A chef who had to shuck oysters, poach them and smoke them in her skills test is hoping to be crowned MasterChef: the Professionals Champion 2022.  

Anastasia Brown, 28, from Bicester, has stormed through the challenges set by new judge and acclaimed chef Anna Haugh, Michelin-starred chef Marcus Wareing and food critic Gregg Wallace to make it to tonight's semi-finals.

After four weeks of intense competition, only the 10 most exceptional chefs are left standing.

And tonight, things heat up in the kitchen as they cook off against each other for the first time.

Anastasia grew up in London until she was 10, when she moved to a small village just north of Oxford where her parents still live.

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She did the nine-month Diploma Course at Leiths School of Food and Wine after university and her first job was at Petersham Nurseries in London's Covent Garden.

She has also worked at The Grill at The Dorchester, a couple of summers at The Peligoni Club in Greece and as a private chef in Verbier.

She said she entered the competition as she really wanted to challenge herself post-Covid.

She said: "I was on furlough for a year. I went to my old school and cooked for the NHS once a week, did some home delivery meals but apart from that I felt pretty lost. And even when we did return to work, it was a very slow start for the first few months.

"I have previously worked with Dan Lee in Greece, and when I saw him win last year it made it more realistic to be something to go for and he told me it was a fantastic experience and to go for it, so I did!"

She said the skills test was "definitely the worst bit".

"Now having watched the show so far, I realised I was the first contestant of the 2022 series, but luckily I didn’t know at the time as it would have made me even more nervous," she said.

"I had to open oysters, poach and smoke them, and make a beurre blanc. These are all skills I have done before, and I think I did pretty well. Although I still kick myself for not serving the oysters back in the shell, and I know that was my nerves taking over."

She added: "I was pretty starstruck when I first met the judges. I think that initial moment when you see them made me realise that it was actually happening!

"They were all really kind and encouraging, and they definitely want you to succeed. All the feedback you get during the judging is to help you progress, and totally invaluable and something I will forever be grateful to have received."

Anastasia practised in four stages.

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"First I would take the idea that I had and cook it without any time constraints to make sure all the flavour combinations were what I wanted. I would then do a second practice with any adjustments I had made.

"I would then do two further timed practices and if I ran over I would keep practicing until I had done it at least twice in the given time. 

"My best round was the critics. I really enjoyed myself and knew exactly what I wanted to achieve - although the prospect of cooking for some of the country’s top critics is pretty terrifying, I was determined to enjoy myself, as it is a huge opportunity.

"I definitely found my stride during that cook and I did what I went out to do."

Any rounds involving an invention test or thinking on her feet were where she felt most uncomfortable, she said.

"I have ADHD which means that my mind goes at a million miles an hour. If I do not have a plan for what I am doing, I really struggle to try and focus on one thing and my brain pulling me in a thousand different directions.

"The brunch test was a classic example. I felt very out of control for the first 40 minutes of that cook!"

Anastasia said her goal now is to own her own business either a restaurant or private bespoke catering.

She said: "If I were to go down the restaurant path, it would be a small 20 cover place, cooking the food I love to eat.

"I’d have a menu that changes frequently, focusing on seasonality and making people happy with good food."

MasterChef: The Professionals Semi Finals continue 8pm Thursday (December 1) and 9.05pm Friday (December 2), on BBC One and iPlayer and The Finals are next week Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday.

 

 

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This story was written by Miranda Norris, she joined the team in 2021 and covers news across Oxfordshire as well as news from Witney.

Get in touch with her by emailing: Miranda.Norris@newsquest.co.uk. Or find her on Twitter: @Mirandajnorris

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