Luke Emmess: As MasterChef finalist for South Downs Food Festival, who won TV show final last night?
A chef from Bedhampton who has become quite the local celebrity will be appearing at a food festival this summer.
The head chef at the Wykeham Arms in Winchester, Luke Emmess has been cooking up a storm in the most recent series of MasterChef: The Professionals, going all the way to the final - which was aired last night (Thursday, March 26).
Now, Luke will also be taking to the stage at the South Downs Food Festival in June. Held at Standsted Park, just outside Rowlands Castle, on June 6 and 7, the festival will showcase the very best of food and drink producers, artists and creators from Portsmouth and the surrounding area.
A spokesperson for the South Downs Food Festival said: “We’re thrilled to announce MasterChef: The Professionals finalist Luke Emmess will be joining us at the South Downs Food Festival.
“Catch Luke live in the Hampshire Fare Cookery Theatre, where he’ll be showcasing his incredible skills, discussing his MasterChef experiences and sharing tips you won’t want to miss.
“Luke is head chef at the Wykeham Arms and has been impressing judges with his incredible skills and unbelievable work rate. Luke is one of three chefs in the final and it's great to see a local chef promoting regional food.”
The 33-year-old chef, a former South Downs College student, brought his A-game to the MasterChef final, serving up a reimagining of a traditional breakfast using pasta and served with a ‘sausage sandwich’; an Asian-inspired duck and plum sauce main course; and a dessert inspired by a Tiramisu.
Sadly, his efforts weren’t enough to win, with the MasterChef title going to Gareth Baty at the end of the show.