Revelations: MasterChef: The Professional's Bart Van der Lee

What was your best subject at school?

History

What was your first job?

Planting chrysanthemum seedlings in a greenhouse aged 14

What was your first job in catering?

A steward in a café near my hometown, Zuilichem in the Netherlands, at 15 years old

What do you normally have for breakfast?

Fruit and nut cereals on weekdays, fried eggs, bacon and cheese at the weekend

What do you do to relax?

Go to the forest with my wife and kids – it is our escape from the hectic lifestyle we live

Which is your favourite restaurant?

Noma in Copenhagen

What’s your favourite hotel?

Amanyara, Turks & Caicos Islands

Which ingredient do you hate?

Mastiha, a Greek tree sap used for drinks or sweets. I got into a massive fight with it during MasterChef practice and it’s still stuck to most of the kitchen utensils

Are there any foods/ingredients that you refuse to cook with?

Not really, I’ve tried pretty much everything, from balls to brains

What do you always carry with you?

Phone, wallet, tweezers

Which person in catering have you most admired?

Toine Hermsen, I have looked up to him from the day I walked into his kitchen

If not yourself, who would you rather have been?

Genghis Khan

If you had not gone into catering, where do you think you would be now?

Some far away country making something with my hands

What’s your favourite film?

The Boondock Saints

What’s your favourite book?

A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson

What is your favourite prepared product?

Bossche bol, it’s a massive Dutch profiterole

If you had more time, what would you do?

Pottery or knife making