Tooting woman makes MasterChef final (From Wandsworth Guardian)

Tooting woman makes MasterChef final

3:36pm Thursday 15th March 2012 in News By Alexandra Rucki

A charity worker from Tooting has made it to the MasterChef final being screened tonight.

Shelina Permallo, 29, a British-born Mauritian originally from Southampton, has wowed the judges with her spicy flavours.

The former charity worker for Business in the Community has ambitions to own her own restaurant and showcase Mauritian food in the UK.

She impressed top-chef Francessco Mazzei at L'Anima in an earlier episode of the show, working hard to wow her Italian husband and his family.

Judges Greg Wallace and John Torode have been taken aback with her skill at producing tropical food, influenced by her Indian Ocean heritage.

If Mrs Permallo is successful she will be the first female champion in seven years, since Thomasina Miers won the competition in 2005.

She said: ""I am an incredibly driven perfectionist and so crazy serious about having a future in food that I have recently handed in my notice.

"I dream of opening a restaurant one day, raising the profile of Mauritian food in the UK, and be working with, and surrounded by food.

"It was the most amazing moment being selected for the final 24, it made me feel that I was just that one step closer to my dream of having a restaurant of my own one day."

In the final tonight viewers can watch her battle it out against competitors Tom Rennolds and Andrew Kojima to cook a three course meal for the shows judges.

It is being screened on BBC One tonight at 9pm.