Cooking up a storm on TV's Masterchef

Alistair Neil • Published 6 Oct 2009 14:05

Dreghorn kitchen wizard Bryce through to semi finals

A CHEF from Dreghorn hopes to make it to the top of culinary world in the BBC's hit cooking show Masterchef: The Professionals.

Bryce Lundie, 27, has been putting his 14 years of experience in the kitchen to the test and will appear in the semi final of the BBC2 programme next week.

The former Greenwood Academy pupil successfully came through a harsh test in the last round when he impressed some of the country's top food critics with his own three course menu.

His pan-seared scollops starter, followed by a loin of venison main course and a sultana flapjack with honey ice cream desert tickled the critics' taste buds.

Determined Bryce overcame near disaster with his main dish when his chocolate tortellini burst, but his quick thinking saved the serving when he used the melted chocolate as a jus for the venison.

Next up in Monday night's semi final is a lunch time service in a top Michelin restaurant in London.

Bryce, who works in a kitchen in Newcastle, admits he only put his name forward for the show as a bit of a joke.

He told the Times: "One of the lads I worked with at the time was on the web site filling out an application form.

"To wind him up I decided to apply as well and shorty after I got a phone call to go to Bristol to do a casting - so I think he's a bit gutted!

"But so far it's been a great experience. I'm doing things I do day in day out but when you're in front of the cameras and you have Michel Roux Jnr and Gregg Wallace looking over your shoulder it can be quite daunting."

As the series was filmed earlier this year Bryce already knows how far he has progressed.

However he is under strict instructions to keep his lips sealed until each stage of the programme is aired.

He added: "Unfortunately I can't say how far I've got at this point and I'm only now able to put on my CV that I've made it to the semi final stage."

It is the latest chapter in his cooking career which began helping out in a kitchen at the age of 13. After his time at Greenwood he moved into the profession full time and has since worked in kitchens in Troon and Turnberry.

His mum Ellen added: "Bryce's grandpa worked in the hotel businesses his whole life and we always advised Bryce against it because of the unsociable hours.

"But natural he went for it anyway! Masterchef has been quite a journey and he doesn't seem fazed by it all."

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