Andrew Strickland

Recently married for the second time, Andrew met his current wife when she served him in a café two years ago. They live with her children - and Andrew has two - children from his first marriage.

Andrew is inspired by the “creation” and invention elements of cooking and enjoys the challenge of having limited ingredients. His earliest food memory is making short crust pastry for apple pies with his Mum and he was making roasts for his family before he left home.

Andrew is not a fan of “fancy cooking” and aspires to have a commercial kitchen where he can produce good quality, ready to go meals that customers can buy and heat up for dinner.

“Food for foodies, who don’t feel like cooking!”

As a family man, Andrew loves cooking at home - it was his children who insisted he enter MasterChef - and he is passionate about Mediterranean flavours. His specialities include risottos, pastas and soups and it was his take on a Mussel Soup that secured his spot in the Top 24.

“I think my strengths are timing and multi-tasking and I am good under pressure”

He admits his weakness is desserts and that he is not as well read as he would like. “I can’t follow recipes”

Andrew has many friends who love cooking and eating. They often go communal shopping and have big cook ups.

As well as cooking, Andrew loves to horse-ride and write poetry. He describes himself as courageous and as a “generous spirit.”