Nikita Pathakji has been named MasterChef: The Professionals winner 2022.
Introducing Nikita Pathakji, junior sous chef at Kitchen W8.
She previously worked at Lanesborough Hotel, Claude Bosi at Bibendum, Core By Clare Smyth and cites Phil Howard and Mark Kempson as some of her role models.
Nickname
Niki
Age
24
Where are you from/where do you live?
I grew up in Derby, and moved to London when I decided to become a Chef
What type of a chef are you?
I’ve been classically trained in fine dining restaurants but I love using Asian flavours in my own cooking
Do you have a favourite type of cuisine?
To eat Sichuan, Thai, Indian, and I like to cook with those flavours but apply modern, fine dining techniques.
How did you become a chef?
I went to Westminster Kingsway College and did a apprenticeship. So I worked 4 days a week and went to college once a week.
I learnt to cook the basics from my parents. Cooking was something we always did as a family.
Food has always been the focus of the household.
Where have you worked?
My first job was at the Lanesborough hotel.
I was on the afternoon tea section, which meant for the first few months of my career and made sandwiches. I then moved into the hotel kitchen, pastry section and eventually upstairs to the Michelin starred restaurant called Celeste.
I then worked at Claude Bosi at Bibendum, mainly on the pastry section and I certainly got to make my fair share of soufflés.
After Bibendum, I went to Core by Clare Smyth. This
