Alice Is a Gifted Academic, But Will She Win ‘MasterChef Australia’ 2023?

April 27, 2023

MasterChef Australia Secrets and Surprises 2023 cast Alice — Network Ten

Since publishing this story, Network Ten has announced the death of MasterChef Australia judge Jock Zonfrillo on April 30, 2023. MasterChef Australia Secrets and Surprises will now premiere on Sunday, May 7, with the full support of Zonfrillo’s family.

MasterChef Australia: Secrets and Surprises is finally here, which means one thing: It’s time to get to know all the new faces who are set to compete on MasterChef Australia 2023.

Alice Han is a 29-year-old economic researcher from New South Wales. Now, she’s ready to make waves as one of the MasterChef Australia 2023 contestants.

Alice Han’s Background

Long before Alice became one of the MasterChef Australia 2023 cast members, she grew up with a unique blend of language, culture, and food that has enriched her life.

Alice was born and raised in Sydney to Chinese parents who emigrated from Shanghai. Over the years, she’s maintained a deep connection to her culture, although she notes that code-switching between her two worlds hasn’t always been easy.

Alice is a gifted academic, and she’s got the with an impressive record to show for it.

She earned a bachelor’s degree in history and economics from Harvard University and a Master of Arts in East Asian Studies from Stanford University.

Before she joined the Masterchef Australia 2023 cast, Alice was working as the Director of China Research for a macroeconomic and geopolitical risk advisory firm, and her work has been published in prestigious publications such as the Wall Street Journal.

If that wasn’t impressive enough, Alice is also fluent in four languages: English, Mandarin, French, and German.

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Alice’s Relationship to Cooking

While Alice was studying at Harvard, she began recreating her mother’s exceptional Shanghainese cuisine to feel closer to home. To this day, she continues to be inspired by her mother in the kitchen.

Alice views food as a means of connecting with people, tradition, culture, and community. She enjoys exploring traditional dishes while adding her own modern and fusion flair, spanning both sweet and savoury cuisines from Chinese, French, and Italian cuisine.

Alice enjoys the challenge of balancing the cerebral and creative elements of cooking, and draws inspiration from a diverse range of food idols. Some of her favourites are Fuschia Dunlop, Nigella Lawson, Peruvian chef and scientist siblings Virgillo and Malena Martinez, and French bakers Pierre and Lionel Poilâne.

Alice’s Hobbies and Skills

Outside of the kitchen, Alice is a fitness enthusiast who enjoys kickboxing, yoga, running, and pilates.

She is also an accomplished pianist and singer and loves to travel.

Alice has long-held dreams of entering the culinary field as a cook, writer, and entrepreneur.

One day, Alice is hoping to curate a food history cookbook and create documentaries, as well as starting her own café “salon” where people can exchange ideas while enjoying pastries and coffee.

MasterChef Australia: Secrets and Surprises premieres Sunday, May 7 at 7.30pm, only on 10 and 10 Play on Demand.

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