Stephen Dennis has quickly become a fan favourite on this year’s MasterChef.
The self-taught cook says it started when his mum Dahlas gifted him an Australian Women’s Weekly cookbook at the age of 18, which he still treasures today.
“It was a few years old already,” the father-of-two tells Woman’s Day. “But when I got it, I think it was 98 cents. I cooked a couple of recipes, and I still use it today. Also, I’ve taken inspiration and made some new recipes.”
Steve has captured the hearts of Aussies, with many taking an interest in his crocodile tooth necklace! “I was working at the crocodile farm, and it tried to bite my leg,” he recalls. “It grabbed hold of a tree and left the tooth – that’s got to be a good luck charm because I didn’t lose my leg!”
It seems the crocodile tooth is serving him well. And if things continue as they are, it could help the 62-year-old tour guide achieve his big dream of winning MasterChef. If that happens, he would love to open a restaurant, drawing inspiration from the retro recipes where it all started.
“[I’d serve] the strawberry hazelnut gateau. I used to cook every year for my wife as an anniversary dish,” he reveals. “And I’ll do my prawn cocktail dish that I’ve designed out of the book. It’s a little different.”
INSPIRING OTHERS
As to why Steve has become popular with fans, he says he really doesn’t know. But he has received heart-warming messages from viewers who are inspired to pick up a spatula and, possibly, their very own lucky croc tooth.
“I’m just a down-to-earth bloke. Maybe people see themselves in me,” says Steve, who lives on the Gold Coast. “I had a nice message from this guy who’s never cooked for his family before. And after watching he thought, ‘I’m going to try.’” The fan told Steve, “I didn’t realise it was going to take six hours, but the look on my family’s faces when they were eating made me so happy.”
“Maybe that’s what it is,” Steve says of his popularity. “They can see the pleasure I get from cooking for people.”
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