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Globetrotting MasterChef Santosh Shah is so famous he now features in the year 10 textbook in Nepal
Currently, in Sydney, Chef Santosh Shah travels the world promoting Nepali food. The MasterChef UK participant and winner of the Rematch 2021 title is so famous, he features in school textbooks in Nepal. There, year 10 students read about his success despite failing at school 20 years ago.
Published 8 May 2023 4:05pm
Updated 28 June 2023 12:52pm
By Dinita Rishal
Source: SBS
Nepali Chef, Santosh Shah, became famous after becoming a finalist on UK’s popular reality show MasterChef: The Professionals 2020.
With his array of Nepali dishes with a modern touch, he successfully won the season's rematch in 2021.
His current world tour has reached Sydney to introduce his take on Nepali cuisine to Australians.
From washing dishes at 14 to working in the UK
Mr Shah was born in Karjanha, a village in southern Nepal bordering India.
Having lost his father at age five, and with six siblings having their own families, it was only him and his mother at home.
So, I went to India with other villagers and started working as a kitchen quarter (kitchen hand), and with those wages, I supported my mother back home.Santosh Shah
He recalls those were very hard times for him, and he was selling bread in the communal markets to support his mother and family when he was eight.
And, by mid-teens, he was washing dishes in a five-star hotel in India.
“In 1999, I failed the SLC examination (grade 10 exam in Nepal earlier). I did not see a point in studying further due to financial hardships to continue studying and/or pursuing a career,” he told SBS Nepali.
Chef Santosh Shah as a child (L) and as a contender on MasterChef UK (R). Source: Facebook / Santosh Shah
“My salary for doing dishes was around INR 900 monthly. The main chef’s salary was INR 18,000 monthly. Then I learnt that I needed to study culinary arts to become a chef,” Mr Shah says.
Shah then studied culinary courses and headed to the United Kingdom on a work permit in 2010, where he worked in numerous Michelin-star hotels over the following years.
Chef Santosh Shah working at The Lalit London. Source: Facebook / Santosh Shah
The MasterChef experience
Mr Shah says it took him five years to prepare for MasterChef UK.
In 2020, he was one of the finalists of MasterChef: The Professionals.
The following year he competed in the rematch and won with his winning dish - vegan thali, a platter of rice and various curries and pickles.
The Chef says the moment of victory was very emotional for him.
A representational image of "thali". Source: iStockphoto / Getty Images/Irina Brester
“I got very emotional as it was my small effort to do justice to Nepali cuisine by introducing it to the world.”
He argues Nepali food is a good choice for people looking for a new taste as it is healthy and nutritious.
His signature dish is millet pudding and mango snowball.
A story of motivation for all
Back in Nepal, the grade 10 students must study Shah’s life journey as part of their curriculum.
He wants his recent success to motivate other young people from disadvantaged communities.
Chef Santosh Shah's journey has been featured in grade 10 English books of Nepal. Source: Supplied / Prakriti Adhikari
“There should never be a limit on your dreams,” he said.
“And, simultaneously, you should also learn to be satisfied and plan your time wisely.”
No matter how successful you become, you should not forget who you are, and the people who helped you.Chef Santosh Shah
After London, Scotland, Germany, and now Sydney, Shah says Japan and Dubai have been finalised as part of his current world tour.
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