MasterChef top 4 contestants reveal surprising facts about themselves

One of the frontrunners for the MasterChef title has made a surprising revelation as they approach Monday’s grand final.

He’s become known as this season’s sophisticated, Michelin-level home cook, but 36-year-old NSW tattoo artist Pete Campbell has made a surprising confession about his diet.

The top 4 contestant and winner of the last challenge – sending him straight through to the finale on Tuesday – opened up to news.com.au ahead of tonight’s high-pressure episode to reveal he can’t get enough of fast-food.

That’s right, the chef who’s impressed the judges with his classy dishes and fine dining restaurant skill level all season loves nothing more than to kick back with a greasy takeaway meal.

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“Fast food would usually be my first choice for any meal, I absolutely love it,” he said, adding that his go-to is usually fish and chips with extra chicken salt.

Speaking about his MasterChef journey, he said his inspiration to apply for the cooking competition came from a dinner party conversation.

“My wife suggested it while we were eating a meal that I’d made with friends, from there a throw away comment turned into everyone encouraging me to go for it. I’m so grateful for their push,” he said.

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Pete made it straight through to the final cook last week. Picture: Supplied.

As for what he’d do with the $250,000 MasterChef winnings, the Central Coast local joked: “I’d need plenty of champagne to celebrate, so that’s the first thing I’d spend the money on.”

That’s a lot of bubbles!

Here’s what else we’ve learnt about this year’s top four:

Justin Narayan

WA youth pastor Justin admitted he gathered a number of his most impressive kitchen skills on the fly throughout this season, revealing there were dishes he tried cooking for the first time under pressure in challenges.

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Justin started cooking when he was 13, and hasn’t stopped learning since. Picture: Supplied.

“Between us, I cooked a lot of things for the first time on the show like ice cream, king fish, lobster. There were a stack of things I learnt to cook on MasterChef.”

As for his takeaway of choice, he told us a simple meal of chicken and chips (with some extra trimmings) would be his ideal situation.

“Charcoal chicken and chips with extra chicken salt, bit of peri peri sauce or toum on the side, happy days,” he said.

Reflecting on his numerous experiences of the competition, he said the Society service challenge was his favourite.

“The pantry was absolutely stacked, the kitchen was insane, it was crazy stressful but I had so much fun! And, to have your dish compared to a 3 Michelin star dish … mental! Very grateful for that experience,” he added, having joined Pete in Michelin-compared home cook status.

Elise Pullbrook

Lawyer Elise told us she’s had a rather nerdy approach to food for most of her life, and was partly inspired by judge Melissa Leong to apply for a spot in the buzzy kitchen.

“Friends, family and even my boss encouraged me to apply,” the 28-year-old said.

“Everyone in my life knows how deeply passionate I am about all facets of food. Also, after season 12, the new judges were a big draw card for me, especially Mel.”

For Elise, her deep-running love of food even featured throughout her university studies. Before her MasterChef journey began, her goal was to practice food law.

Elise has been hitting the books about food for years. Picture: Supplied.

“I dedicated all major assignments throughout uni to local or global issues within our food system,” she said.

“I’m obsessed with food beyond the kitchen and my perseverance throughout law school was driven by a desire to practice food law. I’ve been working on a career in food for a long time, having written copious amounts of words on issues such as fisheries management, land banking, farming independence, the human right to food and power imbalances within the food world.”

So what’s Elise’s Friday night takeaway option of choice?

“Sourdough pizza, hot out of the box while on the drive home … I’m easy going when it comes to the variety of toppings to choose from but I’m obsessively a minimalist!”

Kishwar Chowdhury

The 38-year-old printing business owner said it was her son who insisted she apply for MasterChef, with food at the heart of her large Bangladeshi-Indian family.

Born and raised in Melbourne, Kishwar’s home is not only bursting with family, but some unusual pets.

“Apart from horses and llamas, I also have two pet camels,” she revealed this week.

When comfort food calls, her answer is simple – and very relatable: carbs.

“Ramen, noodles or pasta … any carbs drenched in a soupy broth.”

If not cooked up in her own kitchen, her first delivery call is a local Chinese takeaway restaurant.

“Takeaway Chinese always hits the spot,” she said.

For mum Kishwar, cooking is all about family. Picture: Channel 10.

With the grand finale to be held on Tuesday night, the impressive cook says she “hasn’t really thought about the prize money”, but when pressed, has a sensible answer for what she’d do with it.

“Something practical like putting it towards a restaurant, developing my book and planting my native garden.”

Tonight will see the semi-final service challenge where one more contestant will leave the competition ahead of Tuesday’s grand finale.

But before we reach the finish line, each contestant has helpfully weighed in on a vicious national debate that has been raging for years: potato cake or potato scallop?

Pete: “Potato scallop and it’s not even a fair fight, potato cake isn’t a thing.”

Justin: “It’s not a debate, potato scallop.”

Elise: “Potato cake!”

Kishwar: “Potato cake. Full stop.”

Well, Australia’s top home cooks have spoken, so I guess we’re still divided.

MasterChef Australia continues tonight from 7.30pm on Channel 10.