For Curtis Stone, it was a no-brainer to return to the MasterChef Australia kitchen for season 12. After all, he’s appeared in almost every season so far – but this year’s refresh intrigued him.
“The talent in this kitchen is beyond compare,” the 44-year-old tells OK!.
“But bringing back former contestants, who are now respected chefs in their own right, really adds to the show.”
OK!: Welcome back Curtis! What drew you back to the show?
Curtis: MasterChef Australia is the best cooking show in the world. I couldn’t wait to catch up with the contestants I knew.
I was especially excited to see the likes of Poh [Ling Yeow] and Hayden [Quinn] cook, but all of them have come so far.
If you’d been a contestant on the show, do you think you would’ve done well?
I’d have won it! It’s a very different thing, cooking in a challenge situation compared to cooking in a restaurant, but I love a challenge and I’m competitive so I wouldn’t have backed away from it.
But I’m not going to lie either, the pressure on the contestants is huge and I’m very glad I get to be on the other side of the bench tasting their food.
Curtis has made a whirlwind return to the show.
(Network Ten)Did you know the new judges?
Jock [Zonfrillo] is a friend of mine and I know Andy [Allen] from appearing on previous seasons of the show.
I got to know Mel [Leong] while filming my episode for this season. She’s great.
They’re all bringing something really new and fresh to the format.
Are you homeschooling your kids at the moment?
Yes, my wife Lindsay and I are homeschooling the boys [Hudson, eight, and Emerson, five] and it’s a challenge.
We try to keep them separate and focused on school work, and I’ve really enjoyed this opportunity to get to know what they’re learning at school.
I’m not a fan of teaching English though!
What’s your top tip for us home cooks?
Get experimental in the kitchen, we’ve all got time now. And savour that family time – set the table and sit down together.
Watch MasterChef Australia Sunday – Thursday 7.30pm on Ten.
WATCH BELOW: See Hayden Quinn’s big return to the Masterchef kitchen:
