Australian MasterChef winner Kate Bracks has revealed that the show changed her life. The former teacher, who beat Michael Weldon to win the 2011 title earlier this year, said that she has realised how much potential she really has as a result of her time in the amateur cooking competition. Bracks told Sunday magazine: "The experience has made me more passionate about food. It's made me aware that I can do more than I think I can. You can get a bit lazy, because you think, 'Oh well, life's just plodding along'. Going on MasterChef pushed me way outside my comfort zone." She revealed that since MasterChef, she has been working on plans to open a bed and breakfast in her hometown of Orange, saying: "It's been my dream (more)...
- 10/3/2011
- by By Rebecca Davies
- Digital Spy
MasterChef's Michael Weldon has revealed that he is "definitely looking" for love. The 25-year-old wannabe chef, who came second to Kate Bracks in the final of the Australian version of the reality cooking show, said that he hopes to enjoy some romance after being single for four years. Weldon told Woman's Day magazine: "Love is a lovely thing. I'm definitely looking for it and hopefully it isn't too far in the future. I hope there's someone soon, because I'd really like to have kids, but I need someone to marry me first. I haven't got any love letters yet!" He said of MasterChef: "I can't say a bad word about the show and it's been (more)...
- 8/17/2011
- by By Rebecca Davies
- Digital Spy
Kate Bracks has revealed that she doesn't want to be a chef. The 36-year-old mother from Orange in New South Wales, who was recently crowned Australia's MasterChef 2011, said that all she wants to do is run a sleepy B&B in her hometown because the idea of writing a cookbook terrifies her. Bracks told Woman's Day magazine: "I have an underlying dream of owning a bed-and-breakfast. I look at what [past winners] Adam Liaw and Julie Goodwin have done before me and I know plans change, so I'm open to whatever is coming, but still, deep down, is the desire to own a B&B. That's my gift, that's my skill and that's something I can make work with (more)...
- 8/16/2011
- by By Rebecca Davies
- Digital Spy
Aussie MasterChef winner Kate Bracks has explained that she decided not to thank God in her victory speech. The 36-year-old from New South Wales, who beat fellow finalist Michael Weldon in a three-part challenge to be crowned the winner of the cooking reality television show on Sunday night, said that she didn't want to be too "corny". Bracks told Dave Hughes on his radio show: "[I considered mentioning God] but then I thought, everyone then goes, 'Oh great, it just sounds like the Logies.' It sounds corny and that is not the type of Christian I am." She also said despite the fact that she is "always talking to God", she didn't "actually pray" to help her win MasterChef because she thinks that God probably has better things to do. Bracks continued: (more)...
- 8/9/2011
- by By Rebecca Davies
- Digital Spy
The finale of Australian MasterChef has suffered a huge ratings drop compared to the past two seasons. According to the Herald Sun, only 2.568 million people tuned in to watch Kate Bracks go head-to-head with Michael Weldon and be crowned the winner of the cooking reality show last night. When Adam Liaw won last year's series there was an audience of 3.964 million viewers, while 3.74 million people watched Julie Goodwin defeat Poh Ling Yeow in 2009. Some fans have complained that Channel Ten decided to split the final episode into two parts, airing new reality TV show The Renovators for an hour in between. The first part of the MasterChef (more)...
- 8/8/2011
- by By Rebecca Davies
- Digital Spy
An audience of 2.66 million viewers tuned in to see Kate Bracks, the 36 year-old mum from Orange, Nsw win Masterchef Australia.
The Winner Announced episode is Network Ten’s highest rating episode this year and was the second highest rating program of the year across all networks, falling to last week’s Australia’s Got Talent final.
The show scored a 61% audience share across all key demographics but fell by 1.3million compared to last year’s final which boasted a 3.962million viewership, and 3.56million in the program’s first year in 2009.
Masterchef‘s first episode of the evening, Finale Night, saw Kate and Michael in two of the night’s three challenges to draw 2.33million. A third challenge of building a carrot snowman and announcement of the winner was not aired until after an episode of Network Ten’s other big budget competition program The Renovators.
The bookending tactic, in an...
The Winner Announced episode is Network Ten’s highest rating episode this year and was the second highest rating program of the year across all networks, falling to last week’s Australia’s Got Talent final.
The show scored a 61% audience share across all key demographics but fell by 1.3million compared to last year’s final which boasted a 3.962million viewership, and 3.56million in the program’s first year in 2009.
Masterchef‘s first episode of the evening, Finale Night, saw Kate and Michael in two of the night’s three challenges to draw 2.33million. A third challenge of building a carrot snowman and announcement of the winner was not aired until after an episode of Network Ten’s other big budget competition program The Renovators.
The bookending tactic, in an...
- 8/8/2011
- by Colin Delaney
- Encore Magazine
Kate Bracks has won Australian MasterChef 2011. The 36-year-old mother from New South Wales, who dreams of opening a bed and breakfast in her home town of Orange, beat fellow finalist Michael Weldon in a three-part challenge to be crowned the winner of the cooking reality television show. Before the verdict was announced, judge George Calombaris told Weldon and Bracks: "There's a certain element of electricity in the air right now and I want you guys to stop for one second to never forget this moment. It's moments like this in life that are wonderful." After Bracks was revealed as the victor, Matt Preston told her: "What a winner you are. You cooked magnificently today. We want to thank you for the commitment you've made because your development has been phenomenal. Kate, you are an absolute credit to yourself and your family." She (more)...
- 8/8/2011
- by By Rebecca Davies
- Digital Spy
The finalists for Australian MasterChef 2011 have been revealed. Kate Bracks emerged as the second contestant to make it to the final of this year's reality cooking competition after Alana Lowes was eliminated in last night's episode. Michael Weldon had already been announced as the first finalist in a previous challenge. Lowes was sent home after failing to impress the judges with her recreation of celebrity patissier Adriano Zumbo's fairytale gingerbread house. During the task, Lowes and Bracks had to create a roof covered in praline, tiles made from salted caramel, isomalt windows and a garden full of jellies and magic gum mushrooms. After her elimination, judge George Calombaris told Lowes: "The road hasn't come to an end, trust me," while Gary Mehigan praised her "creative touch". She replied: (more)...
- 8/5/2011
- by By Rebecca Davies
- Digital Spy
Michael Weldon has won the first place in MasterChef Australia's grand final. The 25-year-old film projectionist won a 'three-hat' restaurant challenge against Kate Bracks and Alana Lowes, who must now compete for the remaining place in the final. Weldon told Adelaide daily The Advertiser: "I cooked a venison dish and it turned out to be a good one... they were looking for three-hat quality and they said mine was." Each of the contestants was sent to a high-end eaterie in Sydney tasked with producing a dish that would complement the existing menu. Weldon visited Est, where he cooked a main course of venison with beetroot, chestnut puree and a juniper jus. Lowes went to Marque, serving up a smoked tuna starter, and Bracks presented (more)...
- 8/4/2011
- by By Kate Goodacre
- Digital Spy
Michael Weldon has won the first place in MasterChef Australia's grand final. The 25-year-old film projectionist won a 'three-hat' restaurant challenge against Kate Bracks and Alana Lowes, who must now compete for the remaining place in the final. Weldon told Adelaide daily The Advertiser: "I cooked a venison dish and it turned out to be a good one... they were looking for three-hat quality and they said mine was." Each of the contestants was sent to a high-end eaterie in Sydney tasked with producing a dish that would complement the existing menu. Weldon visited Est, where he cooked a main course of venison with beetroot, chestnut puree and a juniper jus. Lowes went to Marque, serving up a smoked tuna starter, and Bracks presented (more)...
- 8/4/2011
- by By Kate Goodacre
- Digital Spy
Dani Venn has been eliminated from MasterChef Australia after disappointing in a "food autobiography" challenge. The 25-year-old and her fellow finalists Michael Weldon, Kate Bracks and Alana Lowes were asked to create three courses that told their life story during the three-house challenge. The quartet had all come under fire after serving up raw chicken during a task earlier in the week. As a result, judges George Calombaris, Matt Preston and Gary Mehigan decided to place them all up for elimination instead of the bottom two. Venn said in a live chat with Herald Sun readers that she was happy with the way that producers portrayed her on the show, writing: "I really felt what came across was a true reflection of myself. I am emotional and happy and I was really (more)...
- 8/3/2011
- by By Kate Goodacre
- Digital Spy
The final four contestants on MasterChef have been slammed for plating up inedible food. Dani Venn, Alana Lowes, Kate Bracks and Michael Weldon were challenged to re-create a Maggie Beer chicken terrine in last night's episode but all four served raw chicken. Judges Matt Preston, George Calombaris, Gary Mehigan and Beer revealed that they could not eat some of the dishes for health and safety reasons, with Preston adding: "If a dish comes to your table in a restaurant and the main element is raw, you send it back - you're not happy." All four of the contestants will now face elimination rather (more)...
- 8/2/2011
- by By Rebecca Davies
- Digital Spy
Hayden Quinn has left MasterChef. The 24-year-old lifeguard, who made it to the top six contestants in the Australian version of the reality cooking show, was eliminated after going head-to-head with Kate Bracks and Michael Weldon in a challenge. After the trio were given the opportunity to cook whatever dish they wanted in the pressure test, Quinn chose to create a chicken dish and hastily wrote the word "enjoy" on his hand to remind him to have fun rather than get nervous. "It's one thing to write it on your hand and another to actually go through with it, and really enjoy it, because there's a lot of pressure there," he said. "If you don't cook well that's it, the whole thing's finished. It's hard but you've got to try and keep that frame of mind." Quinn said of his final challenge: "Sometimes (more)...
- 7/25/2011
- by By Rebecca Davies
- Digital Spy
Billy Law has left MasterChef Australia for a second time. The 34-year-old web designer was eliminated again last night when he lost out in a dessert-making challenge against Kate Bracks. Ellie Paxton-Hall, who had also been facing elimination, used her immunity pin to stay in the show. Law revealed in an interview with news.com.au that he was paid a weekly retainer of Au$$500 (£331) during filming. The national weekly minimum wage is Au$$589.30 (£390.23). "It's enough to survive to pay bills and things like that, but I'm not sure about a mortgage," he explained. "I'm lucky I don't have a mortgage." Law was originally eliminated earlier in the month when he failed to plate up an acceptable side dish during a (more)...
- 7/19/2011
- by By Kate Goodacre
- Digital Spy
MasterChef has become involved in a religious debate after a contestant refused to address the Dalai Lama as "Your Holiness". Kate Bracks, who has made it to the final eight on the Australian version of the reality show, caused controversy when she admitted to feeling "uncomfortable" around the Buddhist leader during a recent episode because she is a Christian. The 36-year-old referred to him as just "Dalai", then said that she did not see him "as a holy man". Bracks said: "My belief is that God is the only one that is perfectly holy. So in terms of everybody calling him Your Holiness, that was probably the only aspect (more)...
- 7/15/2011
- by By Rebecca Davies
- Digital Spy
Melbourne, July 15: A Christian taking part in Australia's MasterChef has revealed that she just could not address the Dalai Lama as "Your Holiness", as she believes that only God is perfectly holy.
MasterChef mum Kate Bracks, 36, from Orange, refused to acknowledge the leader by his formal title when he was the guest star of Sunday's episode, and only addressed him as "Dalai Lama".
"My.
MasterChef mum Kate Bracks, 36, from Orange, refused to acknowledge the leader by his formal title when he was the guest star of Sunday's episode, and only addressed him as "Dalai Lama".
"My.
- 7/15/2011
- by Rahul Kapoor
- RealBollywood.com
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