Nikki managed to impress the judges, including former Masterchef winner Liz McClarnon, with the quality and presentation of three dishes she created at the final, as well as with her culinary transformation over the past three months. The final recipe challenge included making scallops on a choux tartlette with a pea and mint puree for starter, pappardelle with an arrabbiata sauce for main course and chocolate fondant for dessert.
Food lover Nikki entered Disaster Chef because she loves to host dinner parties at home, but instead of enjoying her food, friends and family ended up mocking it. Nikki was desperate to learn how to whip up some tasty cuisine so she can avoid being ridiculed, setting her kitchen on fire or nearly losing a finger! Most of all Nikki wanted to please her son, as an attempt to bake a Victoria Sponge for his pre-school cake sale resulted in her having to buy some muffins from a shop instead.
Nikki comments: “I’m delighted to have been named Kenwood Chef 2013. Over the past three months I’ve not only learnt a host of new skills, but also gained the confidence to try things in the kitchen I never would have before!”
On top of her new found confidence, Nikki also walks away with a kitchen makeover worth £3,000, a cookery course worth £500 and a selection of new Kenwood products to keep up her new found culinary skills.
All of the finalists impressed the judges with how far they have come since the start of the competition. Liz McClarnon comments: “I’ve been blown away by the finalists’ dedication to learning new skills and recipes, and it has been great to see their confidence grow in the kitchen. Their performance at the final goes to show what can be done in just three months. With the help of Kenwood’s experts they have taken their cooking from dismal to delicious!”
To follow Nikki’s journey from Disaster Chef to Kenwood Chef 2013, visit kenwoodworld.com/disasterchef to read her blog, as well as those of the other five finalists.