BBC Great British Menu: Who is Kate Austen? Get to know the London chef

The final of BBC's Great British Menu is finally here, with London chef Kate Austen one of the hopeful chefs who made the concluding week of the show.

Having been triumphant in the London and South East heat last month, Kate is set to return to our screens this week as she competes in the competition's finals. 

The capital-born cook, who is now a private chef, has previously worked in some of the city's top restaurants, including several one and two-star Michelin eateries and even Gordon Ramsay's development kitchen.

Although the food industry was where Kate initially planned to have a career. Having studied sociology at Newcastle University, she eventually found her feet in the kitchen of Morston Hall under the guidance of chefs Galton Blackiston and Greg Anderson, whom she credits for taking a chance on her when others may not have.

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Kate went on to work in kitchens across Europe, including in Stockholm and Copenhagen.

It was in the Danish capital that she became the youngest female head chef of a two-Michelin-star eatery in the world while working in the highly acclaimed AOC restaurant.

In 2022, Kate helped launch the London restaurant St Barts in Farringdon as head chef. It later went on to be awarded a Michelin star.

Now cooking for a family as a private chef, Kate often shares her food creations and love for cooking on her Instagram.

Great British Menu is on BBC2 at 8pm on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, and on iPlayer.