George Calombaris (left) and with fellow 'MasterChef Australia' judges Gary Mehigan and Matt Preston.
Seen in over 40 countries including the Philippines, the MasterChef franchise is easily one of the most popular reality competition franchises ever. With over 1.65 million viewers, “MasterChef Australia”, in particular, is one of the most watched television series Down Under so it comes as no surprise that it is also broadcast in other countries.
In Asia, “MasterChef Australia” is carried by Lifetime and has also established its own solid following in the region. According to celebrated chef George Calombaris who has been serving as one of the show’s presenters and judges since it first aired in 2009, the current sixth season is the most exciting and challenging yet.
“I’m very excited by this. Just when you think after six years of ‘MasterChef’, how do you find more capable cooks with aspirations, more than anything, and dreams and ideas to change their life and food? After a batch of 50 people, we weed them down to 24, what we end up with is this,” Calombaris told InterAksyon in reference to this year’s batch of contestants that includes a hairdresser, a dentist, a carpenter, a kidswear designer and even a winemaker.
Regardless of background, however, the award-winning chef said that what he and fellow judges Gary Mehigan, Matt Preston and guest mentor Kylie Kwong are looking for in a MasterChef is surprisingly more basic.
“What I look for, personally, is good people. I want people that have the right attitude and discipline, and from there, what their dream is. If they’ve got a dream, the rest is easy. They must have talent, yes and they must have an idea of some of the basics. But all we’re asking for them is to have a fantastic basis and a dream to change your life and food. And make food for the rest of their lives, because, we want ambassadors who are going to go forward with food.”
And right from the get go, from the initial Top 50, the judges were immediately impressed with some of the most delicious dishes they have ever had the pleasure of tasting.
“I’m talking amazing food, amazing dishes that you go, ‘Wow! What is this? What’s going on?’ This is going to be one of the best things I ever had in ‘MasterChef’, and you know, as soon as that first plate of food comes in, and you’re going to have to stop and think about it, in a good way, that’s exciting. My chefs, who were watching from the sidelines, they were going, there’s no way they (the contestants) will be able to do this, and then to see them do it. Oh my gosh!,” Calombaris exclaimed.
George Calombaris confers with contestants during Episode 2 of Season 6 of 'MasterChef Australia'.
Looking at this season’s roster of “MasterChef” hopefuls, there are contestants who are in their late teens and contestants that are already in their 50s. Asked if he notices any familiar traits or patterns among the contestants belonging in the same age range, George said he certainly did.
“The benefit of being young, and sort of naïve, so to speak, is that you tend to take risks, either they pay off or it’s a super issue. On the flip side of it is, the more mature contestants know clinical stuff. So, it one or the other, I like a mix between both, I like the youngsters, how they can have a go and do something different, but I also like the fact that the more vintage contestants like to walk the straight and narrow,” he pointed out.
George added that at the end of the day, practice still makes perfect in the kitchen.
“You don’t have to be a great chef or a great cook. It’s about lots of years, many years behind the stove, and it’s about repetitions. You get better at driving by taking that corner. You get better every time; by doing it consistently, for a long period of time. Repetition is the key to success,” he declared.
Asked what he thinks is the secret to the longevity and enduring popularity of “MasterChef Australia” which he calls “the best cooking show on Earth”, George Calombaris said it’s the show’s aspirational nature that viewers can relate to.
“What’s exciting about series six is it’s a true, true cooking show. It’s about aspirational, ordinary people. It’s about extraordinary food, it’s about a taxi driver making the most amazing agio chocolate. It resonates with people around the world because it’s about people from all walks of life. It makes you what you are at home. We make it lighter, fresher and different. That’s why people like it.”
“MasterChef Australia Season 6” premieres on Lifetime this Monday, September 29 at 7PM and 11PM and airs this week from Monday to Thursday and then Monday to Friday the following weeks.
‘Master Chef Australia’ judge touts show’s aspirational nature
Source: InterAksyon.com (September 29, 2014 at 12:09PM)
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