CONTENDERS: Local MasterChef finalists Sarah Knights and Nathan Brindle.
THE Shoalhaven’s two entrants in MasterChef: The Professionals have made it through to the finals, which will screen on Ten next week.
Twenty-three-year-old Nathan Brindle and 27-year-old Sarah Knights have beaten some of the best professional chefs in the country to make the final top six and will now battle it out to see who will be the final three left standing in the grand finale.
Under the guidance of acclaimed chef Marco Pierre White and food critic Matt Preston, the pair has overcome a host of challenges.
On Sunday the top six contestants face a mystery box challenge where from an array of fine dining ingredients they have just one hour to create a dish.
The contestant with the least impressive dish will leave the competition.
Monday will be a pressure test as guest chef Peter Gilmore joins the show and contestants have to replicate his fragrant poached chicken.
Again the contestant who fails to impress the judges will be sent home.
Tuesday will see the top four split into two teams to create their own pop-up restaurants, where they must cater for 60 diners, pick a theme for their restaurant, design their dining rooms and create a stunning three-course meal.
Again for one contestant their competition will come to an end, leaving just three in the running to take home the MasterChef: The Professionals crown.
The series finale will be screened on Sunday, March 17.
Originally from Orient Point, Mr Brindle, a former St John’s High School student, is head chef at Blancmange in Petersham.
He said he never thought he would make it into the final six, but to be there alongside a fellow Shoalhaven chef, Sarah Knights was amazing.
“It’s pretty incredible to have two chefs from the Shoalhaven both in the final six. It’s a great achievement and certainly good for the area,” he said.
He said he hadn’t contemplated making it into the final.
“To be honest I went into show open minded, whatever I got out of it was a bonus but I’m super psyched to make the top six,” he said.
“Hopefully I go well, I’ve got the confidence in my ability to make it right through.
“The best chef won’t necessarily win. It’s about being consistent; sometimes it’s the one who doesn’t mess up.
“I have just been hanging out in the middle of the pack until the final and now hopefully I can come out all guns blazing.”
He said he hadn’t felt any pressure during the series.
Ms Knights, who attended Vincentia High School, leaving school in year 10 to begin her apprenticeship, eventually moved to Sydney in her third year, working under Peter Doyle at est.
She said the opportunity to work with one of her heroes, Marco Pierre White, was too much to pass up, in fact, the former Old Erowal Bay resident, who has travelled the world with her career, left her job to ensure she could devote the three months required to the program.
