Tassie talents back to win in MasterChef series return

When MasterChef Australia returns to TV on Monday night, a Tasmanian contestant predicts a spike in viewers keen to hone their culinary skills.

MasterChef Australia: Back to Win will grace TV screens across the country on Monday night, with a local contestant predicting more families learning to cook at home will tune in.

After Cygnet chef Sarah Clare finished tenth in the show’s tenth season, she maintained she would “a hundred per cent” do the show again.

She said being back in the kitchen with the 24 all-star competitors – this time alongside fellow Tasmanian Ben Milbourne – was “amazing” and “bizarre”.

Tasmanian MasterChef contestant Ben Milbourne

“You’re immersed in this experience where in your first season there’s no contact with the outside world so you bond really quickly, and it hasn’t been an exception this year,” she said. She said she now felt less bewildered and more confident as a competitor and as a chef.

“First time around you really doubt yourself because you’ve never cooked professionally, you cook for friends and family,” she said.

“When you get bad feedback on a dish it devastates you.

“But when you know you have the skills to back it up, you don’t beat yourself up.”

Cygnet chef Sarah Clare.

She said this season brought several new changes, including the introduction of three new “hilarious, fun and energetic” judges Andy Allen, Jock Zonfrillo and Melissa Leong and the newly instated social distancing measures.

“When someone does well you can’t high-five them, you can’t hug them, benches are all spaced further apart and we’re all wearing gloves,” she said.

“I think that MasterChef is going to be watched a lot more closely because it’s a necessity now learning to cook from home.”

MasterChef contestant Sarah Clare at home in Cygnet. Picture: NIKKI DAVIS-JONES

The Ilha restaurant owner said her business in Cygnet along with many others was struggling during the coronavirus period, but said she was hopeful the industry could be supported through to the other side.

Ms Clare said meeting big names like Katy Perry and “heroes” like Gordon Ramsay inspired her to improve and master new techniques.

MasterChef Australia: Back to Win premieres on WIN/Channel 10 on Monday at 7.30pm.