New MasterChef: The Professionals series heads to Cork

The next series of MasterChef: The Professionals starts next week - and includes a trip to Cork.

“I can’t believe we keep on getting better and better-quality chefs,” says MasterChef judge Gregg Wallace, 60, as he prepares for the new series to begin on BBC1 at 8pm on Tuesday.

The celebration of the talents of 32 British and Irish chefs, and of the multicultural cuisine boasted across the nations, continues in this series, culminating in a trip to Cork in the final week.

“Oh my word, that was one of the best trips of my life,” says Wallace of the experience.

Ireland, without doubt, has the best hospitality in the world. It is always a pleasure to go out there - tip-top professional service delivered with a massive smile and a wink!

“We visited a Turkish restaurant, run by Ahmet Dede, at the Customs House in Baltimore and I have never tasted Turkish food like it. For me, it was perfect.

“I’m a big fan of Ireland, I’m a big fan of the food of Turkey and I think Istanbul is one of the food capitals of the world - to have that Irish joy for life coupled with that fantastic centuries-old Turkish cuisine, I thought was amazing.”

“This trip was one of the most unexpected surprises for all of us,” Wareing agrees.

We were told we were going to Ireland, so I wasn’t necessarily expecting a chef of Turkish heritage with a kitchen of chefs from Turkey. 

"And they were cooking some really beautiful food, with the inspiration of the Irish ingredients and the Turkish heritage. Chef Ahmet was just, wow. What a find that was. Absolutely brilliant for everyone.”

In episode one, it’s the Skills Test, the chefs have ingredients laid out for them and are challenged to make a carrot schnitzel with a white bean houmous and Middle Eastern herb sauce, Zhoug.