A NORTH Dorset chef wowed judges in last night's episode of MasterChef: The Professionals.

Head chef Marcus Wilcox, of The Rose and Crown in Trent, near Sherborne, was one of eight ambitious contestants to face Monica Galetti's 'invention test' in the first episode.

The 24-year-old impressed Monica and fellow judge Gregg Wallace with a strawberry and ginger cheesecake with black pepper shortbread, chocolate and rock salt crisp and basil foam.

They were impressed with the flavours and described his dish as demonstrating “obvious creativity and knowledge”.

Chefs were asked to make one dish each using a selection of seven ingredients- strawberries, quinoa, artichokes, watercress, mushrooms, chocolate and mascarpone.

The judges they were impressed with the flavours in Although Monica had a few quibbles about presentation, she was impressed with the flavours in a dish which Gregg described as demonstrating "obvious creativity and knowledge".

The talented chef said: “It has been very strange but the whole thing was a great experience.

“The response on Twitter and Facebook has been amazing, and my phone didn't stop ringing after the show.”

Marcus, who had been head chef for 18 months and has been cooking professionally for ten years, will be in action again tonight in a one-hour episode on BBC at 8pm.

The Rose and Crown won the Best Dining Pub at this year's Taste of Dorset Awards, run by Blackmore Vale Media.

Chefs from across the UK face off in the competition in the hope of winning the coveted title of Masterchef 2013.

  • Catch-up on Masterchef: The Professionals here