Oldham’s Young MasterChef contestant has reached the quarter-final of the competition.
Cooks were asked to rustle up their best home ‘fakeaway’ – their versions of takeaway food, with YouTube star Danny Malin, aka ‘RateMyTakeAway’ stopping in to offer critiques on the food.
Oldham’s eyes were on 22-year-old Rima Aishah Begum, whose food videos have racked up more than 8 million views on TikTok.
Rima, who learned how to cook from her mother when she was younger, is currently studying at York St John University.
As well as appearing in the new series of Young MasterChef, Rima also runs a business, having been made the owner of family-run Hustle Burger, located on Mitchell Street, in April 2023.
Spoilers for Series 2, Episode 3 of Young Masterchef are below.
Sign up to our newsletters to get the latest stories sent straight to your inbox.
With five contestants left, judges Big Has and Poppy O’Toole needed to eliminate one more contestant before next week’s semi-final.
The judges down their elimination choice to Caleb and Rima – both of whom they called “very strong cooks”.
Judge Poppy O’Toole described Rima’s chicken tikka masala as “silky, tangy, sweet” adding that it was “what you want from a chicken tikka masala”.
However, she criticised the rice as ‘really sweet’, adding that her onion and potato bhaji “didn’t quite work for me.”
Ultimately, the judges chose to send home Oldhamer Rima after a ‘very tight’ decision.
Follow The Oldham Times on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, YouTube, and Threads.
In the episode, Rima said: “I’m leaving with the biggest grin on my face, happy and content because I made it this far.
“I’ve loved being part of Young Masterchef, I’ve learned so many different things and I’ve made so many memories here in this kitchen.
“I can actually believe in myself. To hear such amazing comments from, you know, professionals, and for them to actually enjoy my food, it means everything to me.”
Episode four of the five-episode series will air on Monday, January 29.
If you have a story, I cover the whole borough of Oldham. Please get in touch at jack.fifield@newsquest.co.uk or click to send me a message on WhatsApp or on Signal on 07517566383.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here