Sophie for MasterChef 2025 / BBC
Age: 25
Occupation: Assistant Colourist in Post Production
From: London via Essex
How would you describe your style of cooking?
“I’d describe my style of cooking as rogue plant-based food. I didn’t stop eating meat because I didn’t like it, I just didn’t want to eat animals anymore. I still cook meat for friends and family, I just don’t eat it myself. I love recreating the textures and flavours of meaty dishes in a way that still excites the palate.
“Beautiful, fresh, seasonal ingredients are usually the stars of my dishes. Plants are incredibly diverse, and I love showcasing what they can do. If you think about it, it’s usually the ingredients around the meat that make a dish exciting. A plain steak might be nice, but it’s the celeriac miso purée, sticky glazed carrot, and rich jus that really elevate the plate.
“I love to experiment with different cuisines, and I love food stories and origins, so trying dishes from difference cultures and hearing about where they come from and the stories behind the dishes.”
What is your favourite ingredient to cook with and why?
“My favourite ingredient to cook with is miso. I love that deep hit of umami. It works brilliantly in both sweet and savoury dishes. It adds that salty, savoury punch I often use to replicate cheesy or meaty flavours in plant-based cooking. Plus, it’s probiotic, so it’s good for your gut, which earns it extra points in my book.”
Why did you enter MasterChef this year?
“My late father was a huge inspiration for taking the plunge. He always believed in me, and it’s something I really wanted to do to make him proud. Like a lot of people my age, I grew up watching MasterChef. It was the one show I was allowed to stay up and watch with my parents after bedtime. I have such fond memories of watching it with my dad — he was a huge inspiration for me entering the competition. He used to say his dream was to open a family restaurant with me one day, and I’d tease him with ‘Well then, why don’t you go on MasterChef?’ So this one’s for you, Dad.
“I entered MasterChef this year after one too many nights shouting at the TV with a glass of wine, thinking, ‘I could do this!’ So I decided to put my money where my mouth is and actually apply.”
MasterChef continues Wednesday at 8pm on BBC One.
