COVENTRY chef Burhan Ahmed bows out of BBC One’s MasterChef: The Professionals – citing a faultless signature round and praise for his Black Forest Gateau by food critic Jay Rayner as ‘extremely proud moments’.
The chef de partie at nearby Drayton Manor Hotel in Tamworth, reached last week’s quarter-finals – but sadly the 23-year-old did not progress to the semi-final.
Posting on Instagram page the day after the show was broadcast Burhan said: “Sorry guys, tonight wasn’t my night, the notorious invention test caught me out and caused too much damage that was unrecoverable especially against three other incredible chefs, it really shows how unforgiving the MasterChef kitchen is and why it’s the toughest cooking competition in the UK.
“I’ve got so many positives to take from the show and a few extremely proud moments including a faultless signature round and having converted the notorious food critic Jay Rayner – someone who hates Black Forest Gateau – into someone who praised my one.
“Moving forward I will be working hard in upping my game and skill as a young chef to hopefully come back to the Masterchef kitchen in the near future to fulfil my dream to win the trophy.
“It’s a dream I will never ever give up on.”
He is one of just 32 chefs who have made it onto the gruelling TV show in search of the next superstar chef.
In a year of challenges for the hospitality industry, his success has given the nearby theme park hotel much to celebrate.
Carl Hickinbottom, executive chef at Drayton Manor Hotel, said: “We are all immensely proud of Burhan’s achievement, but not at all surprised – he is an extraordinarily talented young chef.”
Afterwards Burhan said: “The entire experience from start to finish was so humbling, I can’t thank the Drayton Manor team enough for their support, as well as Gregg Wallace and the production crew for helping me feel so at home on set!”
Catch Burhan on MasterChef: The Professionals quarter-finals on BBC iPlayer.
Applications for the 2021 series are now open: https://www.bbc.co.uk/showsandtours/take-part/masterchef-professionals
