Zoe Anna Torres lives and works in Gibraltar, where she enjoys cooking and made it to the final of the Gibraltarn version of Masterchef. This has inspiered her to create her first cookery book, The Rock's Kitchen, which combines mouthwatering recipies with stunning photographs and includes information on the history, culture and customs of Gibraltar.

1. What inspired you to write The Rock’s Kitchen?

I have always had an ambition to become a cookbook author because of my passion for all things culinary.  Thanks to the successful experience in Rockchef (Gibraltar’s version of Masterchef) I proved to myself my high level culinary skills and I decided I would take the final leap and start writing.

2.  What is your favourite recipe from the book?

My favourite recipes fall into two categories.  Those that my family, friends and I would enjoy eating the most and those that I love because they bring memories of good times or days gone by.  If I had to single one out, it would probably be my Chocolate Cake recipe because I have cradled and nurtured this recipe for many years until its perfection.

3. Do you think you will write another recipe book in the future? What would you like to include that you didn’t in The Rock’s Kitchen?

Definitely! I have already begun research and recipe testing for my next cookbook which I hope to finish writing next summer. It will be called ‘The Rock’s Kitchen Bakes!’ and it will be full of scrumptious recipes for both sweet and savoury baked goods such as cakes, pastries, pies both sweet and savoury, baked pasta & rice dishes, roasts & casseroles, quiches, frittatas and empanadas, to name but a few.   Although the recipes will be inspired by my Mediterranean background and traditions it will have my own little twist fusing various cuisines together and offering something new and exciting.  The book will also have many stories, anecdotes and historical accounts relating to the recipes and my own personal experiences which are just as important as the recipes

4. What is your favourite restaurant to go to for a meal out?

I do not have a favourite restaurant, nor does my family.  And although many an enjoyable meal has been had at nearby establishments, no meal whether big or small, simple or luxurious tastes as good as at ‘Casa Torres’.

5. What is your ultimate comfort food?

It always depend on the season, light, refreshing and tropical salads in the summer, and hot, warm and cosy soups in the winter.But my favourite comfort food would have to be my Triple Chocolate Mousse Cake served with Marsala Chantilly cream. It’s divine any time of the year!It is very rich and indulgent so I usually only make it on special occasions!

6. Which celebrity chef would you like to collaborate with, and why?

It would be very difficult to choose as I find inspiration with many chefs and each one appeals to me in a different way.However, Jamie Oliver and Alton Brown would have to be at the top of my list.Jamie Oliver because I very much admire his freedom of style, his sense of family and his willingness to make the world a better place through food.Alton Brown is an American chef whom I consider my mentor and his books my culinary bible.He relies heavily on science for his simple but perfect recipes, and has been one of the founding stones of my own culinary knowledge.

7. If you were hosting a dinner party for a group of strangers – Come Dine With Me style – what would you serve (starter, main course and desert)?

When I host a dinner party (which happens a lot) I usually first choose a theme or a style of food.I go to the market and shops and see what’s freshest and available before choosing. One of my favourite styles of cooking is tropical and I always give it a Mediterranean flair so I would serve

• Coconut king prawns with garlic, ginger & balsamic glaze served in a filo basket with lime ali-oli;

• Cajun spiced beef tenderloin grilled to perfection and served with rosemary sweet potatoes, lemon asparagus and Spanish Rioja reduction;

• White chocolate and fresh strawberry mascarpone-mousse charlotte;

8. And who would be your guest(s) of honour at a fantasy dinner party?

My family and friends, oh and Jamie Oliver!

9. What has been your biggest cooking disaster? And your biggest cooking success?

My biggest cooking disaster may have to be when I started out making special occasion cakes for friends and family and got caught making a giant cupcake cake in 40 degree humid August weather for a christening.I had just finished when my cake decided to totally melt and crumble into a chocolate soup and I had to start totally from scratch at two in the morning! On the other hand, I have learnt from my mistakes and had many successes, two of which come to mind. My brothers’ wedding where I orchestrated, organised and prepared a Tuscan-inspired sumptuous dinner for over 70 guests as well as a trio of Italian desserts, Italian petit fours and the wedding cake and, the Rockchef semi-final where out of the three finalists I got given the main course which I successfully prepared in 6 hours for over 100 guests and got voted by the public and guests through to the final.