Kiwi MasterChef judge Monica Galetti says female chefs forced to choose between career and family

Monica Galetti says it hurt like hell when she had to leave her partner in New Zealand. Photo / BBC

The Kiwi judge of MasterChef: The Professionals in the UK says female chefs are not making it to the top because they choose family over career.

In Britain there are three restaurants that hold the maximum of three Michelin stars, and none are run by women.

When asked why, Monica Galetti - chef, presenter and MasterChef judge - told the Radio Times: "The problem is that at a certain point, women have to decide how much they want their career versus having a family and spending time with family.

Speaking ahead of the new series of MasterChef: The Professionals, which will air on BBC on Wednesday (NZ time), Ms Galetti said when it came to forging a career as a top chef, women have to "put it first to do well".

"That's it. There's no BS about it - the truth is you've got to put it first to do well."

Ms Galetti, who left her job at top London restaurant Le Gavroche earlier this year, said it "hurt like hell" when she had to leave her partner in New Zealand while she sought work in Britain.

She put her career in the back seat for seven years because she wanted to be a hands-on-mother for my daughter.

Few female chefs are making it to the top of their profession because they were not prepared to put their career above having a family, she said.

"I've seen many amazing chefs, girls, come into the kitchen and then give it up to be with their boyfriend. Would he do that for her?"

Ms Galetti, who quit her job at Michel Roux's Le Gavroche, revealed that she was planning on opening her own restaurant next year.

"I'm working on a book, I'm consulting for massive companies, I teach at cooking school, and I'm trying to get as much precious time in with my little girl before I go back to 16 hour days."