Jess’ sweet love story
Nick, whom Jess has been dating since last year, is a mortgage broker, but he used to be a kitchenhand. When Jess needs help producing desserts, Nick is the person she calls on. “I get him to help me with macaron production,” confesses the 25-year-old from Perth.
Nick, whom Jess has been dating since last year, is a mortgage broker, but he used to be a kitchenhand. When Jess needs help producing desserts, Nick is the person she calls on. “I get him to help me with macaron production,” confesses the 25-year-old from Perth.
Jess and Nick met not in a kitchen, but on a dating app. “The first date went really well,” she remembers. “We spent from 12pm to 12am together, just walking around, eating, watching movies… It was bliss.”
“He’s the best kitchenhand I’ve ever had!” Jess says of partner Nick.
Jess first appeared on MasterChef in 2018, when she was 19. In 2019, she self-published her own cookbook A Zest Of Jess. “It’s possible to go for your dreams, even if you get declined elsewhere,” she says, adding that it was “really scary” to find herself up against so many of Australia’s top pastry chefs on Dessert Masters this time around. “Adriano Zumbo and Kirsten Tibballs were two people I looked up to for so long.”
Reynold’s overseas adventure
Fans of dessert king Reynold Poernomo were thrilled to see him on Dessert Masters, hoping he could finally notch up a victory after coming close twice on MasterChef Australia. But having not cooked any sweet dishes for almost a year, Reynold wasn’t keen to appear on the show.
“I was pretty hesitant,” confesses the 29-year-old. “I was like, ‘Do I really want to be a contestant again?’ At first, I actually said no.”
Since first appearing on MasterChef in 2015, Reynold has been working with his mother Ike, plus brothers Arnold and Ronald, opening Koi Dessert Bar in Sydney. However, he’s since expanded into other culinary ventures, hence neglecting desserts.
Reynold admits working with his family was “difficult at first”. He explains, “We’re all bosses, so we started arguing. But as time has passed, we’ve matured and understand each other’s style. We’re in the business together and all want one thing, which is to make it succeed.”
Striking out on his own, Reynold says he feels like Dessert Masters is his one chance he had to showcase his skills in Australia because he’s largely ignored by food writers.
“Eight years not being reviewed kind of sucks, but that’s OK. I’d rather go abroad and chase for a Michelin star – that’s my future plan.”
MasterChef: Dessert Masters screens 7.30pm Monday 18 to Thursday 21 December on TVNZ 2.
