At home with … MasterChef’s Laura Sharrad
She was the runner-up on this year’s MasterChef after being narrowly beaten by her friend Emelia. Now Laura Sharrad shows us inside her Adelaide home and shares her plans for the future.
She was the hard-to-beat runner-up on this year’s MasterChef show and only narrowly beaten by her friend Emelia.
And while the rest of us are just coming to terms with the fact our MasterChef fix is now over for the season, Laura Sharrad is back in her Adelaide hometown and expanding her Nido restaurant empire with husband Max, and business partner Simon Kardachi.
They plan to open a second restaurant at the former Rigoni’s site in Leigh Street in the city next year. Not bad for a 25-year-old.
Did we mention she’s also the author of a cookbook, My Italian Kitchen?
While Italian food is a big part of Laura’s heritage and business, she says going on MasterChef, not once but twice, has helped her become a better chef.
“I think it really helps with creativity and makes you look at ingredients in so many different ways,” she says.
At home, her favourite space, naturally, is the kitchen and there’s an industrial, Scandinavian vibe with exposed brick, Smeg appliances and a black subway tiled splashback.
“I love my kitchen. I love my Smeg freestanding cooker, I truly couldn’t live without it,” she says.
“In my garden I have lots of native Australian plants.”
And when it’s time for a night out, Laura’s local favourites include Soi 38, The Aristologist, Maybe Mae, 2KW’s rooftop bar, Lot 100 and Parwana.
Post MasterChef there’s lots of plans on the table: “Opening another restaurant is up there, writing another cookbook, travelling with food, filming recipes,” she says.
Further down the track she hopes to “have a few successful restaurants, have a family and live on a large property by the sea.”
AGE 25
WORKLIFE
Chef/restaurateur.
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS/BEST KNOWN FOR …
MasterChef Australia contestant in 2014/2020 (runner-up), opening Nido, releasing a cookbook.
I’VE LIVED IN MY HOME FOR …
Three years. I live with my husband Max.
MY HOME IS …
A place where I can relax and be me.
I LOVE MY HOME BECAUSE …
Its comfortable, stylish and our own.
MY DECORATING STYLE IS …
Industrial, Scandinavian, neutral tones with pops of colour.
RECENT PURCHASE
Smeg appliances.
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I COLLECT …
Cookbooks.
FAVOURITE ROOM
My kitchen! I love my Smeg freestanding cooker, I truly couldn’t live without it.
HOME FAVOURITES
● My Smeg oven.
● Outdoor entertaining area.
● Our artwork.
IN MY GARDEN I HAVE …
Lots of native Australian plants.
WHEN I GET HOME AT NIGHT …
I wash my face straight away and change into comfy clothes.
AT WEEKENDS I LIKE TO …
Sleep in, have a coffee in bed and catch up with friends.
MY FIRST CAR WAS …
A Holden Barina.
I LIKE TO LISTEN TO …
Hip hop.
AT THE MOMENT I AM READING …
Nothing, I need a new book.
FAVOURITE BOOK
My sister’s keeper.
CLEAN FREAK OR MESSY BESSIE? …
Bit of both, neat freak in the kitchen, messy with my clothes.
ON MY WISHLIST IS …
Snorkelling on the Great Barrier Reef.
WHEN I’M HOME I LIKE TO COOK …
Comfort food; roasts, homemade pasta and baking lots of cakes.
FAV CAFE/RESTAURANT/BAR
Soi 38, The Aristologist, Maybe Mae, 2KW rooftop bar, Lot 100, Parwana.
FAVOURITE DRINK?
Sucker for an Aperol spritz, but currently obsessed with pina coladas.
FAVOURITE FOOD/DISH TO EAT
Lasagne.
HOW HAS GOING ON MASTERCHEF CHANGED THINGS FOR YOU IN TERMS OF HOW YOU COOK?
I think it really helps with creativity and makes you look at ingredients in so many different ways.
WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS NOW POST MASTERCHEF?
Lots … opening another restaurant is up there, writing another cookbook, travelling with food, filming recipes …
WHEN I WAS A CHILD I WANTED TO BE …
A paramedic and teacher.
FAVOURITE SA HOLIDAY SPOT/OR ACTIVITY
Middleton, we have a family beach house down there and especially in winter, its super relaxing.
DREAM HOLIDAY DESTINATION
Maldives.
FAVOURITE SPORTS TEAM
Hawthorn Football Club.
SOMETHING YOU WANT TO ACHIEVE IN THE NEXT 10 YEARS?
Have a few successful restaurants, have a family and live on a large properly by the sea.
MY NEIGHBOURS ARE …
The most perfect neighbours you could ask for, a nonna on one side, and a beautiful family with young kids on the other.
I COULDN’T LIVE WITHOUT …
My phone, champagne and a good cheese plate.
IF I COULD AFFORD IT I WOULD LIVE …
It would have to be on a private island, off the coast of Sicily or Sardinia.
MY GOAL FOR 2020 IS TO …
To be successful and to enjoy what’s left of this crazy year.
HOME MEANS …
Where the heart is.
Originally published as At home with … MasterChef’s Laura Sharrad