An Ayrshire chef has told of his MasterChef experience which saw him cook his way to the grand final.
Sagar Massey left colleagues at Troon’s new swanky diner The Rabbit stunned colleagues when he popped up on TV screens in Masterchef:The Professionals earlier this month.
The 24-year-old senior-sous chef dazzled judges, Michelin star chef Marcus Wareing, top chef Anna Haugh and MasterChef icon Greg Wallace.
Sagar, originally from India, has revealed how had to keep his involvement in the intense cook-off a secret, throughout the summer.
In an exclusive interview with Ayrshire Live, Sagar, from Johnstone, has told of rogue trips to London to compete against the best UK chefs, in between working as second in command of the busy Marine Hotel kitchen.
“I had to keep everything I was doing private and confidential. It was really hard,” Sagar said.
“MasterChef was filmed all throughout the summer and it wasn’t aired until the autumn.
“People kept asking me where I was going. Thankfully the company I work for (Marine and Lawn) has a training base in London, so I kept telling them I was away for training.
“When I was finally able to them I was in MasterChef, they were all stunned. I was like a hidden gem, they didn’t know anything.”
Sagar's incredible dishes – a fusion of Scottish and Indian cuisines – took the competition by storm, with the blend of unique flavours helping him sail onto the grand final.
And the ambitious chef has told how his experience at some of the top Scottish kitchens helped him on his way.
Despite only being, 24, Sagar boosts a stunning CV, including stints in Michelin star diners Martin Wishart in Edinburgh and Cail Bruich in Glasgow.
Sagar said: “I’ve picked up loads of experience working in different Scottish kitchens, with the best produce. I wanted to try and combine that experience with my favourite food memories from growing up in India.
His latest workplace, The Rabbit, also shares a MasterChef connection, with the chain's executive chef Derek Johnstone – the first ever MasterChef: The Professionals winner in 2008.
Sagar added: “Derek was a huge help throughout the competition. He gave me some great advice, telling me to stay calm.”
The grand final aired on BBC on Sunday, December 11.
Despite already knowing the result, Sagar still tuned in to look back at his battling display, which ultimately ended in disappointment, when a piece of plastic piping ended up in one of his dishes.
But he has revealed an outpouring of support since that moment which left him heartbroken.
Sagar said: “I took a night off and watched the whole thing with some of my friends. My mum and dad stay in Oban so they watched it from there.
“I was devastated with how it ended. I done so well to get to the final, so for it to finish that way broke my heart.
“Since then people have been really supportive, they realise it was just a mistake. I had 500 messages on Instagram and Facebook from strangers just telling me how well I’d done.”
Sagar’s success has been hailed by staff at the Marine Hotel, with General Manager Michael Lavizani admitting the whole team were hugely proud of one of their own.
Word of Sagar’s success also found its way out of the kitchen, with diners in the restaurant frequently looking to meet the star.
Sagar added: “Everyone at the Marine are really proud of me. They have been very kind and supportive.
“Every day, customers want to see me. I’ll go out after they have their meal to say hello."
Sagar also hopes his stint within the MasterChef arena will inspire the next generation of chefs, with young apprentices in the kitchen now looking up to the cook-show star
He said: “With some of the junior staff I try to push them. I am trying to encourage them to enter competitions.
“MasterChef has given me is confidence to know I can do things on my own. If you enter a competition you get to experience a different pressure, and it helps you see if you can handle it.”
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