AN East Cornwall farmer was named BBC Masterchef champion for the South West and Wales on television last week.
Roger Finnamore, who runs a sheep farm at Stoke Climsland, took the trophy with a roasted leg of Cornish lamb.
For starters, he poached a fillet of salmon served on a bed of fresh salad with a lemon and dill sauce, followed by the lamb, which came from Roger's farm. This was served on a bed of potato and apple cake with port sauce, roast peppers, sweet and sour leaks and asparagus tips. Dessert comprised lemon tart with a tangerine sauce.
Roger has been cooking for many years. He said he was essentially self-taught and has only been taking it seriously for the last seven or eight years.
During that time he has benefited from the help of one of the area's top chefs Peter Gorton.
'I spent a day with him a couple of years ago. I was keen before, but that only served to encourage me further,' he said.
Although farming takes up a lot of his time, Roger would like to cook more.
'I'd like to have the opportunity to do more cooking and who knows what might come along in the future,' he said.
The competition has already been completed, but Roger is sworn to secrecy about the result. The national semi-finals will be screened on May 14, and the final in June.