Who is Jackie Kearney? MasterChef 2011 finalist and vegan cookbook author returning as a guest judge
Jackie Kearney is a chef and author who made quite the name for herself on the 2011 series of Masterchef.
The mum-of-two had her dreams dashed in the Masterchef semi-finals but her tenacious character has seen her going from strength to strength!
Who is Jackie Kearney?
Jackie Kearney is a mother of two who lives in Chorlton.
She spent a year tasting her way around India, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Laos, Indonesia and Malaysia, and this is where she developed her layered understanding of food.
The vegetarian then decided to go on Masterchef to follow her dream of becoming a chef. Having two kids and a steady job with the NHS meant that she couldn’t risk going back to catering school.
When was Jackie on Masterchef?
Jackie was on Masterchef back in 2011 and finished fourth.
At the time she was the first vegetarian to get so far in the competition.
Unfortunately, she had to deal with some anti-vegetarian backlash but found that the public supported her and the way she improved the image of veggie food.
Jackie revealed that whilst Gregg Wallace never fell in love with her food, John Torode understood her cooking from day one.
What has Jackie done since Masterchef?
Since her stint on Masterchef, Jackie has published her first cookery book, Vegan Street Food, inspired by her travels around Asia.
Jackie’s tenacious character has seen her working at two Ottolenghi restaurants, as well as Benares in Mayfair.
The Hungry Gecko is Jackie’s professional chef brand where she offers cookery classes, private dining experiences and holds foodie events across the country.