Smithton butcher owner Josh Perry to be a contestant on the newest season of MasterChef

MasterChef contestant Josh Perry says before entering the show making sweets was “his biggest fear”. Now the Smithton butcher believes he conquered his fear.

Smithton butcher owner Josh Perry is appearing on the newest season of MasterChef. Picture: Supplied.

A Tasmanian butcher, known to his mates as “Pezza,” will appear on TV screens around Australia in the new season of MasterChef.

Josh Perry rose above thousands of applicants to appear on the show, which is now in its 16th season.

The Smithton local, who owns Perry’s Quality Meats with his wife Jan, said appearing on MasterChef was something he had always wanted to do.

Smithton butcher owner Josh Perry is appearing on the newest season of MasterChef. Picture: Tin Smigielski.

“Being a small-business owner and having the availability to get out of the shop, it’s hard,” Mr Perry said.

“You don’t know how far you are going to be away for; you could be gone filming for a short time or a long time, and you’ve just got to be ready for it.

“I’m not getting any younger; I’m 43 now, so I had a crack.”

Mr Perry said his family was his most significant support.

“I’m really thankful for them to give me the opportunity so I could go and do what I always wanted to do.

“The business just kept travelling like always, credit to them.

“They didn’t miss me, which was even better, so now that I’m back, I know I’m not needed as much now.”

Mr Perry described his experience filming MasterChef as “unbelievable”.

“As you’ll see on the show, I was really green,” he said.

“I know what I want things to taste like, but didn’t know how to get things to that sort of point. I just grow and grow, and that’s what it’s all about.

Josh Perry with his award-winning bacon at Smithton in 2018. Picture: Chris Kidd

“You’ve got to just take everything in; you’ve got to be like a sponge on this show and take everything in.

“The criticism from the judges, it’s not them being hard or anything like that; they’re just trying to make you learn and make you a bit better.

“You’ve got to take that on.”

As an owner of a butcher, most of Mr Perry’s previous culinary experience was based around meat.

“I’ve learned how to cook sweets. Sweets were my biggest fear going in; it’s never been my forte,” he said.

“I love cooking protein like lamb, beef, chicken, pork, seafood and those sorts of things. But now I enjoy cooking cakes.

“I enjoy doing mousses and crème brulees and different things I would have never thought. It’s definitely opened my eyes to what’s out there and what you can achieve.”

The new season of MasterChef premieres on Monday, April 22 on Channel 10.

Originally published as Smithton butcher owner Josh Perry to be a contestant on the newest season of MasterChef