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27/02/2009
IT Engineer Crowned MasterChef 2009
Mat Follas has been crowned winner of MasterChef 2009 after serving a three-course meal with a 'wild ingredient' theme.
The 42-year-old IT engineer from Beaminster, Dorset, lifted the trophy in the final, having triumphed over fellow finalists Andy Oliver and Chris Gates.
New Zealand-born Follas's winning menu consisted of a starter of trio of wild rabbit, a main course of spider crab with hand cut chips and sea vegetables, and a dessert of lavender mousse with hokey pokey and a blackberry sauce.
The father-of-three said his long-term plan was to run a restaurant, where he would serve the type of wild ingredients he cooked up in the final.
However, his dream of opening up a restaurant, six months after the series has filmed, has been had to been postponed, as he had not yet been able to finance the move due to the credit crunch.
Mr Follas has battled through six weeks of heats, a week of gruelling semi-finals and a week of finals - broadcast this week.
Mr Follas said he was "delighted" but had not been thinking in terms of winning the whole competition when he first appeared.
"What I wanted was a validation that my food was good," he said.
"At the end of the semi-finals the only thing I wanted to do was to get to the finals.
"I'm humbled and proud that my dishes won such an amazing competition.
"It's been a fantastic experience and I've learnt an enormous amount. Although, at times, I have never worked so hard in all my life, it's been great fun."
Presenter and judge John Torode praised the winner, saying: "Mat came in here and absolutely wowed us with food which was extraordinary in both presentation and flavour."
(JM/BMcC)
The 42-year-old IT engineer from Beaminster, Dorset, lifted the trophy in the final, having triumphed over fellow finalists Andy Oliver and Chris Gates.
New Zealand-born Follas's winning menu consisted of a starter of trio of wild rabbit, a main course of spider crab with hand cut chips and sea vegetables, and a dessert of lavender mousse with hokey pokey and a blackberry sauce.
The father-of-three said his long-term plan was to run a restaurant, where he would serve the type of wild ingredients he cooked up in the final.
However, his dream of opening up a restaurant, six months after the series has filmed, has been had to been postponed, as he had not yet been able to finance the move due to the credit crunch.
Mr Follas has battled through six weeks of heats, a week of gruelling semi-finals and a week of finals - broadcast this week.
Mr Follas said he was "delighted" but had not been thinking in terms of winning the whole competition when he first appeared.
"What I wanted was a validation that my food was good," he said.
"At the end of the semi-finals the only thing I wanted to do was to get to the finals.
"I'm humbled and proud that my dishes won such an amazing competition.
"It's been a fantastic experience and I've learnt an enormous amount. Although, at times, I have never worked so hard in all my life, it's been great fun."
Presenter and judge John Torode praised the winner, saying: "Mat came in here and absolutely wowed us with food which was extraordinary in both presentation and flavour."
(JM/BMcC)
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Northern Ireland WeatherThis Evening and Tonight:It will be cloudy with a spell of heavy rain pushing south through late evening and the early hours, soon followed by some clear spells. Minimum temperature 6 °C.
