Life in the MasterChef Australia house sure is stressful.
So we asked some of the remaining contestants what creature comforts keep them sane?
Some of their answers might surprise you!
Arum Nixon, 34
1. Cheese
“My biggest vice!”
2. Running shoes
“I run most days – it’s how I unwind after a day of cooking. It clears my head. At the same time, I guess it counters all the great food we eat.”
3. Vitamix
“One of the cool things about MasterChef is getting to use all the kitchen gadgets. The one that’s made the biggest difference to me is the Vitamix. You can put almost anything in it and it’ll blitz it to a smooth purée in seconds – I use it all the time.”
Eliza Wilson, 30
1. Photos
“I have photos of my boyfriend, Alex, my family and friends in my room. I miss them, so I love to see their faces every day.”
2. Cookbook
“My aunty gave me Stephanie Alexander’s The Cook’s Companion for my 21st birthday. It always seems to have an answer to my culinary questions and has a recipe for everything.”
3. Letters from home
“We don’t have the internet, so when I get a letter it feels like Christmas. Friends and family send letters with photos and drawings from my niece and nephew.”
Ben Ungermann, 32
1. Weights
“I love going to the gym. My dad got me into fitness when I was a teenager. Now it’s become my daily routine. I still work out with my dad – he is an inspiration to me.”
2. Georgio Armani
“I found this cologne in my teens. It’s still my favourite scent. My oma [grandmother] also loves it and has been known to wear it too!”
3. The Flash plush toy
“The kids’ favourite superhero is The Flash. They bought me this plush toy and, like my photos, it has been everywhere with me.”
Tamara Graffen, 28
1. Noise-cancelling headphones
“Essential for living in a jam-packed household! I sleep with them most nights as I’m such a light sleeper. And playing pump-up tracks before we cook helps me get into the zone.”
2. Earring collection
“Handmade earrings are my favourite accessory. I love to mix up the ones I wear in the kitchen. Fun, colourful earrings make me feel happy.”
3. MasterChef eye mask
“I sewed this. One of my guilty pleasures is an afternoon nap, so anything that helps me do that is essential.”
