Claudia Villafane with Teleshow, after the consecration of Masterchef Celebrity: “I could show myself as I am”

“The cook who wins the first Masterchef Celebrity from Argentina is … the Tata!”. After 11:30 p.m. on Monday, January 18, 2021, Germán Martitegui announced that Claudia Villafañe She was crowned champion of the gastronomic reality show that became the most watched program on Argentine television during 2020.

The jury called the businesswoman by her nickname, the one her grandson gave her Benjamín -son of Gianinna and Kun Agüero- 12 years ago and today he repeats Roma -22 months old, the result of the relationship between Dalma and Andrés Caldarelli- and a name that earned the affection of the people thanks to the person who represents him.

The businesswoman is characterized by her low media profile, that is why her incorporation to the contest surprised more than one. In the middle he had to face the death of the father of his daughters, Diego Maradona, and even thought about quitting the program. However, it was Dalma and Gianinna themselves who asked her not to do it, to continue participating and to reach the final. And once again, their mother complied.

The latest program Masterchef Celebrity was recorded on December 23rd. And from that day that the businesswoman longed for January 18 to come to see the result on the air. He fought for the award with Analía Franchín, whom he has known for many years and with whom he has a special relationship. The final had all the seasonings.

That day there was no celebration because there was no winner. In such a way that Claudia celebrated the Holidays with her family, as she had planned. And yesterday he did begin to feel nervous and anxious: he wanted to know the result. She was sure her dishes had made up the jury, but her partner had also excelled. He received Dalma and Gianinna in the garden of his house, they watched the program together, they hugged and cried with emotion. And her daughters celebrated the happy news by throwing their mother into the pool. The high temperatures at night allowed it.

Claudia Villafañe talked with Teleshow this Tuesday morning, with few hours of sleep, still exulting at the consecration and with the award in the kitchen of his house, the one in which five months ago he sat to analyze the proposal he received to be part of the reality show.

Claudia Villafañe holding her award 

“Why do you think you won? Masterchef Celebrity?

“Because I struggled from day one.” Improving gala to gala and always listening to the advice of the chefs (ndr: the jury is made up of Germán Martitegui, Damián Betular and Donato De Santis). Also, in the final I decided to bone a rabbit and I think that made a difference.

“Who do you dedicate the triumph to?”

“First of all, my grandchildren.” To my daughters, my mother and the rest of my family who accompanied me throughout the contest. He also supported my friends and all the people from home from beginning to end.

– At what stage of the program did you feel you could win?

—I don’t know when it was, but what I do know is that I felt that every time I advanced in the competition I had that adrenaline rush of wanting to win.

—How did you live the hours before the grand finale?

—The day of the final I lived it intensely because I knew it was the last time for everything: to see my teammates, the people on the floor, take my dishes to the jury and listen to their returns, prepare my last three-step menu that I would take , or not, to be the winner. I wanted to enjoy the minute by minute of all that.

“What was the first thing you thought when you heard that you were the winner?”

—When I heard Germán say “The winner is La Tata” thousands of images of the contest went through my head. I had my daughters on top of me and from then on I don’t remember anything else.

Dalma and Gianinna watched the final of Masterchef Celebrity with Claudia Villafañe (Instagram) 

—Do you think people met another Claudia from your participation in the program?

“I feel like people met the real Claudia because I was able to show myself as I am.”

– What balance do you make of 2020?

– 2020 was a difficult year for the world. It made us see, think about what is important and it served us all as learning.

—How does it feel to have been one of the favorites and that the people who didn’t know you until you entered Masterchef Celebrity do you get your love and admiration?

“They make me very happy with every word, for taking a minute of your time to write to me.” And I apologize if I was unable to respond to all the messages that come to me.

– Did you see yourself as a winner from the first program?

—Noooo! After the bruschetta of the first broadcast I wondered what he was doing there!

“Did you cook a dish you made in the kitchen again?” Masterchef Celebrity?

-If some. My son-in-law made me a list in order of priorities. For New Years I made the entrance and the dessert that I had cooked in the final (which had not yet been seen on the air). And at my daughter Gianinna’s house I cooked the salmon that Dolli Irigoyen taught me (ndr: he was replacing Martitegui when he tested positive for coronavirus) with the fennel puree.

La Tata, celebrating the triumph 

—How is your life going now? Besides the scholarship you won in cooking school, what are you going to do with the money?

“My life goes on the same, with a trophy in my kitchen.” I am eager to use my scholarship and, as I said on other occasions, with the money I will help foundations with which I have always collaborated.

“Are you going with friends from the program?”

—I already maintain ties with many of my companions, which I will continue to nurture. I have several invitations to my house. I started by The Bichis (ed: Sofia Pachano and Leticia Siciliani), and I would like Boy Olmi to cook me one of his dishes.

“Would you ever work on a television show again?”

“I can’t imagine myself in a place in the media.” Unless it’s some cooking (laughs).