To talk to a winner of popular show, Brent Owens of MasterChef Australia, and not to ask him questions about their brilliant judges, will be a sin. And, I am pious fan of the magnificent three. Let me start the blog post with another clichéd question but I am sure we, the lovers of Masterchef Australia, won’t care even if they have heard/ read it before. One of the favourite questions to Brent: What do you think about Gary Mehigan, George Calombaris and Matt Preston of MasterChef Australia? Brent said these, “George is the funny guy” with whom he would go out partying. “Matt is the genius” and he would ask him for knowledge on food. “Gary is the father figure” whom shoulder he would lay his head and cry. In order to promote the upcoming #MasterChefAustraliaSeason 7 Coming Soon Only on on Star World Premiere HD
, Brent Owens is on the run. This time he is in India. And, I chanced upon to talk to new Australia’s MasterChef who loves to eat Vietnamese Lettuce Wraps for dinner in his cosy home. I asked him, “What have you been eating in India since you have arrived?” The question was an attempt to garner more Indian masala for my Indian readers. He did not disappoint me. His food sojourn at #Juhu beach in #Mumbai was a memorable experience. He had what we have when we are at Juhu beach: eat #PaniPuri, Sev Puri, Idli, Kulfi, Pao Bhaji and what else but Vada Pav. Following it up, I asked which one of these will he take it back to his culinary studio in Australia and give it a modern makeover with an Aussie bling. Brent found ‘Pani Puri quite cool’. ‘Some Oz fun around Panipuri’? Brent, I am waiting for it.
On his food pilgrimage around the world, which he is travelling after winning the title last year, he found Indian cooking is quite technical. The tampering of spices bowls him over. He has that innate desire to try out so many other dishes and learn something out of them. But his busy schedule has allowed him to try out “#Dosa” so far. He has definitely grown beyond Vindaloo, one of the few Indian dishes that he knew before he arrived in India, or Butter Chicken, another popular Indian dish, and wanted to learn more about tempering spices. Brent also want to learn different breads of Indian cooking. Brent affirms that easiest part of Indian cooking is ‘eating it.’ I agree. On the hardest part, Brent admitted that Indian cooking is quite technical and tempering of spices, which is an art form, is tough. In Australia, it is not known. When asked if he has to prepare a dish called Life, then what would be the ingredients that he would use? This question led him to think and slowly he cooked us a dish only for our readers. The dish called life would include Palm hearts which will be its base ingredient. To give it kick into it, some smoked paprika and some lime suice and then tossed with some honey. The dish is soft and tender just like how our life should be. Isn’t it delicious? Aloopitika Blitzkrieg:
Favourite Chef: Jamie Oliver
Favourite restaurant: Cookie in Australia
Favourite restaurant in India: Local eat outs in Juhu Beach in Mumbai and China House in #GrandHyatt
Favourite dish: Mexican Corn salad; or something Mexican actually
Favourite movie: Batman (Chirstopher Nolan) movies. No, Brent is yet to see ‘Julia and Julia’ and ‘Ratatouille.’ He has however seen ‘Chef’ which he found pretty cool.
Favourite Music Band: Roachford
One thing that we don’t know about Brent: He is an avid #Cricket fan and plays it too as an #all-rounder.
The Mashed Potato 