The joke’s on you, Patricia
FUNNY MAN: FORREST PULLS HIS WEIGHT IN CELEBRITY KITCHEN
Local comedian proves anything is possible as he beats songstress Lewis by two points in final cook-off.
Best known for his work on the comedy front, Chris Forrest proved on television on Sunday night he is more than just a smart mouth. The comedian won Celebrity Masterchef, beating singer Patricia Lewis in the finale after weeks of cooking up a storm.
His wife, Tabitha Hoy Forrest, said: “Chris rarely cooked. He didn’t even know how to chop an onion. I’ve been feeding him for 10 years and now this. I’m the real winner here.
“Our goal was simply that he wouldn’t be the first one out [of the competition].”
Although Forrest admitted luck played a large part in it, he described weeks of preparation, extensive reading of recipe books and practice.
He explained: “When I heard I made it onto the show, I brought in a friend of mine who runs a cooking school and she taught me the basics. Also, while in the house, I would practice constantly, making dinner for the other contestants and experimenting with different dishes.”
Although Forrest’s cooking knowledge was limited, he has since come a long way, no longer viewing the process as a chore, but rather an enjoyable pastime.
“Before, I would go to the shops, buy a ready-made lasagne and just pop it into the oven for 20 minutes. Now, I make everything from scratch. I’ve become a lot more adventurous in the kitchen,” he said.
Tabitha added: “Chris’s biggest challenge was his lack of experimentation. He would get the ingredients, take out the measuring jug and do exactly as told. I’d start adding garlic to the dish and he’d be like: ‘what are you doing?’”
When asked what his biggest advantage was, Tabitha said, “His sense of calm. Chris is a very laidback person and it played in his favour. He stayed level-headed throughout the show and never panicked. He also did a lot of research.”
Although the couple have known for some time about the win, his contract prevented them telling friends and family. “I wasn’t even allowed to tell my parents,” said Forrest. “Although difficult at first, I think they appreciate it now because at least they could enjoy the show for what it was, building tensions from week to week.”
Forrest has since received many invitations to cook for friends, saying: “I don’t mind, I really enjoy it now.”
“It’s great,” said Tabitha. “Now I can buy tuna steaks and hand them over to him to prepare.”