Gemma for MasterChef: The Professionals S18 Heat 2 / BBC
Age: 36
Lives: Her husband in Westbourne Park, London. Originally from Suffolk
What is your background in the industry?
“I trained at Le Cordon Bleu London and started working at The Angel, Halesworth and went on to various other roles including at The Harwood Arms in Fulham. I opened my own Italian-focused restaurant in London and some of the standout moments there have been all about creativity and resilience – such as making over 60,000 pizzas, building a one tonne pizza oven, and steering the business through the pandemic.”
How would you describe your cooking style?
“I consider myself a confident, intuitive chef. I love old recipes and seasonal cooking, particularly the simplicity of Italian food. I cook slowly and thoughtfully.
“I’ve worked with a team from Sri Lanka and India for years now and I’m always influenced by them. We chat about what they’ve had at the weekend and we make Paratha and curries and they always bring me ingredients I haven’t tried. Food is such a special way of sharing someone’s culture.”
What are three ingredients you couldn’t live without?
“Anchovies, Parmesan, and a very good chicken stock.”
Why did you take part in the show?
“Taking part in MasterChef is such an incredible opportunity to have a platform for your food, and of course I’m a restaurant owner so I jumped at the chance. Also, I think it’s important to remember that young women can also be restaurant owners too.”
The new series of MasterChef: The Professionals is ongoing on BBC One and iPlayer.
