Fashion's Claudia Shows Her Cooking Flair
17 February 2011
Claudia Huxtable on the set of MasterChef.
It's one thing doing this in the comfort of my own kitchen but to compete against so many talented amateur chefs, and to be told that my food was good enough to go through to the next stage, was amazing
”Claudia Huxtable, Senior Lecturer in Fashion Studies.
Claudia during the competition. Images courtesy of the BBC.
Fashion lecturer Claudia Huxtable swapped couture for cuisine when she won one of 20 coveted places in the new series of BBC One TV's MasterChef.
Keen amateur cook Claudia, 38, a Senior Lecturer in Fashion Studies based at the University of Derby's Markeaton Street site, was seen cooking up a storm on the first programme of the new series at 9pm last night, Wednesday 16 February.
For the seventh MasterChef series the first two programmes, one last night and one tonight,Thursday 17 February, feature hopefuls - chosen from 20,000 applicants who applied - auditioning for 20 contestants' places to take part in the series. The 20 will then be tested and gradually eliminated from the competition each week, until there is a winner.
Last night Claudia and the other amateur cooks auditioning brought their own ingredients and created a dish in just 45 minutes, before presenting the food to be judged by presenters John Torode and Gregg Wallace.
Claudia was told her fish dish of Red Snapper on coconut and lime leeks, with a tower of sweet and Maris Piper potato mash, topped with crispy sweet potato, was "interesting" and "fabulous". She got the thumbs up from both presenters, and one of the 20 contestants' places in the series.
Claudia, who lives in Birmingham, was supported on the day of the audition by her sister, Karen, who is a trained chef; although Claudia cheekily said on camera: "I do feel I cook better than she does".
Following the programme Claudia, who has been at the University for seven years, said: "I have always loved being creative with food and experimenting with unusual ingredients.
"It's one thing doing this in the comfort of my own kitchen but to compete against so many talented amateur chefs, and to be told that my food was good enough to go through to the next stage, was amazing."
Ten other cooks were also picked to enter the series' competition in last night's show, leaving a further nine to be chosen in tonight's,Thursday show.
Filming on the whole series has actually ended but Claudia, and the other contestants, have been sworn to secrecy over who was crowned MasterChef 2011.
Her MasterChef appearance can still be seen through the BBC iPlayer website. (Claudia appears 42 minutes into the 60 minute show).
For further information please contact Press and PR Officer Sean Kirby on 01332 591891 or 07876 476103, or email s.kirby@derby.ac.uk
