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Nikita Pathakji Biography – Nikita Pathakji Wiki
Hailing from Derby, Nikita Pathakji has made significant strides in the culinary world, establishing herself as a prominent British private chef. Her impressive credentials include being crowned the champion of “MasterChef: The Professionals” in 2022 and securing a finalist position on the “Great British Menu” in 2026. With a wealth of experience honed in Michelin-starred kitchens, Nikita now runs her own private chef business, crafting personalized menus tailored to her clients’ unique tastes. Her aspirations extend to opening her own restaurant in the future.
Nikita’s culinary journey began with an apprenticeship at Westminster Kingsway College, where she adeptly balanced academic learning with practical kitchen experience. Her career took off at The Lanesborough Hotel, where she gained versatile expertise across the afternoon tea section, pastry, and eventually, the Michelin-starred restaurant Céleste.
Seeking to broaden her culinary horizons, Nikita joined the esteemed Bibendum, a two-Michelin-starred establishment under the guidance of Claude Bosi. This tenure provided her with a solid foundation in classical French cuisine. Subsequently, she embarked on a transformative nine-month journey through Southeast Asia, a time she credits with significantly influencing her cooking style today.
Upon her return to the vibrant food scene in London, Nikita further refined her skills at the renowned Core by Clare Smyth, a three-Michelin-starred restaurant. She then moved to Kitchen W8, a one-Michelin-starred venue, where she flourished under the mentorship of Mark Kempson, eventually earning the position of Junior Sous Chef.
In 2022, Nikita’s culinary prowess was recognized nationwide when she won “MasterChef: The Professionals,” a testament to her refined and innovative cooking style, characterized by precision and unique flavor profiles. By 2024, she embraced her first role as Head Chef at The Princess of Shoreditch, where she continued to blend classical techniques with influences from around the world, further cementing her reputation as a dynamic force in the culinary industry.
Nikita Pathakji Age
MasterChef: The Professionals champion Nikita Pathakji was born in 1997 in Derby, to Indian-born parents.
Nikita Pathakji Husband
Nikita Pathakji met her boyfriend at Kitchen W8 in Kensington in 2021, who she calls her ‘big cheerleader’.
Family
Nikita was brought up in Derby by her Indian-born parents, mother Rima, who works in financial services and her father, Sona, a retired engineer for Rolls-Royce, alongside an elder sister, Isha. Her parents then divorced, with Rima moving to London while Nikita and Isha remained with their dad in Derby.
She lives in Clapham, London, with her mum, step-dad, sister and Dexter the dog.
MasterChef: The Professionals 2022 Winner
On 11 December 2022, Nikita Pathakji was crowned champion of TV cooking competition MasterChef: The Professionals after impressing judges over six weeks of intense cooking challenges. Her winning menu featured sea bass cured in a citrus dressing with a smoked aubergine puree, and a side of aubergine crisps. It was followed by a take on her favourite dish from Thailand, Khao Soi, with a cardamom and custard tart paired with a honey and lemon sorbet for dessert.
Reacting to her win, Nikita said: “This is incredible and I can’t put it into words. It surpasses every achievement of my life. I don’t know how I’m going to top this. This is the peak, I think I’ve reached it!”
Nikita credited her family for sparking her passion for cuisine. “My mum has been cooking since I was a kid, creating dishes, and I’ve been cooking with her in the kitchen,” she told the BBC. “And then my dad really sparked my love of travelling, so all of them together are the reason I cook the food I do.”
Nikita said she hoped her success on the show would act as a springboard for exciting projects in the future. “It’s very exciting because it’s the first time in my career where there are people who really want to eat my food – and I want to do that for them,” she said. “I want to do pop-ups and collaborations and work with the fabulous chefs I competed alongside.”
Great British Menu
Derby-born chef Nikita Pathakji is a contestant on the Great British Menu 2026. Her menu is a celebration of style, the central region and the films and actors that hail from there.
Nationality
Nikita is of British nationality.
Ethnicity
Nikita is of Indian heritage.
Nikita Pathakji’s Instagram is @chefnikita.p.