Get to know our judge and highly acclaimed chef, Gary Mehigan, a little better.
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Gary Mehigan Questionnaire
What have you enjoyed most about MasterChef so far?
What I am loving right now is the interaction with the contestants – we are starting to get to know and understand them, their motivations, strengths and weaknesses. We have our favourites of course and the opportunity to help shape their future and fulfil a dream is powerful.
What qualities do the contestants need to be successful?
They need to be a self starter, a natural people person, someone who you feel naturally drawn to, someone who smiles, enjoys life and loves cooking. They should possess a natural empathy towards others and as a cook, should love feeding people. We all love a story and making the very best of their heritage or background certainly appeals.
What makes a dish truly great?
Great food often relates in a very personal way to experiences we have had – it fixes flavours in our minds, the enjoyment, the moment, the place and the people that we shared that time with. A great dish not only combines textures flavours and subtleties that we enjoy but at its best, says something about who we are. Fish and chips by the sea or a gorgeous warm pudding that reminds us of our Nonna, our mums or our childhood.
What's unique about how people cook in Australia?
We love the outdoors, we love the sun, and it brightens our lives and our food. We have a certain richness, colour and depth in our landscape and that reflects in our food. We have fabulous seafood and fresh produce and a new world cultural mix and optimism that have shaped the way we eat.
What characteristics or qualities does a great chef have?
Above all, a great chef should love to eat and love to feed others. Pride and a sense of care and interest for another’s wellbeing sets a good chef apart from a bad chef. Passion grows; the knowledge and technical skill can be learned. Feeding someone else is a deeply personal thing, pretty much the most personal thing you can do for someone other than have sex!
If you could choose your last meal on earth, what would it be?
Impossible thing to answer because as I think of one dish such as the creamiest, softest mash potato with a rich braised oxtail with a marmalade of red onions…Oohh, talking about onions – a steak, onion and stout pie with a flaky pastry and mushy peas. Talking about peas, a little soft mousse of peas, a spearmint oil, crispy shards of pancetta and seared diver scallops – ahh! scallops – and on and on it goes – as I say, impossible!
What’s your favourite place to travel?
I moved to Australia 18 years ago form the UK – I intended to stay for a year or two but fell in love with this glorious country. I live overseas – how cool is that! Driving through a scorched landscape with skeletons of gums and the odd fireplace still standing, rickety fencing and an old water pump may indicate a time past or a time of struggle but I love that landscape.
The beaches of Western Australia or the rolling hills of the southern NSW hinterland, rugged Tasmania - they’re all very special. The Great Barrier Reef – there’s no place on earth like it. So proud - so lucky to be here.
The beaches of Western Australia or the rolling hills of the southern NSW hinterland, rugged Tasmania - they’re all very special. The Great Barrier Reef – there’s no place on earth like it. So proud - so lucky to be here.
What dish would be the way to your heart?
Anything made with love – from the heart. As I say, cooking is one of the most personal things you can do for another.
If you were having any three people, alive or dead, over for dinner, who would they be and what would you cook for them?
My grandfather, he was a chef and a gardener in his retirement – he baked bread, made jams and fed my sister and I little chunks of bitter couverture when we were little. I have learnt so much since he passed away 20 years ago – he set me on my path in life, he would be so proud and I would tell him how much he meant to me as child.
The Dalai Lama – not because I am religious, I never have been but because as I have got older I have become more spiritual in a sense, more aware of my time here and what I should be to myself and those around me.
Billy Connolly because above all else I love to laugh; a comedian should use his humour to provoke and turn our preconceptions upside down. Not to take ourselves and our opinions, prejudices and habits too seriously – what funny people we all are. Laughter as our release.
The Dalai Lama – not because I am religious, I never have been but because as I have got older I have become more spiritual in a sense, more aware of my time here and what I should be to myself and those around me.
Billy Connolly because above all else I love to laugh; a comedian should use his humour to provoke and turn our preconceptions upside down. Not to take ourselves and our opinions, prejudices and habits too seriously – what funny people we all are. Laughter as our release.
Sweet or savoury:
Haigh’s chocolate - Rocky Road or honeycomb crunch.
St Marcelin (cheese) – soft, gooey and good crusty sour dough bread – oh my god, there I go again!
St Marcelin (cheese) – soft, gooey and good crusty sour dough bread – oh my god, there I go again!
How do you like your eggs?
Fresh, free range, soft poached with crunchy yet soft centred toast – slathered in Hollandaise!
