MasterChef recruit runs out of steam
AFORMER Macclesfield student now living Down Under has been eliminated from MasterChef Australia.
Stephen Rooney, 31, previously impressed judges on the Australian show with his culinary creations.
But he has narrowly missed out making it into the top 10 meaning he won’t win the $250,000 prize.
Stephen, a former student of St Alban’s primary school, All Hallows and Fallibroome Academy, used to work for Cheshire Building Society and the former Woodman pub in the town.
After travelling in South America and working in New Zealand, he and his long-term girlfriend Georgina, who is from Poynton, settled in Australia in 2008. Stephen quit his job as a recruitment specialist to try and win MasterChef Australia after being encouraged by Georgina.
Speaking of his exit Stephen said: “I had a good run.
“All good things must come to an end unfortunately and it is my time to bow out of MasterChef Australia gracefully.
“To be honest I got a lot further than I initially expected but still a little disappointed not to have made it to the top 10.
“The judges are tough but fair and were always very good to me. It was an intense and amazing learning experience.”
Stephen’s final show saw him attempt to recreate acclaimed French chef Guillaume Brahimi’s “Jewel of the Sea” dish.
The seafood dish, served inside a hollowed out sea urchin, combines the rich flavours of the urchin, lobster, oysters, mussels and squid. A few days later he had the chance to come back into the competition in a head-to-head battle with another amateur chef in the competition, but narrowly lost out.
During the show Stephen got to meet cooking idols Heston Blumenthal and Marco Pierre White.
Since leaving, Stephen has worked alongside former contestant Ava Strangherlin doing work experience at some top hotels.
Stephen got his passion for food from mum Angela and has been cooking since he was 16.
His go-to dishes include British, French and Italian classics.
Stephen, who visits friends in Macclesfield when he returns to the UK, now plans to achieve his dream: to cook for the Rolling Stones in his own restaurant with a huge kitchen garden.