Masterchef Finalists Visit Chiswick

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Answer questions from fans hours before final broadcast on BBC

Masterchef finalists Tom ,Shelina, and Andrew visited Chiswick just hours before their orders to 'plate up ‘ in the final cook-off of the eight-week long competition.

The three took part in an on-line question and answer session with fans of the show and enjoyed the sunshine briefly in W4 while reflecting on their gruelling two months of top-class cooking.

Fulham-based Andrew Kojima (33) who is half-Japanese and a research analyst , is a frequent visitor to W4 , and has enjoyed eating at La Trompette. He described the experience of being a Masterchef contestant as “ unreal”.

Shelina Permaloo ( 29), a British-born Mauritian and former charity worker who lives in Tooting said the experience had been “ incredible” . She was named Masterchef winner by the judges for her three-course meal which was inspired by her Mauritian family connections- a starter of octopus salad, followed by a mutton curry and a dessert based on exotic fruits.

The only non-London based finalist was Tom Rennolds ( 26) a plasterer from West Yorkshire .Tom was on his first visit to Chiswick- the three were here to answer online questions from timesonline subscribers at plank pr. Fans were eager to ask how they had all become so interested in cooking and how they raised their cooking to such a high level.

This week judges John Torode and Gregg Wallace sent each of them to test their skills at three of the finest three Michelin-star restaurants in Europe; Oud Sluis in Holland, De Karmeliet in Bruges and the famed Alain Ducasse at the Dorchester in London. The second night of the final this week included the unusual challenge of creating a selection of Amuse Bouche, tantalising small tasters which are often served to diners at the start of a meal.

The three finalists plan to wind down with a lunch at Restaurant Gordon Ramsey where Clare Smyth has been head chef since 2007. For the first time in several weeks, someone else will be doing the cooking!

March 16, 2012