NEW Delicious delights!
Chefs Marcus Wareing and his new co-judge Anna Haugh celebrate the return of the elite cooking contest…
Q Anna, what has it been like replacing Monica Galetti to judge the new batch of talented chefs?
A Anna: It’s a brilliant show to be part of. I’ve tried to be firm but fair and encourage the chefs. Every so often, we give them a nudge or a piece of advice, so they can become a stronger, better version of themselves. As I look at the next talent blossoming, I feel pride.
Q Have Marcus and Gregg Wallace welcomed you into the fold?
A Anna: I cannot sing their praises enough – I feel indebted to them. They gave me great advice and, if I was struggling, they cheered me on. I really felt mentored, in particular by Marcus. Marcus: I’ve tried to be a support mechanism for Anna. Monica’s shoes are big ones to fill and we wanted someone dynamic and I know Anna takes it seriously – Irish people take everything seriously, but with a smile on their face! Q How tough is the contest this year? A Marcus: There’s no competition quite like Masterchef: The Professionals. It’s series 15 now and it just gets better. The key for me is to find fantastic new talent. There’s no easy road – it’s a journey for all the chefs and you’ve got to be 100% professional, cool and committed. But every year we get chefs blowing us away.
Anna: The chefs who jump at the challenges are the ones who are the next stars of our industry. It’s about resilience and passion and about what food means to them – those are the ones that do well.
Q Are there any new dishes or flavours that you’ve tasted this time?
A Anna: I love dishes that are well thought through with a good plan. One of my favourite challenges was about childhood memories and a chef made a chocolate cake with pink custard. I’d never had that but both Marcus and Gregg said, ‘I remember eating that at school.’ I was imagining them as little boys all excited on chocolate-sponge-andpink-custard day!
Marcus: Oh, yes, the pink custard! You don’t forget that sort of stuff when you’re at school, so when it’s presented to you on Masterchef 40odd years later, it’s quite a shock to the system. It did make me and Gregg laugh.