"To walk away as MasterChef champion, it means the world to me"
MasterChef: The Professionals has crowned its winner of 2024, with Dan Merriman coming out on top in an emotional finale.
Tonight's (December 12) finale saw Dan up against the other two finalists, Chiara Tomasoni and George Birtwell, with judge Marcus Wareing describing the cook-off as "the best [he's] ever been in".
The three chefs had to present the judges with a three-course meal that would sum up their work and personal lives, with Dan's dishes exceeding the already high expectations and earning him the title of MasterChef.
As a starter, Dan served barbecued scallops with sumac, paprika and a Turkish pepper paste, doused in a red Thai curry sauce split with a parsley oil and served with gooseberries and finger limes.
His main doubled down on the meaty flavours with an ex-dairy beef cooked in beef fat, served with maitake mushrooms and picked shallots, a beef and bone marrow sauce and truffle and mushroom ketchup, plus a hash brown topped with ex-dairy cow tartare.
This dish could've been to seal the deal for the judges, as Monica Galetti said it was "just wonderful".
"Everything about this dish is what good cookery is about," Marcus echoed her feelings.
Dan's cook ended on a sweet and sour note with a cassis mousse with blackcurrants, topped with Yuzu curd, crispy honey tuile, grated macadamia nuts and finished off with clotted cream pearls.
Dan's bold-flavoured menu bested those of his other two, equally excellent, competitors. Sous chef Chiara opted for a menu blending her Italian roots and her new home in Devon, while Yorkshire-based senior sous chef George's dishes celebrated the British countryside.
After he was announced as the winner, Dan teared up, with Chiara and George promptly hugging him to celebrate.
"To walk away as MasterChef champion, it means the world to me," Dan reflected in disbelief.
"There's not been that many times I've been proud of myself in my life, but I've hit the pinnacle, haven't I?"
