Lorena Castell, winner of 'MasterChef Celebrity': "I like to work under pressure, it gives me the batteries"

Lorena Castell (Barcelona, ​​41 years old) seemed to have won the seventh edition of

even before running the final test, in which she chose to prepare a fusion cuisine menu inspired by the trips she made with her brother to Thailand, India and Bali .

The television presenter and collaborator of the

program affirmed with a smile: "I am sure that I am going to win."

That initial conviction was backed by her precision, concentration and rhythm in preparing the dishes, something that her opponent lacked, the actor Manu Baqueiro (

).

As soon as the two hours they had to prepare the menu began, Castell, with an overwhelming but meticulously controlled energy, cut, sautéed, mixed, crushed, strained ingredients without stopping, with a mechanical and studied security.

The judges especially praised her dessert, which she called

and which had gelatin, frozen popcorn, lychee cream and strawberries, among other ingredients.

The winner has taken the program trophy and 75,000 euros that she donated to the NGO Juegaterapia.

In addition, the two duelists will be able to attend a weekend creative cooking course at the Basque Culinary Center, the prestigious Faculty of Gastronomic Sciences in San Sebastián.

The final program that was broadcast last night on La 1 was recorded before the summer.

“I no longer have to keep the secret!” Castell exclaims excitedly.

More information

'Masterchef Celebrity' already has its two finalists, after the "surrender" of Patricia Conde

Ask.

Was she sure that she was going to win?

Response.

Well, she wasn't sure.

But if you like to compete and if you're sure you're wearing something that's the bomb, go for sure.

I had a very well learned menu, very well worked, very elaborate techniques and a story that I wanted to tell that I loved.

And I think that you have to arrive at a final with that attitude of winning.

It's not for me to say: "Well, maybe Manu will win."

My personality is to go all out and fight.

Q.

What did you do to prepare for the final?

R.

I was working with Quique Dacosta in his studio in Dénia.

For three days we went with Juanfran Valiente to work on the menu, to be taught the techniques.

And then I had a couple of days to practice at home, although when you have so many elaborations, it's a little more complicated at home, because there are many gadgets that you don't have.

In the end I bought everything: the xanthan gum, the gelling agent... The menu had a lot of mathematics, which is precisely something that had played a trick on me at one point.

So I decided to work on it and learn it by heart.

He had a well-known recipe.

Castell poses with the MasterChef Celebrity 2022 award, this Wednesday in Madrid.JUAN BARBOSA

Q.

How did you come up with the menu?

R.

I wanted to tell a story that is

, through the trips I made with my brother, who was there as a guest, along with my mother, my boy, my son and my father.

With the help of Dacosta, who has a kitchen that I love because it tells stories and transmits emotions through his creations, we decided on the elements that would appear in the dishes, which had to taste of Barcelona, ​​of my roots, but also of the Asian countries that I went to with my brother.

For example, the main dish was fabes (because a roommate, Sergio, with whom I lived for almost six years, was Asturian and he cooked for me a lot) with Indian touches, due to the trip to India that I took with my brother.

I think the menu reflects many facets of my personality that have been seen throughout the show, it was a way for the public to get to know me better.

Q.

How did you manage the stress and pressure of being on

?

Some of his colleagues, such as Patricia Conde, could not bear it.

R.

Do you know what happens?

It is that I like to work under pressure, it gives me the batteries.

So I think it's a very personal thing.

You also have to know when each one is.

This is a program that is very demanding, in which you have to be very committed, put in many hours, and it is physically and mentally exhausting.

So it is understandable that suddenly someone decides to throw in the towel.

Q.

What was the hardest part of competing for you?

R.

The sacrifice you have to make to put your life aside for three months, because you can't be with your family, you can't dedicate all the time you want to your child, you can't go out with your friends because the next day you have to cook.

Sometimes you pay for anger or exhaustion with the people who love you the most.

But I have lived a very fun experience, which has offered me many enriching experiences, some very cool trips with my colleagues.

Once we arrived at a hotel and suddenly we ended up in a karaoke.

I've had a crazy time.

Q.

In the final, your mother said that now it was your turn to bring the

to her.

Has she fulfilled it?

A.

(Laughter) No!

She keeps bringing them, wow.

It's also because what I like the most is Asian food and my mother doesn't love that either.

On occasion, at the weekend, yes, I have cooked, but something more classic, like some chickpeas with cod.

Q.

Do you have a project related to the kitchen?

A.

No. Right now, fortunately, I have a lot of work, but nothing related to cooking.

Q.

So you haven't considered Jordi Cruz's proposal to open a restaurant with him and other partner judges?

A.

Oh yeah!

(laughs) Well, I just closed a bar now, so I'm not going to open a restaurant.

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