Who is chef Simon Braz MasterChef: The Professionals 2023 contestant?

Ahead of MasterChef: The Professionals 2023, which airs on BBC One and BBC iPlayer from Monday 23 October, we find out more about the chefs taking part.

Introducing Simon Braz, Head Chef, FJB Hotel group, Poole.

Head Chef Simon, 35, has been a chef for 20 years. He works across the South Coast for a hotel group, and lives in Poole with his wife and two dogs.

Name

Simon

AGE

35

Where are you from/where do you live

Poole, Dorset.

CURRENT AND PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE

Simon’s first job in a kitchen was at age 16, where he worked as a Kitchen Porter. He then went on to study cookery at Eastbourne College before working his way up in high-end hotel restaurants, spending 10 years at FJB Hotel group.

HOW DID YOU GET INTO COOKING AND WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT IT?

”My Portuguese grandmother was a great home cook, I remember her cooking up all sorts of delights. My favourite dish she would make was Caldo Verde, a cabbage soup. My father was a chef in a private school so food was always a big part of life growing up. Both my parents are Portuguese,. Whilst I don’t speak the language, I speak the language of the food and I love sharing this part of my heritage in my cooking.”

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR STYLE OF COOKING AND ANY INFLUENCES ON IT?

“I like to be big and daring with flavours and for my food to look refined. I’ve grown up cooking professionally with Modern British techniques, but my own food definitely has twists of Portuguese flavours. I’ve visited Japan three times and find the culture and food fascinating, so where possible I also try to introduce Asian elements to my dishes.”

WHY DID YOU WANT TO TAKE PART IN MASTERCHEF: THE PROFESSIONALS?

“I’ve thought about entering MasterChef: The Professionals for years and have started the application three times, but I never had the courage to submit it. Now that I’m a head chef I feel I have more skills to do well, I want to push myself and see how I compare. I think I’m ready so it’s time to test that in the MasterChef kitchen.”

OUTSIDE OF COOKING WHAT ARE YOUR PASSIONS?

“I enjoy gaming and walking my dogs. I also really enjoy eating at Michelin star restaurants so my wife and I always try to visit one a year - I love to take inspiration from the food I taste.”