MasterChef favourite reflects on Jock Zonfrillo’s impact on her before elimination

Rhiannon was determined to have fun when she returned to MasterChef for a second time and took everything in.

However, she was sent home in an emotional elimination.

She exclusively told New Idea that she should have stuck to her original surf and turf-inspired dish, but was “rattled” when Andy Allen and Josh Niland visited her bench 20 minutes before the challenge ended.

Despite her journey being cut short, she had no regrets. Recovering from surgery while the show was filmed, she said she was proud of herself for pushing through it.

During her time on the show, she also said one of her favourite dishes she prepared was her gozleme, because she was taught by Turkish aunties. It was extra special because she learned those techniques in a workshop, which was set up by former judge Jock Zonfrillo.

Rhiannon told New Idea that she initially made the dish in her first stint on the show, and he suggested that she perfect the pastry.

Reflecting on her first and second time on the show, she said he had a profound impact on her.

“I feel like Jock was the one that I learned the most from and I always think about what he taught me whenever I cook now, like all the time,” she explained.

“And I guess it would have been nice for him to see exactly what I’ve done in the last couple of years, and that a lot of it is attributed to him and his guidance and mentorship.”

Another highlight for the Townsville local was her friendships with other contestants, particularly Declan, with whom she speaks weekly.

“He’s just become a really, really good friend, and I think we’ve both had some hard times and just been there for each other,” the water-skiing champion said.

Following her time on the show, she is gearing up to travel around Australia with her husband and daughter for her upcoming YouTube Channel Rhiplenish on the Road.

Passionate about showcasing local farmers and producers, she said it would be a mix of “all things, lifestyle, cooking, water skiing”, as well as highlighting the beauty of Australia.

She also has some cooking demonstrations planned.

Jimmy has always brought flair and finesse to all of his creations in the MasterChef kitchen.

When he returned to the show, he was determined to deliver his best and impress the judges.

Unfortunately, he was sent home in a technical pressure test set by pastry chef Steven He.

Although he was devastated that his journey came to an end, Jimmy was grateful for the opportunity to come back.

“I’m guttered, but you know what, what an absolute privilege it has been to be a part of this amazing experience,” he told everyone on the show.

Being on MasterChef once again ignited his passion and gave him a “renewed vigour” for cooking and food photography, he said. It also inspired him not to give up on his food dreams.

“I may not have won, but I am so glad that I came back. This experience is irreplaceable,” he said. 

When Matt received the call with an offer to return to the MasterChef Australia kitchen, he said it was “out of the blue” and something he never considered—but he couldn’t say no.

Reflecting on his journey on the show, he told New Idea that it was a “once in a lifetime experience” the first time around, and very much so the second time.

“It was pretty easy to say yes,” he said. “The kitchen is such a magical place where you get to experiment and to be creative, you get to put yourself out there, you have amazing ingredients, you’ve got these judges who are guiding and pushing, and some of these fantastic judges from all over the world, you can’t say no.”

His journey was however cut short in an elimination.

Looking back on it all, he said he could have put his Bombe Alaska meringue in the oven earlier, but he had no regrets.

“It’s one part guttered and 10 parts excited and proud,” he said, adding that it was important to push himself.

Along with cooking alongside Gordon Ramsay, another key highlight for the associate professor and dental public health expert was cooking with and learning from other contestants.

“To take a risk is always a really good life lesson to put yourself out there, you never know where the opportunity will land,” he said.

Looking forward to taking a breather after his whirlwind experience, Matt told New Idea that he was passionate about bringing health and food together and was teaching after the show.

Going into the MasterChef kitchen for a second time was exciting for Steph because she felt more established and “much more in control”.

The chef, who is known as the “Frugal Foodie” on social media, was ready to embrace the experience and was thrilled to connect with former contestants she watched before going on the show.

“The biggest highlight was meeting all of the old contestants,” she exclusively told New Idea the morning after her on-screen elimination.

While she created a series of delicious dishes with her signature flair through the course of the competition, she was ultimately sent home after the flavours in her crispy pork belly dish were too powerful for the judges.

Although her journey was cut short, she told New Idea she had no regrets.

“I wouldn’t do a single thing differently… I cooked six cracker dishes. I was so happy with them, I got fantastic feedback from the judges on every dish except the last one, I had a really good time, learned some things along the way from other contestants, and I really enjoyed myself,” she said.

Another key highlight was honouring her sister Therese, who she lost to motor neurone disease in 2022, during the competition. Steph explained that her sister was there with her when she auditioned for MasterChef and was “such a big supporter of mine all the way through”.

During the show, she said her online cooking journey was extra special because she shared months of it with her sister before she passed.

“I dedicated my first book to her, and I feel like she’s looking out for me all the time,” she said.

So what’s next after leaving the show?

She’s got brand partnerships lined up, has been busy with her latest book Easy Dinner Queen and is launching a meal-plan subscription service for her followers in July that will focus on weekly budget and supermarket-friendly meal plans.

Returning to the MasterChef kitchen, Savindri was determined to honour her Sri Lankan culture and heritage and to not give up.

When she came back, she wowed the judges with her vibrant and delicious dishes, particularly her midnight snack “Slosh n Smash”.

Unfortunately, she was sent home in a pressure test, which was set by dessert legend Kirsten Tibballs

Reflecting on her journey on Instagram after the elimination, Savindri said she was proud.

“It was an honour to have a chance to attempt this incredible recipe,” she said about her chocolate and caviar dish.

The private chef said before returning, she was afraid to own her successes, but regained her confidence in the kitchen.

“I walk away as a version of Sav that’s shown up authentically and unapologetically, that has honoured her mother & her culture again & again, a version of Sav that has made new friends and isn’t so burdened by grief,” she wrote in the post.

When Cath returned to the MasterChef kitchen, she was determined to challenge herself.

Cooking with joy is always at the forefront of her mind when she’s creating food, but unfortunately, her time was cut short in the kitchen.

She was the first contestant to be formally eliminated on May 4, after she served her Japanese mushroom dish, which contained some mushrooms that were more burned than her desire for them to be charred.

Speaking exclusively to New Idea after her departure, she said it was a “simple” mistake.

“I’d probably trust my instincts a bit sooner, I sort of second-guessed myself with some of the elements that I did put on my final dish, and I think that cost me in that moment,” she said.

Although she returned for a short time, Cath said she gained so much. Cooking along with Gordon Ramsay was a highlight.

“That was… I don’t even know how you could surpass that… just that cook-along challenge was so much fun, and he was an absolute delight. He really is a softie deep down, he was really caring,” she explained.

As for what’s next?

She plans to continue her home cooking classes under Cath’s Kitchen, which she established after her first time on MasterChef, hopes to release some cookbooks and keep doing work with charities. After becoming close to the other contestants, Cath plans to collaborate with them in the future.

“I just felt really proud and humbled that I was asked back,” she said.

Pete was determined to return to the competition to show the judges and Australia what he was made of after he came second to Justin Narayan in 2021.

However, he withdrew from the competition early after being diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma.

According to the Cancer Council, it is a rare cancer that impacts the lymphatic system.

Speaking exclusively to our sister publication Woman’s Day, the father of two said he was initially checked for swollen lymph nodes, which were cleared as a non-issue more than a year later.

“Eventually, a haematologist suggested removing a lymph node for thorough analysis, and this was when the Hodgkin’s lymphoma was discovered,” he explained.

He announced his cancer diagnosis on Instagram in January with the caption: “New look for my cancer/chemo era… Hodgkin’s lymphoma, you dog.”

The former tattoo artist told Woman’s Day he had “no other symptoms” and it was a “complete shock”. He admitted that he had asked if it was possible to start treatment after the competition.

“She told me I’d possibly die, and that’s when the severity of the situation really hit me and replaced the disappointment. From there, I just wanted to start treatment as soon as possible and get better for my family,” he said, and revealed he started chemotherapy after he left.

Judge Andy Allen announced Pete’s departure during the April 30 episode and said it was for “personal reasons”.

Following up on his departure on Instagram, he wrote: “Didn’t even get to cook for the judges! But you know what they say… ‘if you have cancer, you should go get chemo’. A massive thank you to everyone messaging and checking in, you’re all so nice X.”