Michael for MasterChef 2025 / BBC
Age: 33
Occupation: Web Developer
From: Walthamstow via Kent
How would you describe your style of cooking?
“I would describe myself as a versatile community cook with Asian home cooking as my forté. I’m always in pursuit of new flavours. Nowadays I am just happy to try something new as long as it is genuine, as good taste does get subjective when looking at food with a global lens. I would however say East Asian cooking is definitely my strength.
“My cooking is always in large batches with a lot of people around it or in Tupperware on its way to various people. I guess my style is home cooking that brings everyone together.
“I love hearing about people’s favourite foods or about their favourite food memories from holiday and I end up going into a rabbit hole to learn how to recreate it. Seeing people happy and giddy over food is what inspires me to recreate.”
What is your favourite ingredient to cook with and why?
“I love cooking with things like ‘wok hei’ or smoke. It’s usually the extra level that elevates most savoury dishes that is missing when cooking from home. Although it’s not easily accessible or practical to achieve at home without the right equipment, it really does make all the difference, but your house does stink afterwards.”
Why did you enter MasterChef this year?
“I love eating, I love cooking, I love feeding. Food is my love language. It’s not very often you get an opportunity to do something you love and showcase it to the world. Growing up to the sound of MasterChef was the soundtrack of my life, it would constantly be on in the background, and I love the show. At this point in my life, I have the freedom to be able to do something like this. I have always wanted a successful food blog or channel and wished I could put more time into it. Entering the show is a huge motivator for me to go all in with it. I have spent thousands of hours cooking and been in many strange cooking challenges, but never would I have thought in a million years that I would be on MasterChef.”
MasterChef continues Wednesday at 8pm on BBC One.
