Who is chef Lauren Loudon, MasterChef: The Professionals 2021 contestant?

Introducing Lauren Loudon, one of 32 chefs taking part in MasterChef: The Professionals 2021, airing on BBC One every Monday, Thursday and Friday from November 8th through to December 24th.

Biography

After studying french at university, Lauren was intrigued by the yacht lifestyle by friends she made whilst living in Antibes. It was rather by accident that she ended up working as a yacht chef.

She described in an interveiw with The Superyacht Chef how she "met someone and ended up in Fort Lauderdale. It was on a whim to visit him with no real plan – or return ticket. A position for stew/cook came up on his boat while they were in the yard. I thought I’d give it a go so signed up for my STCW, flew to the Dominican Republic to get my B1/B2 and that was that."

The chef has spent last seven years working as a private chef on superyachts, but recently left the industry to find a place that would let her share her love of creative, hearty food with the community. This led her to opening The Deli in Oxted with her friend Matt. 

Despite the issues with opening a buisness during the pandemic Lauren is still working hard to staying positive and her business has remained successful despite a difficult start.