A Killearn home cook who appeared on hit TV series Masterchef has launched her own venture ahead of welcoming a new addition to the family.
Lisa Addison appeared on the cookery contest last year, testing her skills and putting her dishes before judges John Torode and Gregg Wallace.
Unfortunately her journey on the programme did not take her to the crown. However, she has used the experience to chase a career in cooking and has this week revealed that she has decided to leave her very first professional chef job, as head chef at the Fintry Inn, to branch out on her own ahead of the arrival of her baby.
Previously married to ex-husband, John Wilson for 14 years, Lisa has three children, Kieran, Morgan and Johnny. At the age of 34 she made the brave decision to come out as gay.
She has now been married to her wife, Rachel Addison, for more than three years and has also adopted Rachel’s daughter, Sian.
Now the couple are awaiting the arrival of the latest addition to the family.
Rachel is now pregnant with the couple’s baby – expected to make an appearance this June.
Lisa took on the head chef role at the Fintry Inn last June.
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However, she has now launched Lisa@Home – her own dine-at-home experience where diners can sample Lisa’s food from the comfort of their own home as well as make use of cleaning services on offer.
Explaining her decision, Lisa told the Observer: “The reason for the change and stepping away from a successful career is my wife Rachel and I will be welcoming our baby boy/girl in June.
“We are a blended family as everyone knows and we are so excited to become parents together for the first time. Our family are so very excited about the new addition and if I want to be more present then being a chef is absolutely not going to allow me to do that. That’s why Lisa@home is so exciting, it will be with the understanding that it will be family first.”
She added: “When I appeared on Masterchef last year I had no idea where it would take me. I’ve been so incredibly lucky to get a career off the back of the show and in just three months of it airing.
“I’ve run the kitchen on my own without a sous chef or commis and that makes me so incredibly proud, I’ve had to learn so much, and I’m doing a role that takes some chefs years to get to this stage. I’ve managed it in just a few months.”
She added: “I’ve decided to leave my role as head chef at Fintry and start up on my own with my original brainchild Lisa@home. I tried to run before I could walk and that concept was put on the back burner.
“I now have the experience of a busy kitchen and I’ve decided to combine cooking with cleaning. I’ll be offering regular and irregular cleaning slots for busy households etc with cooking available too.
“Whether it be a couple of meals cooked by me and in the fridge ready to heat up after a stressful day, or a dinner party for 2 or 22. I’ll offer Christmas dinner, and also food demos for kids and adults to learn how to cook from the comfort of their own home.
“The people of Stirling and beyond have been so incredibly supportive the last 12 months. They are the kindest people and I wouldn’t be where I am today without so many people’s support. I’ll forever be grateful to every single person.”
