A CATERING team from HM Naval Base Clyde has been crowned top cooks at the Royal Navy’s version of MasterChef.

The culinarians, from Faslane, took on other Royal Naval caterers from Devonport and Portsmouth and proved they were the crème de la crème in front of an expert panel of judges – which included former MasterChef: The Professionals winner Gary Maclean.

Chef Nathan Elson said: “The competition went really well. As a team we were really confident.

“I felt a little bit under pressure, but that’s what it’s all about, bringing us out of our comfort zone and encouraging us to use the different skills which we don’t normally use.”

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Gary added: “For me I just love competitions. I think it’s a really good way of bringing on young chefs.

“I also think it shows another side to the armed services – they can come in and cook as well as chefs in civvy street.”

The competition’s participants may now go on to compete in the naval services culinary arts team and in civilian competitions, with an aim to get into the combined services culinary arts team, where top cooks compete on the world stage.

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