They’ve cracked the nod for Celebrity MasterChef SA, but do these personalities have what it takes to survive the pressure-cooker environment – and the judges?
Chris Forrest – Comedian (Villa of Hope)
Rate your culinary skills from one to 10? I would give myself a seven. What I lack in actual skill I make up for with passion. Plus, I’m a world-class taster.
What sets you apart from your celebrity rivals? I’m planning on bringing all my food to the table because that’s the best place to eat it.
What’s your game plan for those Mystery Box challenges? A lot of prayer that the box contains ingredients I’ve worked with before. Although, when it comes to food, many chefs will tell you that the most important ingredient is love. But sometimes I find salt is just as important.
Is there any dish that you are anxious about preparing? Prawns. I’m allergic to crustaceans. So while it is one thing I can cook quite well, I break out in welts, which is not the most appetising.
Sade Giliberti – Actress/TV Presenter (Feed SA)
Rate your culinary skills from one to 10? I would say a six. I don’t see myself as a chef. But I enjoy cooking and experimenting with flavours and textures.
What sets you apart from your celebrity rivals? I have no idea. But I can make pasta from scratch and I make a mean Mornay cheese sauce.
What’s your game plan for those Mystery Box challenges? I am not a fan of game plans. I don’t like to overthink anything. So I guess it will be one of those ‘do the best in that moment and try not to freak out’ – ‘try’ being the operative word.
Is there any dish that you are anxious about preparing? Desserts. I don’t do dessert. I eat it.
Merwelene van der Merwe – Photographer (Orange Babies)
Rate your culinary skills from one to 10? A six, maybe seven. I can effortlessly create a meal from what-ever ingredients are around me. On the other hand, I do find precision and specific rules very challenging and would see that as a shortcoming.
What sets you apart from your celebrity rivals? Everything has to be visually impressive. I am fast, creative and come with a stable of calm emotions (most of the time).
What’s your game plan for those Mystery Box challenges? To rely on my spontaneous creativity. Thinking on my feet and truly enjoying – that will ensure a great outcome.
Is there any dish that you are anxious about preparing? Baking a big cake.
Patricia Lewis – Singer, actress & drama queen (Food and Trees for Africa)
Rate your culinary skills from one to 10? I would rate myself five-and-half for savoury foods and six-and-half for sweet goodies. I have a sweet tooth and enjoying eating while I cook and bake. Since my MasterChef journey began, I’ve gained weight (blame those cakes).
What sets you apart from your celebrity rivals? I’m a pitbull so I definitely don’t give up. I’ll fight and cook until the fat lady sings… and I don’t plan on singing for a while!
What’s your game plan for those Mystery Box challenges? To think outside of the box. Be creative. He who dares…
Is there any dish that you are anxious about preparing? I’m nervous about cooking everything. Also, I have anxiety about gas stoves – they say hairspray is highly flammable. Ha ha!
Alex Jay – Radio DJ (Twilight Children)
Rate your culinary skills from one to 10? I would score myself a three. That’s because my wife took over all the cooking (other than the braais) for our family many, many years ago. I had never tried baking and lost what little skills I had. But I’m spending more time in the kitchen now because cooking is fun.
What sets you apart from your celebrity rivals? MSG. Lol.
What’s your game plan for those Mystery Box challenges? Get creative but try not to over-reach.
Is there any dish that you are anxious about preparing? Yes. A soufflé.
FACING THEIR FEARS…
Tol A$$Mo – Comedian (Children of Fire, Melville): I’m afraid of making anything with fish. And pastry/ dough dishes like pasta. If you are going to be a MasterChef, you have to know how to make that kind of stuff from scratch. There’s no opening a Woolie’s packet of pasta and adding it to boiling water.
Lerato Moloi – Actress (Bridge the Gap Foundation): Cooking seafood. Especially anything I have to fillet or gut.
Lorna Maseka – Ballerina/TV presenter (The Rivers Foundation): I’m always afraid of cooking seafood. Like Chris, I’m allergic to prawns. It always makes things hard because I can’t taste what I’m doing. That said, I love the look of prawns – they look so delicious and inviting on a plate.
Lunga Shabalala – Model/TV Presenter (Project Gateway): Anything to do with pastry. Yikes. That extends to most forms of baking, too.