Chloe Carroll On Masterchef: A Canberra Native With A Wholesome Approach To Cooking
Born and raised in Canberra, Chloe Ann Carroll worked in hospitality before completing her degree in Nutrition from the University of Canberra. She’s moved back and forth between Melbourne, Canberra and Queensland with her husband Anthony. Now a mother of two children—daughter Sienna and son Laurence—Chloe and her family have settled down in Brisbane.
Studying nutrition was what sparked Chloe’s love for food. A self-described home cook, she started experimenting in the kitchen. Initially, she wanted to learn to cook better meals for her family. "I want my kids to just love all types of food, so I'm always changing things up,'' she said. "They love things like just simple stir-fries with oyster sauce and Thai basil and chicken and lots of veggies.”
Chloe Isn’t A Fan of Instant Food
After learning about proper nutrition in uni, Chloe couldn’t go back to unhealthy convenience food. She tried to make healthier versions of comfort food. Chloe then learned to make her own sausages, custards, and pastries. She’s a huge fan of cooking shows, and she was inspired by Masterchef judge Gary Mehigan.
As her skill set grew, people started encouraging her to audition. But to Chloe, Masterchef at age 28 was just a dream. Her kids were still young, and she wasn't sure she could leave them to try out. Thanks to support from family and friends, she cooked her way to a white apron.
Chloe’s Healthy Approach Wasn’t Always Welcome
For Chloe, Masterchef 2018 was a chance to show that healthy food doesn’t have to be boring, but people didn’t think a nutritionist could win a cooking show. "They're surprised I've been making desserts and things that haven't been particularly healthy,” she says. “I don't think I'm a very pushy person when it comes to what people should be eating.”
Chloe’s love of Asian flavours and fresh vegetables was clear on every plate. One of her most memorable challenge wins was when she served crispy pork belly with mushrooms, and vanilla custard with mandarin—earning the last ‘superpower’ of the competition.
She Bounced Back From Public Criticism
Chloe got into some major drama because of a cooking challenge. Contestants were told to present a home-style meal representing who they were as cooks. Other contestants drew from their cultural heritage, but Chloe cooked Ghanaian peanut stew and jollof rice.
“The West African influence comes from my partner—his father is from Ghana and I really want to keep the culture alive through food,' Chloe explained. “It's their heritage, and it's something that's close to my heart.” This decision divided fans. They thought it wasn’t right for an Aussie chef to cook a dish from another culture, no matter how important it was to her.
Chloe refused to let the critics bring her down. Eventually, her performance wowed both the judges and viewers. Even a ‘Retro TV Dinner’ challenge didn’t faze this nutritionist. She paid tribute to good old beef with gravy and peas through her simple, flavourful seared beef salad. That test silenced the complaints about ‘Clean Eater Chloe’ for good!
A Strong Finish For Chloe As One of Season 10’s Top Five
Chloe Carroll shone as a solo cook and team player on Season 10. She always kept calm while other contestants began to shout or let the stress get to them. She became friends with fellow finalists Khanh Ong and Jess Liemantara. The three stayed in touch after the competition—they love to comment on each other’s Instagram creations!
Sadly, her stint was ended by a ‘recreation elimination’. Michelin starred chef Ashley Palmer-Watts, told the Final Five to replicate sherried marron—a dish he learned under the legendary Heston Blumenthal. Chloe struggled with the elaborate course, which had over ninety steps in the recipe. While her performance was praised, her tartare’s flavours lacked balance, and she was eliminated.
Chloe Remains Committed To Helping People Eat Better
"I'm all about trying to get people to eat more veggies, thinking about what they put in their meals. People should be able to enjoy life without feeling guilty,” says Chloe. "One thing I am very particular about is lots of vegetables. I think 4 per cent of our population get the recommended vegetables in their diet. We need to get everyone eating them.”
For Chloe, Masterchef was a great way for her to inspire others to enjoy food in moderation. She’s always promoting this cause in between her post-Masterchef projects. One of her dreams is to set up healthy eating initiatives, so people will be encouraged to grow and eat local produce.
What Is Chloe From Masterchef Doing Now?
For the first few months after Masterchef, Chloe reconnected with her family. She also started pop-up cooking classes with Taya Kitchen, featuring her recipes for laksa and butter chicken.
Chloe has also collaborated with LifeShape Kitchen for cooking workshops. These are focused on family-friendly recipes packed with nutrition.
Chloe said that after her MasterChef run, she wanted to open a cooking school. "Get families back in the kitchen, reconnect people with food,'' she said. "Just back to basic cooking skills. I think that's really important and really life-saving. People go and buy a lot of convenience food and that's not necessarily their fault, they're time-poor.”
If you’re curious about her latest recipes and her next plan, follow her on Instagram at @chloeanncooks. Her profile is full of photos of what she’s learned to make since the competition, as well as her family’s favourite dishes.
