MasterChefs Live
Live cookery from former MasterChef winners and finalists, hosted by The Kitchen Table.
Three Exclusive Sessions
Presented by The Kitchen Table
About MasterChefs Live
The Kitchen Table is hosting three exclusive MasterChefs Live sessions featuring former MasterChef winners and finalists at the Shaftesbury Food Festival. Visitors will watch celebrated chefs prepare recipes from their latest books, gain insight into their culinary journeys, and enjoy the rare opportunity to meet television personalities and secure signed copies of their work.
Date & Time
Sunday 3rd May 2026
Sessions at 11:30 AM, 1:00 PM & 2:30 PM
Venue
The Town Hall
Shaftesbury, Dorset
The Chefs
Three celebrated chefs, each bringing a different cultural heritage and culinary tradition to the festival.
Ping is a celebrated Malaysian-British chef, restaurateur and author. Her infectious energy and innovative approach to Southeast Asian cooking have made her a beloved figure on British television. At Shaftesbury Food Festival, Ping will demonstrate recipes from her latest book, sharing the bold flavours and cultural heritage of Malaysian cuisine. Her session promises vibrant cooking, storytelling, and insight into a culinary tradition rich in history and family tradition.
Anurag is an acclaimed Indian chef and cookbook author whose passion for authentic Indian cuisine has earned him widespread recognition. His demonstrations showcase the complexity, regional diversity and soul-warming character of Indian cooking. Anurag will bring recipes from his latest book to life, offering audiences a masterclass in spice, technique and the cultural significance of Indian food traditions.
Shelina is a Mauritian chef, author and television personality known for her warm, inclusive approach to food. Her cooking celebrates the multicultural heritage of Mauritian cuisine — a beautiful fusion of African, Indian, Chinese and French influences. Shelina’s session will highlight the stories behind her recipes and the diverse culinary traditions that define her island’s food culture.
Bean-to-Bar Chocolate Masterclasses
A bonus pair of sessions with Michael Barber of Barber’s Bean-to-Bar — pastry chef and Devon-based craft chocolate maker. Both events take place at The Grosvenor.
Join pastry chef and chocolate genius Michael Barber as he creates and decorates a truly show-stopping chocolate gâteau. Transforming his exquisite chocolate into elegant finishing touches, he’ll reveal how origin and process shape both flavour and texture.
Expect expert piping and decorating tips, professional finishing techniques, and a behind-the-scenes look at what makes artisan chocolate genuinely exceptional. With 15 years in professional pastry kitchens and five years crafting bean-to-bar chocolate in Devon, Michael brings together classical patisserie technique and true craft chocolate expertise.
Explore chocolate like you’ve never experienced it before. Join pastry chef and bean-to-bar chocolate maker Michael Barber for an immersive tasting journey from cocoa bean to finished bar.
With 15 years of pastry expertise and five years running Barber’s Bean-to-Bar Chocolate in Devon, Michael guides guests through a curated tasting of craft chocolate, revealing how origin, roast, and refining shape every nuance of flavour. This is a sensory deep dive into texture, aroma, and taste, with storytelling, insider knowledge, and plenty of delicious moments along the way. Perfect for food lovers, chocolate enthusiasts, and anyone curious about what truly great chocolate can be.
What to Expect
Live Cookery
Each chef will prepare signature recipes from their latest book, explaining techniques, ingredients, and the stories behind the dishes.
Samples & Tasting
Audience members will enjoy tastings of the dishes being prepared — a chance to experience the chefs’ cooking firsthand.
Meet & Greet
Following each session, there will be an opportunity to meet the chefs, ask questions, and have books signed.
Book Signings
Signed copies of each chef’s latest book will be available for purchase at the event.
Why This Matters
Culinary Diversity
Each chef brings a different cultural heritage, celebrating the richness and diversity of global food culture.
Television Meets Reality
Experience familiar faces in an intimate, interactive setting — watching them cook live and connecting beyond the screen.
Accessible Excellence
The Kitchen Table brings professional culinary expertise to Shaftesbury, offering world-class food education to the community.
Booking Information
- How to Book: Via Eventbrite
- Format: Ticketed sessions (limited capacity)
- Donation: Attendees are asked to donate to Vale Family Hub
- Includes: Live session, samples, meet & greet, book signing opportunity
- No Refunds: As your ticket is a donation to charity, we are unable to offer refunds
Vale Family Hub
All proceeds from donations benefit Vale Family Hub, a vital community resource providing affordable access to quality food and support for local families. By attending, visitors directly support food security and community wellbeing in Shaftesbury.
About The Kitchen Table
The Kitchen Table is a beloved independent bookshop specialising in food writing, cookbooks, culinary memoir and gastronomic journalism. They celebrate the stories, culture and craft behind food, and champion both established and emerging food writers and authors.
MasterChefs Live FAQs
Booking, timings and what to expect on the day.
Yes. The cookery demonstrations are:
- By donation
- Ticketed via Eventbrite
…featuring live demonstrations and tastings from leading MasterChefs:
- Ping Coombes (11:30am)
- Anurag Aggarwal (1:00pm)
- Shelina Permalloo (2:30pm)
Some elements are FREE but require booking, including:
- Gold Hill Cheese Race entry
- Your place in the audience for the MasterChefs LIVE demos (tickets by donation)
Booking in advance is via Eventbrite.
All Sunday activities conclude at approximately 5pm.
