MasterChef's latest evictee Jake just missed out on making the top 12! He chats to us about his dream to open a beach seafood stand and his plans to travel.
What is the easiest part about being on a show like this?
I guess it was good not having to worry about the outside world. You just wrap yourself up in this little bubble of MasterChef and don't think about anything else.
Were there any aspects of the show that you found hard?
I found it hard being away from home for so long but I really enjoyed the actual pressure of the show. When we were cooking I think it was the most enjoyable part. Even though it's intense at the time when you finish you're just buzzing.
You were only in two pressure tests in the show?
Yes, the last one wasn't a pressure test it was the team challenge and then the taste test but I did a pressure test in top 50 for Neil Perry and then I did the Rick Stein one.
Do you think the pressure tests have helped you as a cook?
Oh, definitely, it gives you a real feel for what it is and a sense of urgency in what you're doing.
Who do you think is going to win the competition?
Jonathan will be hard to beat. He and Marion are definitely the frontrunners, maybe with Adam and Alvin close behind. I think their knowledge is so broad and they're so quick and meticulous.
Have you been watching much of the show when it plays back on television?
Yeah I have, I've watched most of it.
What has it been like seeing yourself on TV?
It was a bit hard to get used to. I didn't realise I had such an ocker twang [laughs].
Do you think you came across fairly accurately?
Yeah, I guess I did.
What about everyone else?
Yeah, most of the time. A few people come off looking a little bit nastier than they actually are.
I know a few people have said Jonathan comes across as meaner than he actually is.
Yeah, he's a great bloke and he came across looking like a little bit of a ratbag, which is a shame.
Do you guys all get along?
We all got along really well.
Was there anyone in the house that you were particularly close to?
No-one in particular. I think everyone I got along great with so there's nobody I could really pinpoint.
What was the most important thing for you in terms of what you learnt on the show?
I guess it taught me a lot about myself and how I perform under pressure and how much I really enjoy food and I definitely want to pursue it.
A lot of the other contestants want to do their own restaurant, but you've said your dream is to open a beach seafood stand. Are you taking any further steps to go after that dream?
Yeah, I mean it's still in the pipeline. I got knocked back on my application.
Was that before the show?
No, it was after but I didn't actually mention MasterChef.
Do you think it would have helped if you did?
Oh maybe, I want to do it on my own merit rather than using the show. And my girlfriend and I are going travelling so I've sort of put everything on hold at the moment to concentrate on that and I've been given work experience in some restaurants.
Where are you guys travelling to?
We're going to South-East Asia for about six weeks and then we're going to live in Europe for 12 months.
That'll be amazing. The food is going to be incredible.
Yeah, that's what I'm looking forward to.
