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A master chef on MasterChef

103 days ago

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The BBC’s iconic Celebrity MasterChef series returned to our television screens at the end of June for it’s fifteenth series. In the series’ second episode, one of Sodexo’s own master chefs, Veronica Azevedo, took her turn under the studio spotlight as four celebrity contestants descended onto her busy kitchen.

Veronica is Head Chef at Transport for London’s Acton Railway Engineering Works. At over 150 years old and more than 50,000 square feet, the works is the oldest and largest London Underground depot for trains, tracks and signalling systems. Veronica and her Sodexo team deliver catering for breakfast and lunch for up to 120 people five days a week.

BBC Celebrity MasterChef

In the episode, the celebrity quarterfinalists took on the challenge of feeding the depot crew with two and half hour’s preparation time. Each team of two needed to produce 50 meat or fish and 10 vegetarian main courses, with an additional 60 portions of dessert – of course! The ingredients the aspiring chefs were provided with included beef mince, chicken breasts, halloumi, tortilla wraps, rice fruit, veg, herbs and spices.

Veronica was tasked with overseeing the four celebrity quarterfinalists as they created, prepared and delivered a service she and the Sodexo team provides Monday through Friday. Customers were confronted with a slightly different lunch service in the depot canteen as they were served six different dishes cooked up by the aspiring chefs, including halloumi and aubergine enchiladas, beef chilli con carne, chicken curry, and a ginger syrup sponge pudding.

BBC Celebrity MasterChef

Anna Bondarenko, Sodexo Account Manager for the Transport for London contract commented: “This was such a unique experience and fantastic to see behind the scenes of Celebrity MasterChef. A highlight for me was how our team were able to support and guide the contestants both on and off screen, demonstrating their expertise and professionalism in food preparation, safety and serving our customers.”

Well done to all the team at Acton for working hard behind the scenes to deliver a very enjoyable television debut. If you would like to watch the episode starring Veronica (Sodexo’s very own star!), head to BBC iPlayer to catch up.

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