Chef David Thompson explains how he was part of a movement that changed attitudes to Thai food in Australia. His latest trick is to take Thai food back to the Thais. “Australian Thai food was simply bad years ago,” Thompson says. “I remember dining at a restaurant called Siam in 1979 which was one of […]

Kale chips anyone? What veggies to eat boiled, raw or roasted.

Flowers are not an ingredient we typically include in our cooking, but many herbs and plants produce blossoms that are edible and make a stylish and delicious addition to common recipes. Flowers you can use Arugula or rocket is commonly used in salads but the plant also produces small pale lavender or white flowers, which […]

Question: What is the best way to make a caramel for crème caramel? Either of the following methods will make a lovely toffee. The sugar-and-water method is easier if you’re a beginner. Sugar-only method Spread sugar fairly evenly over the base of a heavy-based frying pan and place over medium to high heat. Do not […]

Question: My strawberry jam just won’t set, regardless of how long I boil it. What’s wrong? Strawberries are one of the fruits that is low in acid and pectin – both of which are required to make jam set; lemon juice can be added and the jam re-boiled until it jells when tasted. However, if […]

As Marion Grasby furiously whips up another delicious dish in the MasterChef kitchen, the pretty brunette has clearly got her eye on the prize. But her ultimate life goal isn’t to win the coveted title – it’s to marry her boyfriend of four years. “I’m waiting for him to come home with a ring – […]

MasterChef‘s latest eliminated contestant, 29-year-old bar manager Courtney Roulston, talks about how the cooking competition gave her the “kick up the bum” she needed to realise her dream. You applied for the first season of MasterChef. What was it like auditioning again and why do you think you made it further this time? I actually […]

The drama on the hit cooking contest is nothing compared to the contestants’ real-life experiences. Dominic: My drinking problem He admits he cracked under the intense, pressure-cooker atmosphere of MasterChef and lapsed into drinking again, but Dominic Corrigan insists he has his demon well under control. The big-hearted Sydney father of four, who had a […]

Following his elimination from MasterChef Devon Headland spoke to Woman’s Day about who likes who in the MasterChef house, why he thinks his elimination was unfair and his plans to wed his long-time partner Cat. You’ve said that your friends and family motivated you to come on the show, as did the chance for a […]

Sarah Carmichael stunned fellow contestants and viewers alike with her decision to sacrifice her spot on MasterChef for the sake of her children last week, but even she admits she is blown away by her next surprise revelation – she’s pregnant! Despite making the final 24 by impressing judges with her coconut snapper, Sarah says […]