Masterchef winner Shelina Permallo has lifted the lid on her favourite local restaurants and food shops and revealed that she buys where she buys all the ingredients for her award-winning dishes.

Speaking just days after being crowned the nation's best amateur chef, the Tooting resident backed our brand new Food section, saying it would give south London restaurants a "boost".

"This new website will help boost food and local restaurants in South London," she said.

And she has even prepared an exclusive recipe, just for readers of www.yourlocalguardian.co.uk/food, which you can find by clicking here.

The 29-year-old former charity worker told Food that she buys ingredients for her award-winning recipes in VB & Sons in Mitcham Road, Tooting, just around the corner from where she lives.

She is also a big fan of Tooting Market, in Upper Tooting Road, where she snaps up mangoes and a range of the international cuisine on offer.

Locals might also spot the foodie sampling dishes in her favourite restaurants in the borough.

Ms Permallo said her favourite place to eat in Tooting is Lahore Kahari, in Tooting High Street, a Pakistani restaurant famed for its seekh kebabs.

She also often visits French restaurant The Gazette, in Balham High Road when she wants to sample something European.

Rizwam Ali, manager of Lahore Kahari, said it was an honour to get a mention from the celebrity.

He said: "It is an honour, it means the world and notices the hard work we are doing here.

"It is very nice of her to say she enjoys our food."

The local chef loves the pubs in Wandsworth and likes to go for a drink when she can tear herself away from the kitchen.

Masterchef fans might spot her offering to pull a pint for husband Andre in The Clarence, Balham High Road, where he works as a general manager, or enjoying a drink in The Hope, in Bellevue Road.

She will be making her first live appearance since winning at the BBC Good Food Show in Glow, Bluewater, Kent from April 12-15, visit BBCGoodFoodShow.com to book.

To find out more about the chef visit www.shelinapermallo.com

Your Local Guardian: Food launch story with MasterChef winner

Click here to find out more and to check out the EXCLUSIVE recipe she created just for Food readers