MasterChef 2022: Sarah Rankin from Inverness bows out in the final four of BBC cookery contest
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Inverness born home-cook Sarah Rankin has bowed out in the final four of the MasterChef 2022 competition.
The 47-year-old made a bold attempt to claim the title of champion but unfortunately missed the cut as the pressure ramped up in the kitchen last night.
At the start of last night's penultimate episode the mother-of-two said:”Failure to me is not an option. Adapt or die. Yeah, you have to keep going, you have to try harder.”
She and her remaining three contestants had one hour 45 minutes for their interpretation of a “classic dish”.
Being Scottish through and through Sarah, who now lives in Kinross, opted for her take on haggis neeps and tatties.
She put forward a cannon of lamb, deep fried haggis wrapped in feuille de brick pastry, potato fondant, crispy kale, neep puree, tattie scone, puffed pearl barley, pickled shallot shells, roasted onion puree and a whisky sauce.
She told the judges: “My classic dish is haggis neeps and tatties.
“Traditionally, it doesn't tend to look very fine dining so I want to kind of eleate it a little bit, and this one really makes me happy.”
And after a difficult day in Ireland in the previous episode with her pastry falling apart – despite diners loving it – the heat was on in the kitchen.
Asked by judge John Torode what her biggest lesson from her time in the Emerald Isle was, she replied: “Don't lose your head. I just lost my head.
“Just had a stern word with myself today about staying focussed and staying calm and just to get it out there.”
Sadly her lamb tuned out undercooked for Gregg, leaving her out of the next round with celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay.
Delivering the bad news, judge Gregg Wallace said: “You have had an amazing competition, you really have, incredible.”
Afterwards, Sarah said: “Yeah, I'm devastated. It has been really, really special.
It's been a life-changing experience
“I'll just miss the buzz of it all.
“I'd say to anyone, take the chance because absolutely it's worth it.”
The final for this season concludes tonight on BBC One.
