Masterchef winner Tom
Winner of TV’S Masterchef:the Professionals 2023 Tom Hamblet has spoken out about his future – and revealed his secret to a great Christmas dinner.
Twenty-four-year-old Tom, who works at Horsham’s fivestar South Lodge Hotel, also spoke of his gratitude to the hundredsofpeopleinhorsham who supported him throughout the culinary contest. “I’d just like to thank them all. It’s been really nice.”
Tom spoke out before Christmasandsaidmessagesto him on social media had ‘gone wild’. “There has been so much support.
"It was almost overwhelming.”
Tom, whose dad Lewis and mum Haley are also chefs at South Lodge, was working on Christmas Day but said his mum cooked Christmas dinner,whichhelaterenjoyedwith the family.
And his secret to a great Christmas dinner? “Loads of pigsinblankets.howevermany you do, double it.”
Tom who grew up in Horsham and went to Tanbridge House School, said when he cooks at home he likes to create‘one-potwonders’.“andfaji tas. I can’t get enough of them.”
Another favourite, he says, is ‘crumpets with yoghurt and banana’. His girlfriend Megan’s speciality is, he says, ‘jacket potatoes’.
And he says there are no foodsthathereallydoesnotenjoy eating. “But I’m not that big on sea urchin, although I had it when I went to The Alchemist in Denmark and I think I quite like it now.”
Tom will be taking up a residency as head chef at South Lodge’s Camellia restaurant – Tom Hamblet X Camellia – from January 3 to March 31, where his three-course menu willshowcasesomeofthedishes inspired by his time on the TV show.
He said: “I’m a bit nervous, it’salmostfullybookedalready. It’s a bit daunting.”
Tom will then go on to take up a residency as head chef at South Lodge’s sister luxury hotellainstonhouseinwinchester from April 3 to June 30. “It’s going to be a busy six months,” he said.
And, after that, he’s mulling over the idea of teaming up with the other two finalists in Masterchef:the Professionals tolaunchapop-up.“buti’mnot 100 per cent on that yet.”