In a season filled with exquisite gastronomic delights and intense culinary competition, MasterChef Australia 2023 reached its crescendo as Brent Draper emerged as the deserving champion.
From the very beginning of the competition, Brent captivated the judges and viewers with his innovative culinary creations and earnest personality. Week after week, he showcased an extraordinary ability to transform ingredients into edible works of art while staying true to himself.
Brent’s journey was far from easy, as he faced formidable challenges and intense pressure throughout the competition, the season was also overshadowed by the bittersweet knowledge that this was Jock Zonfrillo’s last season as a judge before his untimely passing earlier this year.
But Brent’s resilience and unwavering determination never wavered. With each challenge, he pushed the boundaries of his culinary skills, embracing risks and displaying a remarkable ability to learn and grow from his mistakes. Now, as Brent’s journey on MasterChef Australia comes to an end, the chef speaks with WHO about his time on the show and what the future holds!
How does it feel to be crowned the winner of MasterChef? Can you describe your emotions and what this achievement means to you?
It’s massive. It’s a surreal feeling. It’s obviously a very different journey, this one for me, than the normal sort of MasterChef journey for most people. So, to finally get there in the end, I’m just stoked and very proud.
Throughout the competition, what was the most challenging moment you faced, and how did you overcome it?
I think probably the start was a bit of a challenge. Getting back into the kitchen – the last time I was in there wasn’t the best time, so I had to go back and face some demons. Just really trying not to get out in the first five, that was a big pressure on my shoulders. Once I made that, I got into a bit of a rhythm and I really enjoyed it. It was such an amazing season.
Can you share some highlights from your MasterChef journey? Were there any specific dishes or challenges that stood out to you?
Having Jamie Oliver in the kitchen, that was a pinch-me moment. He is probably the most well-known chef and he took us all in and just gave us everything. So that was a very big pinch-me moment. And then winning the pin. If you had told me that during my first season, I would have laughed!
What was the biggest lesson or skill you learned during your time on MasterChef that you believe contributed to your victory?
I think this year I was just more focused. I was mentally strong and mentally prepared. It didn’t matter what the challenge was – I wasn’t going to lose my marbles! That’s what got me all the way through.
Can you share some insights into your culinary style and how it evolved during your MasterChef experience?
I think it was it was evident which way I was sort of going. Travelling around Australia, I was living in a bus so there was no big kitchen, no oven and I started to cook over fire a lot. And there’s something about it that I really love. So as you’ve seen, the hibachi comes out a lot throughout the season. But it’s what I love and I love the flavours and you know, everyone loves a campfire and that smell of charcoal. So that’s definitely where I’m going and I love it.
Were there any judges’ feedback or critiques that made a lasting impact on your cooking style? How did you incorporate their advice into your dishes?
There was one cook with the family letter, and Jock had tears in his eyes when he was eating my food. You know, that is something that I probably won’t ever forget. When you cook food, you know, you cook with emotion and when people eat, they eat with emotion. So seeing Jock tearing up while he’s eating and in a good way, it was really really special for me.
MasterChef is known for its intense pressure and time constraints. How did you manage the stress during challenges and maintain the quality of your dishes?
Yeah, look at the time, very, very poorly. Like it’s one of those things that gets everybody all the time. No matter how much you can prepare, the time just flies. In the kitchen, 60 minutes feels like 45 minutes and you just can’t go too crazy and just need to cook the food you love.
Can you share any behind-the-scenes moments or stories from your time on MasterChef that viewers might not be aware of?
Every season you find your little crew and your mates and you know I’ve got my mates from the first season who I see regularly and this year is the same. And I’ll tell you one thing that I will miss a lot is Theo’s bread. In all honesty, I’ve never tasted bread like it and he would come up and bring it in the morning and we’d get a nice sourdough loaf every day from him. That’s something I will miss.
The big question…What’s next? Do you have any specific goals or aspirations for the future?
A cookbook! It’s a little bit different though. Obviously, my journey was a little bit different with my mental health and I think I need to keep pushing the conversation to break down the stigma. I’m trying to sort out a barbecue sort of cookbook with a little bit of a mental health twist. Maybe a mental health toolbox in the back, some stories, something so people can relate.
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