MasterChef: The Professionals finalist Chiara Tomasoni joins High Grange Devon as head of feasting
High Grange Devon has appointed MasterChef: The Professionals 2024 finalist Chiara Tomasoni as its new head of feasting.
Chiara will be joining founder and fire chef Luke Vandore-Mackay to expand the venue’s growing calendar of immersive outdoor dining experiences.
A new chapter for High Grange
Known for its fire-led cookery and field-to-fork philosophy, High Grange has quickly become one of Devon’s most distinctive food destinations since opening in 2020. Its mix of fire schools, woodland feast nights and private dining events celebrate the elemental joy of cooking with flame, often using Kamado Joe barbecues at the heart of each experience.
Now, with Chiara on board, the team is set to elevate its feasting programme through a new Silo Chef’s Table, bespoke catering experiences, and seasonal events that bring guests closer to the region’s produce and landscape.
Luke Vandore-Mackay said: “Chiara brings extraordinary talent and energy to High Grange. Having seen her composure and skill on MasterChef, and then worked alongside her over several collaborations, it quickly became clear she was the perfect person to help us grow our feasting offering.
“She has the same obsession for sourcing that I do – she’s probably even more obsessed than me. She wants to cook honest, delicious, seasonal food in a magical setting, surrounded by nice people, and that’s really, when you strip it down, what High Grange has always been about.”
From MasterChef to the open fire
Chiara captured audiences on MasterChef: The Professionals 2024 with her calm precision, delicate presentation, and Italian flair for flavour balance.
Her move to Devon signals a deliberate step away from traditional
restaurant kitchens towards a more nature-led style of cooking.
She said: “I’m delighted to announce that I’ll be joining High Grange Devon as head of dining. Over the past few months, I’ve had the pleasure of working alongside Luke and the High Grange team, and what began as a one-off collaboration now feels like a natural step into a new chapter.
“What excites me most about this new path is leaving behind the all-too-familiar stainless-steel kitchen box in favour of the open air – the sound of birds and trees, the crackle of wood and the deep connection between food, time and place, which has always been central to my cooking.”
Chiara added: “I’ve discovered that fire cookery can be both gentle and intense, subtle and bold, meditative and chaotic – and I look forward to embracing all these facets and translating them into delicious dishes. Here in our little pocket of Devon we are blessed with some of the finest produce this country has to offer.
"My mission will be to deliver unforgettable dining experiences that give these beautiful ingredients the space to shine, honouring them with fire and cooking up dishes that reflect the landscape around us – abundant, generous, and alive with flavour.”
Upcoming highlights
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Deer in a Day Fire School – Friday, November 15
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Christmas Dinner in Ceramic BBQ Fire School – Tuesday, December 3
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Christmas Feast Nights – Thursday, December 12 and Friday, December 13
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Burns Night Supper and Ceilidh at Marine Theatre – Saturday, January 24
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Chiara’s Festive Hamper Workshop – Sunday, November 30
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Baking on Fire – Saturday, December 6
written by abi kinsella
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MasterChef: The Professionals finalist Chiara Tomasoni joins High Grange Devon as head of feasting
