Viewers tuning into the popular BBC show MasterChef: The Professionals on Monday night may have recognized a familiar face from the Isle of Man’s food scene.

Pippa Lovell, who recently lived on the island and runs acclaimed restaurant Versa, threw her hat in the ring for the high-stakes competition and showcased her signature dishes in front of the series’ acclaimed celebrity judges.

But despite her unique culinary vision, Pippa, 31, exited the competition in her first appearance after competing in the opening round of week three.

But before he left, celebrity chef and MasterChef: The Professionals judge and host Marcus Wareing offered sage advice and urged him not to give up on his culinary pursuit.

Praising Pippa’s efforts on the programme, she said: ‘You have brought wonderful stories to the MasterChef kitchen, please continue this journey.’

On her performance she said: ‘I feel good, I understand my food is not for everyone and I like it!’

Pippa’s journey as a chef is rooted in her strong commitment to sustainable cuisine, a philosophy she brought to the island’s food scene with her restaurant Versa.

Established in 2019, Versa has been based in Port Erin, both as a pop-up at Foraging Vintners and later as a permanent venue on Station Road, where Pippa’s menu uniquely combines locally sourced ingredients with ingredients foraged within walking distance.

Versa quickly became known as the island’s first restaurant to focus on foraged foods, creating a direct connection between food, locality and the environment.

The pop-up’s signature dishes celebrated Manx ingredients, and he brought that ethos to his MasterChef appearance, incorporating wild and local elements into his plates.

Pippa, 31, originally from Leicester, developed Versa to promote sustainable practices and promote biodiversity through the use of unconventional ingredients such as invasive weeds.

However, in early 2024 he decided to discontinue the restaurant and moved to Sheffield, both to be closer to his father and to devote time to research and development.

He said he would return to both the island and Versa in the future.

In an interview with the BBC, Pippa talked about her background, her commitment to environmental sustainability and the challenges she’s overcome as an autistic chef.

He describes his culinary style as one that eschews rigid recipes, allowing him to prepare dishes based on local ingredients and seasonal availability.

‘I love how food can unite people,’ he shared, explaining his deep-rooted passion for sustainable, local resources and how this shapes his unique approach.

‘Using natural or wild produce instead of more traditional ingredients allows me to showcase a smaller footprint option in each plate.

‘There are no pineapples growing in Sheffield, but there is plenty of pineapple grass!’

Pippa’s passion for food emerged later.

Although he initially studied art at the University of Manchester, his passion for cooking grew as he read cookbooks and began working in various kitchens after graduating.

He honed his skills in a number of renowned cuisines and plied his trade at a variety of Michelin-starred restaurants, including the world-famous Noma and L’Enclume in Denmark.

Although her time on MasterChef was short, Pippa said she joined to challenge herself and share her unique perspective on food.

‘Eating was a nightmare for me growing up as I faced sensory issues as an autistic child,’ she said.

‘I think I bring something different to the table and hope to inspire people to think beyond the food on the plate.’

Although he won’t be able to advance on this season of MasterChef, you can watch his performance on Monday night here: BBC iPlayer.