Chef swaps kitchen for celebrity plans

Kelly Young is off to Fiji. Photo / Herald on Sunday

Kelly Young felt the heat and has got out of the kitchen of one of Auckland's top restaurants.

The Masterchef New Zealand runner-up has resigned from her job at the exclusive Euro, owned by Masterchef judge Simon Gault, to pursue a "much more appealing" venture to become a celebrity chef.

The 27-year-old also plans to educate Kiwis on how to be "smart" cooks.

Her resignation one month ago coincided with the decision by Brett McGregor, Masterchef winner, to quit his job as the deputy principal of a Christchurch school - also to focus on his own projects.

Young is keeping quiet on her plans but hints they involve food shows and public appearances. She is also heading to Fiji in coming weeks to start a new project, with plans to film and edit herself working.

Young is adamant she is not leaving the kitchen because the job is too demanding but admits it is difficult.

"I love the organisation that goes into a commercial kitchen. It runs like an engine - sometimes not so smooth - but the majority of the time without stalling.

"I take my hat off to the chefs in that kitchen; they have a tough life. It's an unforgiving and stressful place to work. It seemed like I was there for years.

"Euro is a tough kitchen to work in, especially coming in as a complete novice.

"I was in over my head, but I was motivated to prove to those chefs that I could stand the heat. They didn't baby me though, that's for sure.

"I do, however, feel taking on a huge challenge to become a celebrity chef, who is there to help make a difference to domestic home cooks ... is much more appealing to me.

"My passion and goal is to become a Jamie Oliver.

"It was an awesome, amazing experience working with Simon at Euro."

Young, a former personal trainer, was the fourth chef eliminated from the Masterchef competition after a disaster during a pie-making challenge.

But she shocked the remaining contestants when she waltzed back into the kitchen three weeks after her elimination, after being given a second chance.

The final came down to a nail-biter between Young and McGregor, in which he came out on top. However, Gault immediately offered Young a job in his kitchen, where she started working straightaway.

Young hopes her Masterchef profile will help spread her foodie message.

"I want to help people make smarter decisions with food, teach people more about produce and where to get it and where our food comes from."

While she won't confirm that any television work is in the pipeline, she is heading to Fiji with a "chef friend" in two weeks' time, armed with her camera.

She plans to film the food, culture and cooking in Fiji and will edit it herself to either post on YouTube or pitch to a production company.

Gault describes Young as being "hungry" for new challenges and he says he supports her decision to move from Euro to follow her dreams.

He agrees that working in a kitchen like Euro's is tough but says Young lived up to his expectations.

"Of course, the longer you stay in a kitchen the better, but she's got a good foot up.

"She came out of Masterchef and she was talented, and she soaked up everything she could in that time.

"She started in a tough kitchen and she definitely did [prove herself].

"Euro is a tough kitchen for anybody, but she's got big dreams and she going to go get them.

"I love people like that."

The second season of Masterchef New Zealand is set to begin filming later this year.