MasterChef Australia: Fans and Favourites is in full swing, and we’ve already seen some truly remarkable dishes plated up.
This year, competition in the kitchen is hotter than ever, pitting 12 hopeful home cooks against 12 returning MasterChef Australia contestants, including past winners Julie Goodwin, Billie McKay and Sashi Cheliah.
Still, Victorian teacher Matt Landmark believes he’s up to the task.
In a Q&A with The Latch, Landmark described his nature as “cool, calm, and collected”, which are three characteristics sure to be a huge advantage when it comes to the infamous MasterChef Australia pressure tests.
After growing up with simple, classic, staple meals made on a limited budget, Landmark says that his best food memory was eating the cured kingfish from Chef Zach Tinsley at Egmont Street Eatery, because it was the “first time [he] realised how good fish could taste”.
Landmark was born in South Africa, and moved with his family to Palmerston North, on New Zealand‘s North Island, at the age of four. After spending his school years excelling at music, and even winning an award for “Best Jazz Guitarist” with his performance of “Stairway to Heaven”, Landmark completed a music degree in recording and production in Wellington.
After uni, Landmark moved to Melbourne with his partner Tamara, where he currently works as a high school commerce teacher. Landmark’s creativity doesn’t stop with music, though.
With a passion for cooking, Landmark is often found with his nose in a cookbook, or in the kitchen perfecting new techniques. He dreams of one day running his own small restaurant.
Keen for feedback on his cooking, Landmark says that Jock Zonfrillo is his favourite judge, because “he’s got a wealth of skills and knowledge”.
“I’m very keen to learn from him,” says Landmark, “and his praise seems hard won. It must be satisfying to get good feedback from Jock.”
Will Landmark be able to make it all the way to Finals Week? Only time will tell. Until then, MasterChef Australia airs at 7.30pm Sunday-Thursdays, only on 10 and 10 Play on Demand.
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