Biltong-loving Aussie chef wants to taste SA

Reality show winner all set to visit Joburg Good Food show

Having fallen in love with the taste of biltong, Masterchef Australia winner Brent Owens is looking forward to sampling more of South Africa’s fine delicacies. Owens will be heading to South Africa for the first time next month to attend the Good Food and Wine Show taking place in Joburg.

Owens, who won season six of the cooking reality show last year, will be joined by a number of other international foodies, such as Australian patissier and chef Adriano Zumbo, as well as raconteur Tom Parker Bowles and UK MasterChef judge John Torode at the annual food show.

Speaking to the Saturday Star this week, Owens said he was extremely excited to be visiting South Africa for the first time.

“I love visiting new places, seeing new faces and new surroundings and trying out new food experiences! I can’t wait to visit and see what it’s all about,” said Owens.

“I have no idea what to expect and that’s the best part of it all. At the moment, I think of Africa and I picture The Lion King.”

Having never eaten a proper South African dish, Owens said he was looking forward to tucking in to some local cuisine during his trip.

“I have only ever tried biltong. My fellow contestant in Masterchef Australia 2014, Amy Shields, was born in South Africa and she would get it delivered into the MasterChef house quite often – and I love my jerky.”

“Luckily, she would always share. Apart from that, I don’t know many South African dishes so I am very excited to try anything and everything.”

Owens admits he hasn’t read up much about South African cuisine.

“I’ve heard there’s a lot of Indian and Malay influences. This is why I am so excited. I am heading into an unknown world of food, which is great.”

Owens will be in the country for a week before heading back to Australia. He had hoped to stay in South Africa for a while longer, but due to a busy schedule he has to return.

“Two days have been booked up with publicity and interviews, and then my appearances at the festival. That

only leaves me with a couple of days to explore.

“I love animals, so having the opportunity to go on a safari is incredible.

“Then, I obviously want to eat at as many places as possible! I would love recommendations – your readers can get hold of me on my social media accounts.”

Speaking about his jour ney on Masterchef Australia, Owens said he went in to the competition with very little experience and knowledge of cooking.

“Living and breathing food for that period taught me more than I could ever have imagined. Not only did I learn a lot about food, my personality grew just as much as my food knowledge.

“You’re faced with different situations and challenges every few hours, so adapting and coping becomes one of your most important traits.

“The journey is one I will never forget. It was the hardest and most rewarding thing I have ever done. It was truly an amazing time in my life.”

He said his key to succeeding lay in his ability to cope well with constant stress and anxiety.

“Early in the competition, our executive producer, who I love dearly, told us to “surrender to the process”, which was basically saying, what’s out of your control doesn’t matter.

“Focus on what’s relevant and what is going to get you through this competition. Once that sunk in, things starting falling into place. I would often tell myself that this experience was only ever going to happen once, so I had to enjoy every second of it.” Owens said since winning Masterchef Australia his life had completely changed.

“My life today is completely different. I’m cooking, eating, testing, trialling, doing demos, travelling, setting up businesses and learning more and more about food and cooking each and every day.

“Being able to do what you love and get paid for it, is what we like to call ‘living the dream’.”

The Good Food & Wine Show takes place at the Ticketpro Dome (formerly the Coca-Cola Dome) from Thursday, July 23 to Sunday, July 26.

Tickets at Computicket.

Living and breathing food taught me more than I could ever have imagined…