Bank manager Kenny Tutt was thrust into the limelight earlier this year when he was crowned MasterChef champion 2018.
In between making sweet and savoury dumplings in the Brand Licensing Europe (BLE) Kitchen & Demo Area on Wednesday (October 10), Kenny turned down the heat to tell GiftsandHome.net about how he started out, where he likes to buy his gifts and why a gift from his wife made him cry with joy!
What was your first job?
“Working on my mum’s seafood stall in Billingshurst where, unfortunately for her, I ate my way through all her profit! After working in double glazing and in retail, I joined Santander working my way up to becoming a branch manager in Worthing, West Sussex. I’ve been there for 18 years.”
When you shop for gifts, where’s your special place?
“England At Home in The Lanes in Brighton. They’ve got some lovely, very quirky things in there.”
What was the best gift that you ever received?
“For my 30th birthday, my wife booked dinner for two at Heston Blumenthal’s three Michelin star The Fat Duck in Bray. When she told me, I was so overjoyed I burst out crying!”
What’s the most expensive gift you’ve ever bought for her?
“A pair of Laboutins.”
Are you thinking about Christmas shopping yet?
“Yes. I always start in mid November and panic in December! However, because I start early, everyone gets a few extra gifts because I’ve forgotten what I’ve bought them.”
What would your last meal on earth be?
“Good fried chicken with gravy, a full fat Coke with ice and lemon, and loads of praline ice cream!”
Do you have any ambitions on the boil?
“Definitely. I’m working on a concept for a cookbook, and I’d like to do pop up street food around the country, a fusion of British and American cuisine.”
What was your favourite week on MasterChef?
“I loved going to Peru. Everything grows mega big there. For example, you buy a cabbage and need two people to carry it home for you. I did a sea bass ceviche, with a leche de tigre Peruvian sauce. The sea bass was like Free Willy, but I put it on the bench and massacred it! We also went to the Centrale restaurant where I had piranha but resisted the guinea pig!”
And finally, what was your least favourite moment on MasterChef?
“When John or Gregg would come and talk to me three minutes before I had to plate up, when I still had a million things to do such as making a sauce!”
Top: MasterChef 2018 winner Kenny Tutt is shown with Ping Coombes, MasterChef winner in 2014, in the BLE Kitchen & Demo Area.
