After months of intense challenges and eliminations, Laura Sharrad was crowned the winner of MasterChef Australia: Back to Win.
In the end, she beat Callum Hann by seven points.
Speaking exclusively with New Idea, she said the finale felt “different.”
“Every MasterChef Grand Finale that I’ve experienced has been different, and I have loved them all in different ways, but I felt like there was a new energy this time around,” she said.
“I felt really confident and calm. I was probably the most excited that I’ve ever been because my husband, Max, and our daughter Florence were going to be there, and I was getting to do it alongside my friend, Callum [Hann].
Speaking with us before the finale, Laura said the competition had its challenges.
“It’s been easier in the sense that I knew what I was walking into – I know how the kitchen works, where things are, and how to keep calm under pressure,” she said to New Idea.
“But it’s been harder in the creativity sense, that’s for sure. It’s so challenging coming up with the right dish for the right moment, and then making sure you haven’t cooked it in the MasterChef kitchen before!”
For the final showdown, Laura and Callum competed in two rounds.
In the first round, they had to showcase a classic flavour pairing – potatoes and rosemary.
For both of their first dishes, they scored nines from Andy and Sofia, and perfect tens from Poh and Jean-Christophe.
Because of this draw, the winner would then be decided by a final pressure test.
They then faced the ultimate challenge: recreating a 149-step dessert by world-class pastry chef Michael Llamanzares-Aspiras.
Laura was determined not to repeat past mistakes and chose to focus on the finer details.
While her profiteroles were smaller, and some of her chocolate work was too thick, the judges loved her attention to detail and said she nailed most of the textures.
Michael likened her work to that of his sous chef.
In the end, Callum finished with an overall score of 73, and Laura had 80 points.
“I’m thrilled and completely overwhelmed with joy and pride to finally win the title of MasterChef Australia. It’s a very surreal feeling,” she said to New Idea.
When she was told she won, she was in pure disbelief.
While fans have criticised her win, it was not at the forefront of her mind.
“The positive support I’ve received has far outweighed the negative, and I’m focusing on celebrating the title I’ve dreamt of since I was 13,” she said.
Before the finale, she said Jock Zonfrillo was also on her mind.
“Everywhere I’d look, I could picture him being there in the moment. Knowing he will never leave that place or be forgotten is really special,” she explained to New Idea before the finale.
“It’s been really special to come back and share a bond that we both had with Jock [Zonfrillo] through food.
“Jock was the first chef who took me under their wing, so I learned how to cook in a [commercial] kitchen through his style, his ingredients, and the way he would do things.”
During the episode, Andy also acknowledged that Jock would have loved to see her win.
“Laura, in this moment with you finally winning the title, it feels right to mention how proud Jock would be of you,” he said.
“And it’s so amazing to know that he lives on through your food. So thank you.”
As for what she plans to do with the money?
“I’m still figuring it out. I definitely won’t be blowing it anytime soon!” she said.
