There’s even a dessert that is completely new to all judges – risky, but certainly attention-grabbing at this stage. Fellow contestants Himanshu, Catrin and Dara, too, prove their culinary chops with some mouth-watering signature dishes, covering everything from crispy haggis to tandoori lamb, a modern take on a Swedish fish classic and a whisky panna cotta. Right from the start there’s pots of talent on display: 25-year-old Scottish fish-restaurant chef Cameron lands on his feet when the first skills test requires him to skin a brill, but he also proves a dab hand at preparing a loin of venison.
An absolute stickler for professionalism in the kitchen, Galetti’s comments can be as sharp as a Santoku blade at times, but she keeps them mostly in the knife drawer tonight as the first four (of 32) chefs enter the MasterChef arena. Monica Galetti makes a welcome return to the judging panel, alongside Marcus Wareing and Gregg Wallace, as the 16th season of the pro-cookery competition – challenging chefs who’ve been in the industry for a while to take the next step towards gastronomic stardom – gets under way.
