Gabriel for MasterChef 2025 / BBC
Age: 31
Occupation: Head of E-Commerce Fashion
From: London via Brazil
How would you describe your style of cooking?
“My mother and aunties inspired my cooking. Food is tied to celebration and is an ingredient to happy memories for me. Therefore, the style of cooking I’ve acquired is one of comfort food, large portions and crowed favourites. I like to host my friends whenever I can. I tend to always have something to welcome them with, from a homemade focaccia to a charcuterie board as I’m a big lover of cheeses. Cooking while hosting is great so in an open plan kitchen/diner I’m always connected with my guests. Pastas are crowd pleasers and quick to assemble so I have a couple of recipes always at the ready. Brazilian food can take a while as we tend to have several dishes. It can include rice, beans, potato salad, green leaf salad, with sometimes two or more proteins and table side condiments. So when cooking Brazilian I tend to start early.”
What is your favourite ingredient to cook with and why?
“My favourite ingredient is garlic, it’s such a diverse ingredient and we use it a lot in Brazilian cuisine. It brightens the food and adds a unique signature profile, it’s hard to find someone who does not like garlic.”
Why did you enter MasterChef this year?
“I tried a couple of times before and finally got chosen to go on this year’s MasterChef UK. I have been eager to see myself in the MasterChef kitchen and prove to myself I can cook as well as most while under an immense amount of pressure.”
MasterChef continues Wednesday and Thursday at 8pm and Friday at 8.30pm on BBC One and iPlayer.
