcoming events featuring Elly such as this 6 course taster evening in February.


Follow her on Twitter @EllyWentworth or on Facebook @elly.wentworth

DONE!



Comments

Popular Posts