Who is Dean Banks? Finalist on MasterChef: The Professionals and private chef from Scotland
DEAN Banks has made it to the final of MasterChef The Professionals.
Let's take a look at his story so far...
Who is Dean Banks?
Educated at Dundee University, 29-year-old Dean is a private chef from Scotland.
His signature dish is cured sea trout topped with nori seaweed, served with a crispy trout skin, a trio of cucumber, sea trout roe, wasabi mayonnaise and a matcha powder.
Dean has worked in swanky establishments like the Balmoral Hotel in Edinburgh and the Tides Lodge in Tanzania.
Dean has cooked in Michelin starred restaurants, chalets and top private estates across Europe.
He describes himself as a “well driven individual that has a creative mind with the ability to work for long hours whilst staying on top of my game.”
What has happened to Dean so far on MasterChef The Professionals?
The chef wowed judges Marcus Wareing and Monica Galetti with his signature dish in the first stages of the contest.
Since then TV audiences have been impressed at his calmness under pressure.
His Korean glazed duck with pistachio Thai salad didn’t quite blow the judges away in the semi-final, with Gregg Wallace saying there wasn’t enough of the Korean flavours on the plate, while Marcus said the chef had “sat and overthought this dish too much”.
His black sesame cheesecake topped with chili salt and sugared raw green mango also “lacked the texture that we long for in a cheesecake”.
Still, it was enough to see the Scottish chef – who has been incredibly strong in the contest – through to the final.
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When is the final of Masterchef The Professionals on TV?
MasterChef: The Professionals final is on tonight Thursday (December 20) at 8pm on BBC Two.
Joining Dean in the final is Oli and Laurence.
They will be hoping to impress judges Marcus Wareing, Monica Galetti, and Gregg Wallace - but who will win?