Latest news with #MasterChefAustralia
Refinery29
16 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Refinery29
Even MasterChef Australia Winner Nat Thaipun Struggles With Imposter Syndrome
MasterChef Australia's Nat Thaipun has had a whirlwind year since taking home the grand prize during the 2024 finale. She's worked alongside Jamie Oliver in London, has her first cookbook Anywhere and Everywhere coming out this year, completed 22 pop-ups, and has a new docu-series called For Now launching in August. Yet, when Refinery29 Australia speaks to her, she admits she still struggles with " imposter syndrome" — a feeling that's far too common in women. The young cook is returning to the MasterChef Australia kitchen later this month alongside former winner Julie Goodwin, and will be judging food cooked by the remaining contestants — all who are professional chefs. Even though she's had such an incredible career so far, Nat couldn't help but have "the jitters" and nervous energy running through her veins. "It was terrifying trying to set a challenge for these chefs, because obviously, it's Back To Win, and there were a lot of amazing contestants. It's just a lot of pressure for me," she admits. "I always have imposter syndrome, so yes, I definitely had imposter syndrome [in that moment]." The concept of "imposter syndrome" was first introduced in 1978 by researchers Pauline Rose Clance and Suzanne Ament Imes. After studying 150 women at the top of their field — who also had PhDs — they discovered the subjects continually believed they were lucky to have success and felt they were considered more intelligent and capable than in reality. For Nat, her link to imposter syndrome harks back to her childhood, when her mother dismissed her dreams of becoming a professional chef. "The imposter syndrome part just comes from something that is very personal to me as well.... because in Thai culture, being in the kitchen is quite normal," she explains. "When I told my mum I wanted to be a chef like her when I was really young, she was like, 'You wouldn't, you can't be a chef because you're Thai. Like [all] Thai people know how to cook'." It's a hard feeling to overcome, especially when society is built around building up and supporting men, so how did the chef realise she finally deserves a seat at the table? "No matter what, I feel like you'll always feel imposter syndrome.... I think it's got to be one of those things where, for me, even in the last year, it was like over time. The more [ MasterChef Australia ] episodes I had won through my dishes, [the more I] had to really hype myself up," she says. "Celebrating the little wins that you have in life is just so, so important. Not even just in life, just in your job, in your day-to-day, and in the cook." ' I feel like you'll always feel imposter syndrome... celebrating the little wins that you have in life is just so, so important. ' Nat believes we are far too hard on ourselves, and with the world being so "difficult and tough", we simply need to give ourselves a break. "It's really important to make sure that you understand you've come a long way. You've learned a lot, give yourself a pat on the back." Being Thai-Australian, Nat's journey has come with struggles being in the hospitality industry. At times, she wondered if she was hired because of her skills, or if she needed to fill a diversity quota. "I'm such an overachiever as well, but sometimes I have this thing where I feel like I'm only achieving things because I'm like, a diversity card. That sounds horrible, but sometimes I'm like, 'Oh, I feel like I'm an easy pick because I'm a woman with tatts, and then I just happen to be of colour as well'. I tick all the boxes, and you know, that's probably why people choose me for things," she admits. "But at the same time, I have to remind myself that I'm good at what I do, and I truly do believe that now. I'm starting to believe it more and more every day." ' I have to remind myself that I'm good at what I do, and I truly do believe that now. I'm starting to believe it more and more every day. ' The cookbook author notes she's become an inspiration for younger women who are "terrified" of entering a career in hospitality, which is a "beautiful" thing. "If I stay in the context of the kitchen and hospitality, I represent something that is so much more, and it's inspiring for women, especially younger women as well," she says excitedly.
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
MasterChef Australia viewers up in arms over contestant Laura Sharrad's 'disgusting and unhygienic' act
MasterChef Australia fans are up in arms after two stars from the cooking show appeared to break a kitchen taboo during Tuesday's episode. The moment came as contestants were preparing their courses for the service immunity challenge at Melbourne 's Vue De Monde. As contestant Laura Sharrad flamed a handful of delicious looking wagu steaks, the 29-year-old from Adelaide was seen to blow on the food - a gesture that sent viewers firing off alarmed comments online. 'What's with Laura blowing all over the steak?' moaned one fan, while another added, 'Laura stop blowing on food.' And to add more drama to the issue, Executive Chef Hugh Allen was seen doing exactly the same thing - cooling down a dish by blowing on the food. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. 'Totally fine if you're only cooking for yourself, but not if you're going to serve the food to others,' someone else said. 'I really don't want someone else's saliva in the food I'm going to eat. That's disgusting and unhygienic.' Another viewer agreed with the critical comments on the thread before adding, 'no one told Laura not to, then along comes Hugh and does the same.' 'All that saliva Laura is blowing over those Wagyu cubes,' said another MasterChef enthusiast. Most viewers complaining about the 'food blowing' saw it as a hygiene risk. 'I'm not eating anything that the chef has continually blown over. That's a no-no, and I'm surprised nothing was said to Laura. But then Hugh blew over it too. Yuck,' explained one fan on the thread. It's not the first time viewers have had a whinge about 'kitchen crimes' this season. Fans blasted contestant Theo Loizou back in May for tasting his dish with a spoon and then returning the utensil to stir his saucepan. The faux pas sent viewers into an uproar, with some taking to social media to blast the fan favourite for dropping the show's high hygiene standards. 'Anyone else notice Theo tasting his purée and then putting the same spoon back into the pot?' one viewer wrote on Reddit. 'I mean… don't tell me I'm the only one! I always catch myself watching out for this and it drives me nuts when contestants do it. Total pet peeve of mine. Yeesh.' Another viewer claimed the practice of 'double-dipping' was rife among the contestants on the cooking show. 'They all do it!! And what's with the lack of hygiene when it comes to hair being open or in your face? That's the biggest ick!' they said. According to 2024 MasterChef Australia contestant Sumeet Saigal, the cast is informed of the hygiene standards ahead of filming. 'You're always briefed about hygiene and you're always reminded,' she told Yahoo Lifestyle last June. She said the 'rules' included no 'double-dipping', no re-using of spoons and any food that hits the floor goes straight in the bin.
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Jock Zonfrillo's widow Lauren parties with Michael Clarke in Paris
Lauren Zonfrillo, the wife of late celebrity chef Jock, has been spotted partying in Europe. MasterChef Australia star Jock was found dead in a Melbourne hotel room in May 2023, after police were called to conduct a welfare check on the 46-year-old. After two years of dealing with the grief of Jock's passing, Lauren was all smiles this week when she was seen partying with cricket legend Michael Clarke in Paris. The former Australian captain took to Instagram on Tuesday to share a photo that showed him enjoying some downtime with pals in a Parisian bar. Michael looked chuffed to be in good company that included pals Nick and Amy Campbell and partner Arabella Sherborne. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. Cuddling up close to Arabella at the edge of the group, Lauren was positively beaming as she posed for the happy snap. Lauren showed off her svelte frame in a sleeveless white playsuit that flaunted her trim and toned arms and shoulders. Arabella was seen clutching Lauren's arm as the five pals took time out to document the soiree. It comes after Lauren recently shared the harrowing final moments she spent with her MasterChef Australia star husband as she said goodbye to his lifeless body. Lauren raced home to Australia from Italy with the couple's two young children, where she was faced with seeing his body in a Melbourne morgue. She told 7NEWS Spotlight's Liz Hayes in May that she was full of fear – but needed to see her husband, and speak to him. 'I was scared of it, but it was just what I needed. It was just a very strange feeling' she said while tears rolled down her face. 'Jock was in his pyjamas. I could smell his aftershave. I could smell his hair product. It was just like Jock was sleeping. 'I went up to him, and I wanted to touch him but I was quite scared. And so I started with his hair, and then I could touch his face, then I was kind of, was okay with it. But it was really my time to say goodbye to Jock' she continued. 'He was still there. I really felt he was there. I told him that it will be okay, that I've got this. That I will make sure the kids live big lives. And that, no matter what, we would be a family.' Lauren said that she begged her husband to tell her what happened to him, and wished that he would reply. 'I asked him what the f*** happened, and I just wanted the words from him. He just looked completely normal to me. 'I could not undo what was in front of me. Like, I am broken now. That's it. There's no fixing me. This is the person I love that much, who cannot be there.' When asked to disclose Jock's cause of death, which has never been revealed, Lauren remained protective of her husband. 'A lot of people want to know the answer to that, I'm really aware of that. I've had a lot of experiences with people coming up to me, all strangers, and asking how Jock died, and it's very unsettling' she said. 'Jock was very open in what he was willing to talk about. And I now don't want to make those decisions, because I don't know what he does and doesn't want to talk about.' A fortnight after Zonfrillo's death his wife led about 200 mourners who gathered for a funeral at Macquarie Park Cemetery and Crematorium at North Ryde on May 13. Among those who attended the service were celebrity chefs George Calombaris, Matt Moran, Colin Fassnidge, Manu Feildel and Shannon Bennett as well as Zonfrillo's co-stars Allen and Melissa Leong. Lauren delivered a eulogy before Zonfrillo's friend and fellow Scotsman, Jimmy Barnes, sang Amazing Grace with his daughter Mahalia. Before his death, Zonfrillo had been preparing for the launch of MasterChef's 15th season, which was set to premiere the night his body was found. He was also in the early stages of planning a new restaurant and had started working on a cookbook prior to his death. Zonfrillo and his wife, who married in 2017, had put their four-bedroom Carlton terrace up for rent ahead of a potential permanent move to Italy, where his father was born. Lauren also candidly opened up about life after Jock in her 2025 memoir Till Death Do Us Part.
New Indian Express
2 days ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Sarah Todd takes Assam recipes global
Assam is ecstatic as celebrated chef Sarah Todd has taken its recipes to the global stage. In a video, the Master Chef Australia finalist can be seen preparing and tasting a traditional Assamese delicacy, drawing the attention of CM Himanta Biswa Sarma, among others. 'Assam's recipes entice global tastebuds! Glad to see celebrated Chef @SarahToddChef is relishing the taste of this local delicacy and preparing it herself. From cuisines to culture, visiting Assam is an experience of a lifetime,' Sarma posted on X. Minister Pijush Hazarika also wrote, 'Delighted to see @SarahToddChef exploring and savouring the rich tastes of Assam.' Former commander of ULFA joins the BJP Former rebel leaders joining politics is not unusual in Assam. Manoj Rabha alias Drishti Rajkhowa is the latest addition to that list. This former 'deputy commander-in-chief' of banned insurgent group United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA) recently joined the ruling BJP. He dismissed speculation that he joined the party to contest next year's Assembly elections. He said he would work on the lines of the party's plans and agenda. Later in his life with ULFA, Rajkhowa was active in Meghalaya. He surrendered in the state in November 2020 amid police operations. Party's state president Dilip Saikia and several other leaders were present at the ceremony.
Daily Mail
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
MasterChef Australia: Fan favourite fails to make the top five in heartbreaking exit after disastrous mushroom dish
Beloved MasterChef Australia veteran Snezana 'Snez' Calic had to hang up her apron on Sunday. The 40-year-old from Victoria, who first appeared on season 16 of the cooking competition, faced a 90 minute cooking challenge alongside the six other survivors of the Back to Win season. But after a disastrous first round when her aioli failed to come together, Snez was suffered from a lack of time. After serving up a mushroom ragu with polenta the judges were left unimpressed. Judge Andy Allen complained that the pine mushrooms were dry. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. 'That impacted the taste and the textures,' he said as he announced that it was Snez the judges had decided to send home. He continued, 'And in the end the lack of time showed on the plate.' 'I just wanted to survive day one,' an emotional Snez said, adding, 'how did i make it to the final six.' She later reflected on her experience. 'I felt so good, even though I was eliminated, I felt good,' the chef told Ten. 'I achieved a lot, I cooked with these legends, and I really, genuinely appreciate the judges. It was such an emotional moment and I'm so, so happy about it.' Last Sunday night, season three's Alana Lowes cooked her final dish in the Doha kitchen as she went head-to-head with Snezana, Laura Cassai and Sarah Todd in a 'dual duel'. The cook-off paired contestants together to battle it out against their opponent, cooking with the same main ingredient in a heated elimination challenge. The least impressive dish in each duo sent its chef onto the second round, fighting it out again for a place in next week's lineup. The challenge placed the contestants literally in a face-off showdown behind benches that were set up opposite each other, upping the tension in the kitchen. Speaking to Ten of her elimination, Alana said that her second time around in the MasterChef kitchen was filled with food, fun and, above all, fierce friendships, especially with fellow participant Snezana. 'I felt like this was a second opportunity to get into this kitchen and just really have fun with it, enjoy every moment,' she said. 'I would have loved to have gone further, but I just feel so satisfied with what I achieved and the dishes that the judges absolutely raved about,' she added.
