A CHEF from Newport has appeared on culinary show ‘MasterChef: The Professionals.

David Scarpato, 26, of Beechwood, has built a reputation in culinary contests from the Roux Scholarship to the S.Pellegrino Young Chef competition this weekend.

The former Celtic Manor chef, who now runs Scarpatos Catering, didn't make it to the next round but said he was happy to be one of the 38 chosen out of 12,000 entrants.

"It's a very hard environment and hats off to anyone that goes on there as extreme pressure is put on you when you walk through those doors," he said.

With an Italian-background, the aspiring chef’s road into cuisine was inspired by trips to the South of Italy as a child, where he was exposed to classic Italian foods and ingredients.

Mr Scarpato cooked two dishes for judges Gregg Wallace, Monica Galetti and two-Michelin starred Marcus Wareing.

This included a tagliatelle dish in the skills test and a pan seared sea bass and chorizo and bean cassoulet for his signature dish.

He added he will take "the experience on board for the future".

This weekend, he will also compete in the S.Pellegrino Young Chef competition which searches for the the most exciting emerging talent in the world.

He will go up against nine other chefs as the only entry for Wales and will face 20 different challenges from judges with the winner being selected for the grand final in 2018.

Only one chef from each world area will receive the accolade.

For information, visit: finedininglovers.com/special/sanpellegrinoyoungchef2018/contendants/?id=19