10:44 05 May 2013
After eight weeks of grueling culinary challenges, 29-year-old Natalie Coleman was crowned 2013 MasterChef winner. The part-time DJ from east London is the programme’s third female winner and 11th champion.
Natalie impressed the judges and beat fellow finalist Larkin Cen and Dale Williams with lobster tail with compressed fennel, roast pork belly with pork tenderloin, and pomme puree and vanilla chocolate pannactotta with bitter chocolate Tuile, caramelized pears and hazelnut crumble biscuits.
Judge John Tarode said: "I think Natalie is destined for great things. She not only understands finery of great food but she cooks for the people, food that people want to eat. She makes people smile. And she's not fazed by a thing.
"Natalie's got it, she is a very, very clever woman and her food is fantastic."
Talking about her plans after her big win, Natalie said: "I want to learn as much as possible under great chefs and possibly go into food writing once I've learned a lot more about food. Depending on how good I get, my own restaurant one day would be amazing."