MasterChef Australia visits the goldfields

THIS week on MasterChef Australia, contestants hit the road, travelling to the Victorian Goldfields.

On Monday night, the 17 remaining contestants cooked with a French themed mystery box in Bendigo.

The challenge took inspiration from Bendigo Art Gallery’s Paris: Impressions Of Life exhibition and contestants cooked at the Bendigo Town Hall.

The bottom four chefs from this challenge took part in the elimination round on Tuesday night at Black Cat Truffles at Wattle Flat near Ballarat.

Head chef, Liam Downes, set a four-hour pressure test and he said it was a career highlight being able to take part in the program.

“It was a really fantastic opportunity when Visit Victoria and MasterChef Australia contacted me,” he said.

“As a chef you watch a bit of MasterChef and think I’d like to be on that so to be offered an opportunity on the show was pretty cool.

“It was exciting to put the contestants through their paces and a real honour to have them here.”

Mr Downes said the episodes set in the Victorian Goldfields region highlights what the area has to offer.

“With everything that’s happened in Ballarat in the last few months, I think it’s important that people still see Ballarat as an amazing place,” he said.

“It’s a great place to come with fantastic venues and attractions.

“Ballarat is open for business and it’s an exciting time for the town.”

MasterChef Australia judge Jean-Christophe Novelli said it was a great experience to travel to the Victorian Goldfields.

“It was a privilege to visit Bendigo and Ballarat to film these special episodes of MasterChef Australia,” he said.

“I was mesmerised by the beautiful inland Australian scenery. I just wish I had spotted a kangaroo in the wild.”

Truffiere: MasterChef season 16 hosts and judges Sofia Levin, Andy Allen, Poh Ling Yeow and Jean-Christophe Novelli, at the Black Cat truffle farm. Photos: SUPPLIED