A face familiar to millions will be joining the chef line-up at this year's Bolton Food and Drink Festival.

Chariya Khattiyot the winner of MasterChef will making her professional cookery debut at the festival after she won the heats to win the coveted title.

This year’s MasterChef winner has announced her professional cookery debut as she is set to join the chef line-up at the Bolton Food and Drink Festival.

Chariya will join the likes of Gok Wan, Nisha Katona, James Martin, and Michael Caines.

Up against finalists Anurag Aggarwal and Omar Foster, Chariya’s triumphant victory was hailed as the ‘greatest ever win’ in the show’s history as she became the 19th amateur cook to be awarded the coveted title of MasterChef winner.

Taking on 44 other ambitious contestants at the start of the competition, Chariya broke down in floods of tears completely overwhelmed with her unbelievable achievement while judges Torode and Wallace were also visibly emotional and teary-eyed at her reaction to winning the show.

Bolton Food and Drink Festival 2023, takes place over the August bank holiday weekend later this month.

Her love of cooking stems from growing up in Northern Thailand with her grandfather, who with very limited means taught Chariya how to make the most out of what they had and get the best flavours from their food, something that she is passionate about championing throughout her future endeavours.

Chariya is set to host a cookery demonstration on Saturday August 26 at 1pm on Bolton’s Town Hall Square, with a stage that will be transformed into an outdoor industrial kitchen.

The demonstration will be free for the public to attend.

The Bolton News: MasterChef winner Chariya Khattiyot with her trophyMasterChef winner Chariya Khattiyot with her trophy (Image: Weird Public Relations)

Guests attending Chhatriya’s cookery demonstration can expect a Northern Thai inspired menu, similar to that which she showcased on the hit BBC show.

Reacting to her MasterChef win, Chariya said: “This is unbelievable. It means the world, the sun, the moon, and everything to me. I don't think anything can top this. I'm so happy! 

“This just proves that if you dream something and you work really hard and you never give up, you can get it. That's what my grandad said to me – never give up. He would be so proud of me!”

“I’ve loved watching MasterChef for many years and decided to enter the competition so I could showcase Northern Thai cuisine. 

“I hope there will be opportunities to work with food and I'm excited about getting experience and turning this love of cooking into a profession. 

“I want to show the world that Northern Thai food is amazing because it really is. I just love to see people's faces light up when they eat my food.”

Bolton Food and Drink Festival is free to attend with a wide variety of entertainment, activities, and food and drink traders that the whole family can enjoy.

Visit: www.boltonfoodanddrinkfestival.com for tickets and further info.

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