Following the lead of last year’s winner Billie McKay, who headed to the UK to gain more experience, the former head teacher of creative and performing arts at Galston High School, NSW, believes her smartest move now is to also improve her skills in working kitchens.
“I definitely want to visit local producers and farmers and other restaurants that are doing similar things,” says Elena, now $250,000 richer after her dramatic win over her good friend.
“I’d love to spend some time at Biota [Dining] down in Bowral, with James Vile I’d love to work with Three Blue Ducks Group, [previous winner] Andy Allen works with them and they have a farm up in Byron Bay.
“I’d love to spend some time with Alla Wolf Tasker and I might even go do some work experience in California.”
Elena, who also now has a monthly column in Delicious food magazine as part of her prize, says her plans of starting a farm cafe in a similar vein to Maggie Beer’s Farm Shop in South Australia, or Alla Wolf Tasker’s Lake House in Victoria, will go on hold for a year while she gains more experience.
“Maggie Beer and Alla Wolf Tasker – their journeys, what they represent, what they’ve built – they’re both very inspiring women and chefs to me and that’s definitely a long-term goal,” she said at the conclusion of the show.
“That was from the beginning and it is still there but now it’s about taking the steps to put myself in the best possible position to ensure its success, so that will involve a lot more work experience.”
Thankful to be sharing this moment with her family and fellow contestants, Elena adds: “I’m just so full of gratitude for every experience and opportunity granted to us. The exposure to experts, the learning and education and development we have had – I just can’t compare it to any other experience.
“I want to thank everyone involved for their support and guidance: the judges, my fellow contestants and my loved ones.
“The MasterChef Australia experience has ignited my passion for food and learning and I’m looking forward to gaining as much work experience in the industry as I can. I want to continue my immersion in food and educate myself in order to be able to inspire and instill that creative empowerment in others.”
Although disappointed he came so close to winning, Matt wasn’t left empty-handed, winning $40,000 towards his food truck dream, courtesy of ANZ Travel Adventures. Even Harry Foster, who was eliminated in the semi-final, won $10,000.
The judges told Matt they had never seen anyone in the MasterChef Australia kitchen with such a deep, emotional connection to food – and they look forward to joining the queue for his food truck in the future.
Matt says: “I feel like being in this competition has equipped me for a future in the food industry and I can’t wait to get into the market and catering scenes to start producing the food that I’ve grown to love.”
