Dream job not to Masterchef Leon's taste

Oct 4 2008 by Jon Tunney, The Journal

A CHEF who had the recipe for success on a television series has snubbed work from a star of the show to take a top job in the region.

Leon Dodd, 29, of Redby Close, Fulwell, Sunderland, finished second in the recent BBC series MasterChef: The Professionals.

Show judge Michel Roux Jnr offered Leon the chance to work at Le Gavroche in London. But Leon turned him down to become head chef at Blackmore’s Hotel and Restaurant in Alnwick. Leon said “I couldn’t believe it when Michel Roux said that he would like me to run the fish section at the Gavroche, but my heart is in the North East and I am pleased to have accepted the head chef role at Alnwick’s new boutique hotel and restaurant Blackmore’s straight after the show finished.”

He has previously worked at Terry Laybourne’s Bistro 21 in Durham.

He succeeds John Blackmore so the former Newcastle United head chef can focus on a new venture.