"If I win, it will be a revenge," he slips into the camera.
Revenge on those who wanted to discourage him, throwing his origins in his face.
“You don't belong here!
Mohamed Cheikh has his place in the kitchen.
The 28-year-old young man from Val-de-Marne proved it, and more than twice, by winning “Top Chef” this Wednesday evening against Sarah Mainguy.
Despite the obstacles, he never changed his cooking project, born in childhood in contact with his grandmother.
Supported by those close to him, encouraged by chefs who have placed their trust in him, he has built palaces where he has worked on an excellent technique that he puts at the service of gourmet cuisine, with Mediterranean accents and often full of emotions.
Big heart, even temper, formidable palate and generous cuisine, the candidate had everything to seduce.
And succeed.
It is done.
This revenge, you have it ...
MOHAMED CHEIKH.
It's amazing what's happening to me.
It is a breakthrough in the last quarter of an hour, à la Mbappé.
It really is madness!
What does this victory represent?
The Grail, success, reward, determination, madness, the field of possibilities ...
Does that mean anything is possible for you today?
Everything is possible in life, for everyone.
Wherever we come from or whatever we have done, if we give ourselves the means and make the right choices, we can succeed.
I am living proof.
Read alsoSuccess of "Top Chef", return of the home-made ... why cooking fascinates the French
Finally, you have it your place in the kitchen.
I'll start to believe it
(laughs)
.
There, it is stamped, no one will be able to tell me otherwise.
There will always be jealous people, but I know what I did, that I fought.
My place is in the kitchen, and, moreover, the restaurant
(Editor's note:
Manzili, which he opened for the summer at the Jardin des Plantes)
is full, people are happy, great chefs come to eat and congratulate me , I'm on a little cloud.
Who are you dedicating this victory to?
To all these leaders who allowed me to be there, all those who supported me, my parents who made me who I am, and obviously to Hélène Darroze who was essential for me to reach the end.
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When you pulled out the knife for victory, what did you think about?
I was absent.
When I turned around to hug my loved ones, I didn't even know where to go, I forgot about my wife, she yelled at me
(laughs)
.
I forgot Hélène Darroze too.
I had an absence, the impression that it was not real.
We took pictures with the check and I said to myself:
It's not me
.
It was too good to be true.
It's a powerful competition, recognized by the greatest French chefs, publicized… it's madness.
How did you experience this final?
I had fun, it was a great time, the last experience of the show.
I loved it, I was free to do what I wanted ...
Free, except to delegate the juice: Hélène Darroze sharply pointed it out to you ...
I let Arnaud do it, but the chef gave me a bit of a wank
(laughs)
.
She said to me:
Wait, are you one of the best on sauces and you let others do it?
I was a little uncomfortable taking it back from Arnaud, but then he understood.
Apart from that moment, I had a great time with the friends who gave their all for me.
It really touched me, I thanked them a hundred times I think.
What made the difference?
I would say it's my style of cooking, which affects more people.
You told us you found confidence in "Top Chef".
What are you going to do with it?
Beautiful projects and trying to gain further momentum.
Will the earnings be used for that?
To make plans, yes, and to reward my parents for everything they have done for me.
As they don't have the means, I'm going to take them to the sea a bit, it'll do them good.
To read also "Top Chef": an ephemeral restaurant in Paris for Mohamed, a second place for Sarah in Nantes
How do you see the future?
In a palace or by opening your table?
Me, I am satisfied with everything, I have no idea.
If they call me tomorrow to entrust me with the Prince of Wales kitchens, I would be so happy, but if they call me to finance my own restaurant too.
I am a very
peace and love.
As long as I can enjoy life and do this job that I love, with the necessary means, frankly ...
First there is Manzili, in the Jardin des Plantes, so full…
We opened reservations until June 18th and it was full within two hours.
There is a "Top Chef" effect!
Quite frankly, it's madness!
How sweet is this madness?
Obviously, it's all about happiness.
We created a place that people love, because it feels good there, it feels like being on vacation: that's exactly what represents me.
