‘I was really nervous’: Top Qld chef takes on MasterChef contestants

Stanley executive chef Louis Tikaram reveals what really went on when he guest starred on TV’s biggest cooking show.

The maroon flag will be flying high on MasterChef this week with two Queensland chefs guest starring on the reality TV cooking show.

In a series of challenges that has the contestants taking on professional chefs, Nick Holloway from Nu Nu in Palm Cove in North Queensland will take to the kitchen in Tuesday night’s episode, followed by executive chef Louis Tikaram of Brisbane’s Stanley restaurant on Wednesday night.

Mr Tikaram said he “literally jumped for joy” on being asked to guest star on the show and was excited to represent the Sunshine State.

“I felt really proud. It was a real sense of achievement for me to be able to represent Brisbane on a prime time national scale,” he said.

Louis Tikaram, executive chef of Brisbane restaurant Stanley, appears on MasterChef.

In the episode, Mr Tikaram and his fellow Stanley chefs Benson Skelton and Mark David Tumacder must complete a relay challenge where each team has 75 minutes total to complete a dish, with each chef cooking for 25 minutes before stepping aside for their teammate to take over. The catch? There is no handover and no communication allowed between the chefs, so they must guess what the dish is that is being cooked and complete it to exacting standards.

“I was like this is reality TV, it’s really just phoney, we will be able to talk to each other, but this was serious and really strict and that’s when the nerves started pounding,” Mr Tikaram said, revealing producers separated his team into different rooms and even covered his eyes so he couldn’t visually communicate with his team members before the challenge.

“I don’t get nervous too much but I was really nervous that day. Everyone watches [the show] to come to your restaurant so it’s a big deal for sure. It made us cook even harder and even better.”

And speaking of the Stanley at Howard Smith Wharves, Mr Tikaram said there are big changes in store for the contemporary Cantonese eatery, with the introduction of a cool bar area planned for outside with DJs, a bar, snacks and drinks similar to what he created at his highly coveted Los Angeles restaurant E.P & L.P.

“I’d really love to activate that side deck as its own identity and try to create a bar menu and a fun drinks list and possibly even live music and DJs,” he said.

“I really enjoy that style of restaurant where it’s a bit cool and a bit more happening.”

MasterChef airs at 7.30pm on Channel 10.