Robert on life after MasterChef New Zealand
1) Hows life been since being part of MasterChef NZs Top 12?
It has been entertaining. I took a while to get used to the stares in the mall or the whispering and pointing. Friends and family would notice it more than me and fill me in later. Loved people wishing me good luck for upcoming challenges and then the hugs after I was eliminated. Haha.
2) What was your biggest learning curve?
It has been hard learning to deal with criticism from viewers. Ii learn to turn a blind eye to the people who didn't understand my decision to eat the brains. I didn't know people would take it so personally that I "broke my morals".
3) Which dish you created were you most proud of?
I liked my French toast with grilled caprese salad and basil hollandaise dish. It got the most praise and I think showed I wasn't just in the competition by sheer luck.
4) What have you learned most from the experience?
That I cook best when I'm relaxed and not to worried about the outcome. The minute I got too involved I stressed myself out and over thought the process.
5) You all shared a house who did you get on best with and why?
I had my lovely ladies Jax, Fiona, Michelle and Kat. I would invite myself too their room and annoy them for hours haha. Amazing personalities.
6) Conversely, who didnt you feel you spent enough time with?
Everyone else.. haha. I wasn't in the house for that long, that's my excuse!
7) What do you make of this years winner?
Well deserved, Nadia is a natural in the kitchen. She came in Masterchef with the idea "I'm going to win" and come hell or high water she made that happen.
8) Which MasterClass do you wish youd been part of and why?
I was really jealous that the final 3 had the chance to met Donna Hay, her cooking books are always so appealing.. that would have been an awesome experience.
9) Whats your biggest regret about not getting further in the competition than you did?
I left without having a standout moment.. I really wish I would have had a chance to show I'm not all hair and no skill.
10) When you were evicted, what would you have changed about the challenge which saw you forced to leave?
I would have gone vegetarian, or chose the mushrooms instead of the prawns and then choose a meat out of the pantry. I really wasn't concentrating on the competition, more on the fact I must cook meat.. any meat.
11) Which challenge would you have liked to have taken part in and why?
Chocolate tower of terror! It looked so fun. I bake cupcakes all the time and I've tempered chocolate dozens of times, I don't think it would have taken me out of my comfort zone.
12) Will you continue to pursue your cooking dreams now that the show is over?
After the earthquake I'm having to put that in to the "list of dreams I will get to at some point".Loving my fitness instructing but I really haven't had a walk in the park since Feb so I plan to start back at square one and get my life back to normality.
13) Whats next for you?
Starting afresh. I'm hoping to move from Christchurch and start enjoying life. New challenges and keeping busy.
14) What advice would you give to future contestants, should there be another series?
Have fun, be yourself and ALWAYS trust for first instinct! I would change my mind so much before a challenge I'd have a million ideas floating in my head.. thus why my mouth was open 99% of the time haha. I now think I look like a groper when thinking, so don't do that either.
15) Fill in the gap: the kitchen utensil I look like the most is&
.....Pastry brush... think about it.
