Nikita Pathakji was born to her parents Rima And Sona Pathakji. Rima And Sona Pathakji is the inspiration for her cooking.
The chef is a winner of MasterChef, The Professionals Champion. She beat the finalists’ Charlie Jeffreys, Sagar Massey, and 29 other professional chefs to cook her way to the top after six weeks of sweat-inducing challenges.
The 25-year-old of Indian origin went home triumph after she impressed the judges Michelin-starred Marcus Wareing, chef Anna Haugh and MasterChef judge Gregg with creative dishes.
The judges accepted her victory, talking about her incredible twists and sublime meals. Her culinary growth happened before their eye as they saw her improve as the week went by.
But it would not have been possible without the warm embrace of her family, who loves food just as much as she does.
Meet Nikita Pathakji Parents Rima And Sona Pathakji
Nikita Pathakji thanks her parents Rima and Sona Pathakji for their Inspiration. Rima and Sona Pathakji are originally from India.
The MasterChef winner had her humble beginning in Derby with her Indian-born family. Her dad worked in finance while her mom made ends meet as an engineer for Rolls-Royce. They also have an elder daughter, Isha, her foodie partner.
In their early years, they traveled a lot, taking their bags to Bangalore when Nikita was nine. It was a way to connect with her roots, as the two years in the UK sparked her interest in touring.
But tragedy hit their family of four when the pair went their separate ways. Their family split in half, with the younger girl joining her mother in Londen while Isha got left behind in Derby with their dad.
Although the amiable decisions tore apart the two sisters, they still believed it was for the greater good as her time in the capital city opened doors to new opportunities. In time, the sisters found their way back to each other when Isha joined her to live in London with their mom and stepfather.
By then, her culinary apprenticeship at Westminster Kingsway College had begun with an internship at the Lanesborough Hotel that happened four days a week. After three months, she went from making afternoon tea sandwiches to weaseling her way into a Michelin-starred restaurant. She also traveled across Southeast Asia to discover new flavors and cuisines.
While the younger sister made the intricate dishes her primary focus, the elder kept an emotional bond with their dad, getting groceries and making an effort to stay in his life.
How Nikita’s Mother Ignited Her Love For Food
Nikita has her mother and Indian roots to thank for igniting her undying love for food. Mealtime has always been a moment for bonding between the mother-daughter.
In an interview with the time, she explained that she came from a food-obsessed family. At a young age, she got instructed to roll circular chapatis on the floor to practice while Rima made the edible ones.
When her teenage years hit, the retired engineer saw her potential and took her for a fine dining experience at her first Michelin-starred restaurant, coincidently owned by Masterchef judge Marcus Wareing. She credited her mum for getting into the fine dining scene and expressed gratitude for believing in her.
According to BBC, they were a household that hosted parties and called neighbors for dinners. The Tupperware remained clean and stacked as they knew their attendees would go home with heaps of food.
It wasn’t until her last year at A-levels toward a degree in chemistry that she realized it was not her passion. She had a heart-to-heart conversation with her academically inclined parents as they complied with her wishes.
Initially, she was nowhere capable as her decades-experienced mum, making canapés and desserts while the elder took over the heavy lifting. After her degree, she is more willing and even lets her take charge of the course.