Sabina Newton plans life after MasterChef pressure cooker

Tassie’s seafood sensation Sabina Newton exceeded her own expectations cracking the final six before one small dessert decision saw her go home on Monday night’s episode of MasterChef Australia.

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TASSIE’S seafood sensation Sabina Newton exceeded her own expectations cracking the final six before one small dessert decision saw her go home on Monday night’s episode of MasterChef Australia.

The 22-year-old wowed the judges with her leadership skills, roast chicken challenge win and seafood stew, but her dreams of making it to the end came unstuck when she was asked to make a dessert using macadamia nuts.

“I did a macadamia milk ice cream with merengue and little bits of native citrus so it was really simple, but the judges didn’t like the fact I didn’t toast the macadamias,” she said.

Newton was eliminated within a week of the final episode.

‘When you get so close it’s so annoying to not make it to the end, but it was so exhausting so it was nice to be able to go home and see the family,” she said.

Catching up with Hobart MasterChef contestant Sabina Newton in her home kitchen for a tell-all about her time on the show. Picture Eddie Safarik

After six months of arduous filming days, Newton has returned to fighting for kitchen space and living at home in Sandy Bay with her parents, younger sister and sausage dog.

Newton said she was scared to re-watch the dreaded elimination episode, but had “made peace with not toasting the macadamias”.

“I’ve started playing footy which is really fun,” she said.

“I want to do catering and little projects.

“I was down working with Simon Toohey from last season at the winter feast at the Heavy Metal Kitchen – it was so fun to use smokers.”

Newton said she missed fellow contestants like Scotty Bagnell, Elise Pulbrook, Kishwar Chowdhury and Pete Campbell and was sad to once again be responsible for clearing away her own kitchen mess without helpful TV assistants.

Catching up with Hobart MasterChef contestant Sabina Newton in her home kitchen for a tell-all about her time on the show. Picture Eddie Safarik

“I really liked everyone on the show,” she said.

“They all really looked after me, they were like uncles and mums and dads to me. They would always check in, they were so lovely.

“I normally wouldn’t interact with someone who’s 40 from Brisbane so it’s nice to get together and nerd out over food.”

MasterChef has opened career doors for Newton, who has been invited by guest chef Alla Wolf Tasker to work with her for a month, “Covid pending”.

“The judges are awesome at keeping in contact after the show, putting you towards other contacts,” she said.

“I’ve done a commerce degree so I really want to blend the two together. I love the whole business side of food but I’m still not sure if I’d want to be a chef – we’ll see.”

The 22-year-old said she would certainly return to the reality cooking competition if she was ever invited back for an all-stars season.

Catching up with Hobart MasterChef contestant Sabina Newton in her home kitchen for a tell-all about her time on the show. Picture Eddie Safarik

“It would be so fun,” she said.

Newton left gaining a deeper appreciation for what might be the key ingredient to making a good dish.

“I originally thought it’s just about who’s going to cook the best on the day but I do think it’s about your mindset,” she said.

“If you can keep calm, not over-think things and make really tasty food then most of the time you go well.

“It’s often people who over-think things or they’d have a bad week and they were missing their family who would get sent home.”

The remaining five contestants will battle it out in the final episodes of MasterChef Australia airing 7.30pm Sunday to Thursday on 10, or on demand on 10 play.