PLAY TELEVISION BEN STUDIES SCIENCE OF FOOD

years ago, Tasmanian chef Ben Milbourne was introduced to Australia’s first cookbook, written more than 150 years ago by Edward Abbott. The MasterChef Australia alumni was intrigued by how much had changed in the world of food media.

“The main difference is with the science and technology that’s changed over the years,” Milbourne said.

He came up with the idea for his TV series Food Lab, which brings together his two backgrounds as a former high school science teacher and now his work as a chef.

“My science background really helped because cooking is basically a science experiment. Every time you cook you’ve got an apparatus list, which is your ingredients, you’ve got a method, which is your recipe, and then you’ve got end results, was it good or was it bad? So from there it’s just been something that’s been constant throughout what I’ve done. It helps me understand food and it helps me understand science,” he said.

Over 65 episodes, Milbourne teams up with scientists from the University of Queensland to examine the science behind each recipe he executes on camera. Milbourne is preparing to open a restaurant in Devonport on Tasmania’s north coast, presents another TV show called Ben’s Menu and co- presents another series, Andy & Ben Eat Australia, with his MasterChef buddy, the series winner Andy Allen. It’s all happened since he competed on the show in 2012.

“I never really felt like I had to work when I was involved with food so I haven’t really worked a day in five years,” he says.