A Killearn mum who was eliminated from the latest series of MasterChef says it was an experience she will cherish forever.
Lisa Addison was delighted when she was selected to star in the hit TV cookery competition, impressing the judges with her dishes.
And although she hasn’t made it to the next round on Friday she says she is full of gratitute for the experience, which she says brought her “sheer happiness”.
And she revealed plans to open a new culinary venture for local foodies.
Speaking to the Stirling Observer this week, the 39-year-old said: “My experience of MasterChef is something I’ll never be able to properly explain. I actually told them when filming it was like Christmas day, I had that excitement in my tummy, that giddy feeling, the sheer happiness you experience when you’re a kid on the day. I got to experience that over a period of time and it’s a memory I’ll forever cherish.
“I got to cook four dishes in that special kitchen and I got to cook for one of my all time favourite food critics, Tom Parker Bowles. When he walked into that kitchen, I genuinely didn’t care about how much further I would go. That for me is the ultimate way to end my time on the show.
“He actually tweeted me since the show and said he loved meeting me and if I do anything professionally I’ve to let him know. Just so surreal.”
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Lisa gathered with her family, wife Rachel and her children, Kieran, Morgan and Johnny, step-daughter Sian and her father-in-law to watch the new series airing. She added: “They were so nervous and excited. My little boy Johnny didn’t have a clue how far I got or if I got an apron and his little face when he seen I’d got one, his words were ‘mum you’ve made Gregg Wallace cry’.”
Earlier this month, we told how Lisa was hoping to use her exposure on the show to set an example to young people who are struggling with their sexuality.
Previously married to ex-husband, John Wilson, for 14 years, Lisa came out as gay at the age of 34. She has now been married to her wife, Rachel Addison, for three years.
She said: “I received over two hundred messages on Wednesday night saying I was an inspiration and how I had been the most genuine contestant on the show in years. I went there and was just me.”
Lisa now hopes to use her experience to continue cooking in the village. She has launched her venture, Lisa@home, which brings comfort food, burgers, pizza and Italian delights to hungry customers to enjoy at home.
She said: “I decided to utilise the MasterChef experience and got the wheels going couple of weeks ago. I wanted to open a food takeaway business in Killearn as there’s nothing really in our area except two Indian takeaways and a chip shop. So I put feelers out and made contact with the COO of Ooni, an outdoor pizza oven company, who was a cleaning client of mine. He believed in my idea and said Ooni would help me with whatever I needed, he also mentioned Lora Burt at the incredible local deli Turnip The Beet, I messaged her and we met and she totally believed in my food ideas.
“She let me launch Lisa@home from her deli kitchen and I’m so grateful to her. Being able to finally tell them about Masterchef was so exciting as we all knew what the show would be able to bring to my small village.
“I launched lisa@home and started off gently with burgers and wings night on Saturday, the day after I left MasterChef. It was a huge success and I’m so grateful to the locals for all the support.”
Lisa is now set to host her first pizza night pop-up on Thursday, April 7.
Next month she will also help MasterChef 2021 contestant Mike Bartley at the Bishop Auckland Food Festival and they will be cooking for chefs Jean Christophe Novelli and Chris Bevan.
She has also been approached to do Ecofest Balfron and also a podcast with a local mental health charity that helps young people struggling with their sexuality.
She said: “It was a huge deal to me putting myself out there. I only came out as gay five years ago and so I know how difficult it can be growing up with the pressure, the feeling of shame and guilt and the longing to be yourself. My wife gave me the courage, as did a few close friends. My ex-husband was phenomenal and my kids are so understanding.”
