Filomena D'Uva for MasterChef: The Professionals series 19 Heat 2 / © BBC/Shine TV Ltd
Age: 54
Lives: Belfast
Current Position: Chef Patron
Social Media:Instagram
Where do you currently work?
“Delizia Italian Food, my family business offering private chef services, bespoke events, catering, cooking classes and artisan Italian food.”
Who or what inspired you to become a chef?
“Food has always been part of who I am. I grew up in Southern Italy in a family where cooking was more than feeding people: it was how we showed love, celebrated, gathered together and kept our traditions alive. My inspiration has always been my Nonna Carmela and my Mom Sofia, my childhood in Campania. I learned by watching food being prepared instinctively, using simple ingredients and recipes passed down through generations.
“I began my professional life as a graphic designer, working in advertising for around 15 years, before eventually following my passion for food. Becoming a chef later in life taught me that it is never too late to change direction and pursue something you truly love. “
How would you describe your cooking style?
“My cooking is rooted in Southern Italian, particularly Campanian traditions. I love honest, generous food with strong flavours and a story behind it. My main influences are the food I grew up eating in Campania, Neapolitan cooking, my family and the traditional family recipes.
“I respect tradition, but I also enjoy presenting familiar dishes in a more contemporary way while keeping their soul intact. The ingredient and the flavour always come first. I want people to taste a dish and feel something, ideally the warmth and generosity of an Italian table.”
What are three ingredients you couldn’t live without?
“Extra virgin olive oil, tomatoes and buffalo mozzarella.”
Why did you take part in the show?
“I wanted to take part in MasterChef: The Professionals to challenge myself and discover how far I could push myself outside my comfort zone.
“I came to professional cooking later in life and was 54 when I entered the competition. I am a wife, a mother of four daughters, a chef and a business owner, and I wanted to prove to myself that age should never stop you from taking chances. This was something I chose to do for myself.
“I also wanted to represent the food I grew up with in Campania and show that traditional Italian cooking, when treated with respect, has a place at every level of professional cooking. Most of all, I hope my experience encourages anyone who feels they have left it too late to change direction or follow a dream.”
The new series of MasterChef: The Professionals is ongoing on BBC One and iPlayer.
