Abigail "Abi" Kempley is a contestant on MasterChef UK Series 20. She is placed 4th.
Biography[]
Retrieved from bbc.com
Location: Leeds
Bio: Twenty-One-year-old Abi works in sales at her family’s business. Born and brought up in Harrogate, she now lives in Leeds.
How would you describe your style of cooking?
“Food has always been as massive part of my life. My family have always enjoyed eating out, everywhere we went when I was growing up was influenced by where we could eat. I think this has massively impacted my own cooking style - I love to cook what I love to eat.”
I’ve always loved Japanese and Asian flavours, and this is always what I love to eat when out. In 2020 I started trying to recreate these dishes from home and my cooking has developed from there.”
What is your earliest cooking memory?
“I’ve been lucky to be able to travel a lot and visit lots of amazing restaurants. One of my most vivid memories was eating in a lovely restaurant in Barcelona when I was 12 - it was amazing. I always remember food being important, and when I was a teenager helping out with dinner parties at home.
As I got older that grew and I remember my mum asking me to make sushi for her and her friends. We didn’t have much time to prepare, but I loved making it.”
MasterChef turns 20 this year – What are your earliest MasterChef memories? What kind of impact do you think it’s had on you or the country’s approach to food?
“MasterChef is nearly as old as me! Me and my family have always watched it, especially my mum, who I always watch it with. I remember binging series after series when I should have been revising for exams. It’s so surreal to now be competing on it!”
Why did you enter MasterChef?
“My mum has always pushed me to apply! I love cooking and I love food, and wanted a challenge and to see that I really can cook.”
A lot of my friends have gone off to university and I was wondering what was next for me. I love working for my dad and am proud of what we’ve done, but I also wanted to do something for me.”
What is your food dream?
“I want to do something culinary. I’m not sure what yet, but my dream is to cook and share my love of food with people.”[1]
Trivia[]
- At 21, she & Olivia are the youngest women of the season.
References[]
External links[]
Abi Kempley on Facebook