MasterChef Australia: Foodies vs Favourites sees the return of some iconic home cooks, with season four’s Mindy Woods taking on the spicy adventure once again.
The TV cook finished in fourth place in 2012, the same year that now-judge Andy Allen took out the top gong.
At a time when reality TV is pivoting to focus on diverse individuals, Mindy — proud Bundjalung woman of the Widjabul Wia bul clan —is ready to wow once again with dishes that are often overlooked in modern cooking culture.
Why Did Mindy Woods Pursue Cooking?
Hailing from Melbourne, Mindy and her family often relocated during her childhood as her father was a cook in the Australian Air Force.
In her official MasterChef bio, Mindy recalls “making her making her parents breakfast in bed with a cold cup of tea”. However, despite her growing talents, her love of cooking for those close to her has “never wavered”.
Inspired by her father to pursue cooking professionally, the MasterChef hopeful has a flair for savoury dishes.
Right now, her current favourite dish to whip up is snapper with native curry and handmade roti. YUM!
Using Food to Connect People With Aboriginal Culture
Aside from winning MasterChef Australia: Foodies vs Favourites, Mindy’s ultimate goal is to use food to bridge the gap between people and Aboriginal culture, art and stories.
Particularly, she wants to highlight some of the world’s oldest living ingredients and teach people how to use them in their own everyday cooking.
It’s Mindy’s unique skills that have made her a sought-after chef in the food industry. In 2020, she opened her own restaurant, Karkalla, in Byron Bay.
Prior to its launch, the chef worked as the Head Of Culinary Development for the Lotus Group before becoming CEO.
Most recently, however, Mindy represented Australia as a guest chef at the World Expo in Dubai.
As she takes on MasterChef for a second time, Mindy is cheered on by her wife, Rachelle, alongside their two kitties, Leopold and Lucy.
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