An Earlsfield sales executive with “the palate of an angel” has been crowned winner of the BBC’s MasterChef 2010.
Dhruv Baker, 34, has been offered a job by fellow borough resident and TV chef, Gordon Ramsay, after scooping the prize.
Mexican-born Mr Baker, who said his mother was his biggest cooking inspiration, took a chance and resigned from his job of 10 years to take part in the series.
He said: “I had always secretly hoped to win MasterChef but not until the finals did I actually allow myself to believe I could actually win. It’s mind blowing. Right now I hope that winning MasterChef will allow me to pursue my dreams of a career in food and to continue learning and improving as a cook.”
The news came after six weeks of heats and two weeks of gruelling semi-finals and finals.
He was finally awarded his trophy by the show’s judges, restaurateur John Torode and food writer and ingredients expert, Gregg Wallace.
Handing over the prize, Mr Wallace said: “Dhruv, I’ve got to say, is probably one of the most amazing talents I’ve ever seen. He has the palate of an angel.”
Throughout the final week Mr Baker battled with his fellow finalists, Alex Rushmer and Tim Kinnaird, in a series of culinary challenges.
These included travelling to the Rajasthan desert in India to cook for a Maharajah and his family in a Palace in hills of Jodhpur.
He also had to cook a meal for one of the world’s most famous chefs, Alain Ducasse, and five of his protégée’s who between them hold 30 Michelin stars.
The final task was to cook a three-course meal for the two judges, which included saffron and ginger poached lobster tail, venison and a trio of delicious desserts.
Mr Baker, who has a one-year-old son, Arun, with his wife, Aileen, is still considering Gordon Ramsay’s offer of a job in one of his London restaurants.
He said: “To have the opportunity to forge a career doing something I am passionate about it is amazing and I just hope that I can live up to the expectations I have placed on myself.”
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