MasterChef event at The Hatter and the Hare sells out in 57 minutes

When two reality TV contestants turned their idea for a five-course Asian-inspired feast into reality, they thought their event at a Bayswater cafe would be popular. But not so popular that it would sell out in less than an hour.

Fresh from their appearances on MasterChef Australia, two popular contestants are heading to Bayswater to cook up a five-course feast for hungry punters.

But if you were hoping to get tickets — you’re already out of luck.

The event is the brainchild of Monica Mignone, from Croydon South, and Derek Lau, who is flying in from Western Australia for the extravaganza to be held over two nights next month.

The pair approached Bayswater’s The Hatter and the Hare eatery with an idea to create an Asian-inspired degustation, complete with wine pairings, including dishes they created on the cooking show.

Among the courses will be Lau’s Mystery Box-winning dish of pork and prawn wantons with chilli oil and Szechuan sauce for entree, and Mignone’s coconut panna cotta with mango gel, lime curd and salted macadamia crumb for dessert.

They will be busy in the kitchen but will also mingle with guests on the nights.

And they’re promising appearances from other MasterChef contestants from this year’s and past seasons.

Monica Mignone, from Croydon South, with her panna cotta. Picture: Mark Dadswell

MasterChef 2019 contestant Derek Lau is flying in from Western Australia for the event.

Mignone said it would be a great chance for people to get to know them.

“People think we’re celebrities but we’re (contestants) all just home cooks that want to have a chat,” she said.

But the event, on August 2 and 3, has proved so popular that tickets sold out within an hour of going on sale last Thursday (July 11).

Mignone said she knew it would be popular, “but not ‘sell out in 57 minutes’ popular”.

“We are absolutely over the moon,” she said.

Meanwhile, Mignone said her time in the MasterChef kitchen was “probably the best experience of my life” even though it was at times high-pressure and stressful.

But she said it was made easier with the help of the other contestants, who she said were now like family.

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If you missed out on tickets to the MasterChef event and still want a taste of The Hatter and the Hare, the popular Alice in Wonderland-inspired cafe has plenty of winter specials, including the Love Potion, a hot chocolate with a difference featuring chocolate spheres, salted caramel crisps and a white chocolate spoon, and a warm sticky date pudding with butterscotch sauce, cream and ice cream.

For details, phone [phone] or go to hhcafe.com.au

The Love Potion hot chocolate, before the magic. Picture: Mark Dadswell

And after. Picture: Mark Dadswell