Has Anyone From MasterChef Won a Michelin Star?

Has Anyone From MasterChef Won a Michelin Star?

The hit cooking show MasterChef has been on the air since 1990, and in that time has become a global phenomenon. Fans of the show tune in to see talented amateur cooks compete against one another in a series of cooking challenges. But have any of these aspiring cooks gone on to win a Michelin star, the highest accolade in the culinary world?

The answer is yes, although relatively few have achieved such an honor. Among them is John Torode, who won a Michelin star while working as head chef at Smiths of Smithfield in London.

Torode was runner-up in the very first series of MasterChef UK back in 2005 and has since become one of the show’s judges. He credits his successful career to the boost he received from appearing on MasterChef, saying “It changed my life”.

Other MasterChef contestants who have gone on to earn a Michelin star include Tom Aikens, who was finally awarded one after 19 years as a professional chef. Aikens was runner-up to Torode back in 2005 and went on to open his own restaurant, Tom’s Kitchen in 2006. His success earned him his much deserved Michelin star three years later.

Then there is Thomasina Miers who became one of only two female chefs ever to win a Michelin star when she opened her restaurant Wahaca back in 2007. Miers competed as part of the first series of MasterChef: The Professionals two years earlier and was praised by judge Michel Roux Jr for her “very creative” dishes during her time on the show.

Finally, there is Frances Atkins who won the inaugural series of MasterChef Professionals UK back in 2008 before opening her own restaurant The Yorke Arms two years later which earned her a Michelin star within just 12 months. Atkins has since been awarded four AA Rosettes for her cooking and credits her success on MasterChef as being instrumental to launching her career as a professional chef.

While there are only a handful of contestants from MasterChef who have gone on to win a prestigious Michelin star, they are all deserving recipients whose hard work and dedication has been rewarded with ultimate culinary recognition. It proves that you don’t need to be an experienced professional chef before you appear on television talent shows; with enough passion and determination anyone can achieve their dreams!

Conclusion: While relatively few contestants from MasterChef have gone on to win a Michelin star, those that have achieved this honor are all deserving recipients whose hard work and determination paid off with ultimate culinary recognition. It proves that with enough passion and dedication anyone can achieve their dreams!