A PETERSFIELD chef says, despite being knocked out of a top television competition, being involved in it was an invaluable and highly enjoyable experience.
Tom Peters (24), of Herne Farm, left MasterChef: The Professionals in the knockout stage after a month of intense competition which saw the original 48 chefs reduced to 12.
He said: “I was very disappointed to be knocked out, but I don’t think I let myself down, and to reach the last 12 was a great achievement.
“The standard was very high, and I was up against some great chefs and I was very pleased with the meals I produced and served.
“I really enjoyed being in the competition and the praise from the highly regarded judges has given me confidence in what I do.”
There isn’t a cash gain for MasterChef entrants, despite the competition being regarded as one of the toughest a chef can face.
But however an entrant does, the kudos gained for being a competitor is huge, says the former pupil at Petersfield Infants School, Herne Junior School, and The Petersfield School.
Tom, whose first kitchen job was washing up part time in Annie Jones restaurant in Lavant Street, added: “A lot of people from across the industry have reached out with support and encouragement, which has been fantastic.”
It was while working at Annie Jones, owned by Petersfield-born chef Steve Ransom, that Tom caught the cooking bug.
On leaving school, he spent three years at South Downs College in Havant learning the basics as a chef.
On qualifying, he was offered the post of commis chef at the highly regarded Roux in Parliament Square restaurant, owned by Michel Roux junior.
Now he is the restaurant’s sous chef and right hand man to head chef and MasterChef 2009 winner Steve Groves.
Despite reaching the last 12 in the prestigious competition, the energetic chef isn’t resting now he has left MasterChef.
He said: “I have never run a marathon before.
“But I have entered next year’s London Marathon, so now I can devote my time to training for it.
“I don’t like not having a challenge.”