Who is Masterchef: The Professionals 2020 finalist, Bart van der Lee?

Introducing bart Van der Lee, one of 32 contestants taking part in the MasterChef: The Professionals 2020 competition airing on BBC One for six weeks from November 10th until the final on Thursday 17th December. 

The private chef faced judges Monica Galetti, Marcus Wareing and Gregg Wallace in the last week of the heats starting on Tuesday 31st November, cooked for restaurant critics Grace Dent and Jay Rayner on Thursday, 3rd December, and wowed Michelin-starred chef Aktar Islam in the semi-finals, securing a spot in finals week. 

Bart is among the final four chefs in MasterChef:The Professionals 2020.

Who is in the MasterChef: The Professionals 2020 final?

Bart will be returning to our screens alongside chefs Philli Armitage-Mattin, Alex Webb and Santosh Shah on Wednesday, 16th December. 

1) Full name

Bart van der Lee

2) Nickname

Bart

3) Age

33

4) Where are you from / where do you live?

Doorn, The Netherlands/ Ickenham, Greater London 

5)Are you married/in a relationship/do you have any kids?

I am married with two daughters, three and five years old 

6) What type of a chef are you?

I'm a private chef

7) Do you have a favourite type of cuisine?

International

8) How did you become a chef? (e.g. formal training, apprenticeship, self-taught)

Formal training in the Netherlands with apprenticeships in several Michelin star restaurants 

9) Where have you worked?

The Netherlands, Egypt, Caribbean, international waters and the UK

10) Who are your mentors/role models/people you look up to, in your professional and/or personal life?

Toine Hermsen, Jonnie Boer, René Redzepi 

11) What is your guilty pleasure dish (not necessarily cheffy, cheesy baked beans on toast is a perfectly respectable reply!)?

Ham and cheese toastie with ketchup 

12) What is the best thing / worst thing about being a chef? 

The best is being able to create without boundaries, the worst is having to endure the summer heat (think Egypt, Caribbean and Greece mid-summer in a non ac’d kitchen.

13)  How did it feel to step onto the set of MasterChef: The Professionals?

An overwhelming feeling of excitement and pride. It’s a long way and a lot of thought and dreams happen before you make it there, then all of a sudden you are there with the judges are staring at you and the skills test is about to start. It was great!

14) How did 2020 compare you what you thought it would be this time last year?

2020 has turned into one of my most creative and exiting years. It was going to be a normal year for us but I turned into a culinary explosion full of great vibes and great cooking.