Catherine Zhang, who you might know as Catherine Desserts on social media, graces the MasterChef Australia kitchen with her presence on Sunday night, and the guest judge has revealed what it’s really like to join the show.
The dessert connoisseur was the winner of Zumbo’s Just Desserts on Netflix when she was just 19 and has since made a serious name for herself, both online and in the real world, ever since.
MasterChef guest judge reveals most ‘difficult’ part about filming
Speaking with WHO, Catherine revealed that, even though she wasn’t competing, she found being a MasterChef judge to be quite “difficult” for one major reason.
“With my only other experience on television being as a contestant on the baking show Zumbo’s Just Desserts, it felt strange to be sitting on the other side of the table, because I know exactly how nervous and passionate the contestants are, and I could feel that energy in the kitchen,” she told us.
“Coming from that side, I could never have imagined what the judging process actually looks like, the tasting, the discussions, the deliberation,” the dessert queen added. “To see it all firsthand and be part of that process was such an exciting experience.
“The most unexpected thing was just how difficult it is to make the final decisions.”
The contestants were left terrified that they would have to recreate one of Catherine’s dishes, but thankfully, they were instead tasked with creating their own fruity desserts, which led to some incredible creations.
Catherine shared that every contestant on the show comes from a different background and brings their own style to the kitchen. While some might be more refined, others might be more rustic, but they’re “all delicious in their own right”.
“When food is made with that much heart and passion, choosing between them is genuinely one of the hardest things to do.”
‘My mum is the entire reason I have this career’
Catherine’s episode airing on Mother’s Day wasn’t lost on her, with the chef telling us, “My mum is the entire reason I have this career. Seven years ago, she found the casting application for Zumbo’s Just Desserts and pushed me to apply.
“At the time I was only 19, fresh out of high school, and honestly had no idea what I wanted to do with my life. I didn’t think I was good enough or ready for it, but she knew how much I loved cooking, and she believed in me before I believed in myself.”
Thank goodness Catherine’s mum did believe in her talent, because the show was just the start of an incredible career.
She started working in kitchens, grew her social media following (over a million on TikTok alone!), and eventually opened her own dessert shop.
Catherine describes being back on TV as a guest judge as “the most full circle moment” of her life.
“The fact that this [MasterChef] episode is airing on Mother’s Day makes it that much more special, because I truly believe that without my mum’s push all those years ago, none of this would have happened.
“She is the reason I am on that screen.”
So sweet – pun, intended!
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