Theo Loizou was about to open a bakery when his friend suggested he try out for MasterChef Australia first, so that once it launched, his bakery would have some “notoriety”.
Looking back, Theo says it was the best decision he could have made.
“During the audition process, I felt really happy,” tells the 37-year-old from Melbourne, who counts Anthony Bourdain and Rick Stein as his idols. “I thought, ‘This feels right. This is where I’m meant to be.'”
Theo worked as an electrician for 12 years before 2019, when he quit to move to France to follow his dreams of baking bread. Despite not speaking French and only planning to stay for six months, he landed a job in a Parisian boulangerie and ended up living there for three years.
France was also where he met partner Laure. With his own Greek-Cypriot background and his girlfriend’s French heritage, Theo says they’ve created a happy mix of cultures back in Australia.
With his French girlfriend Laure.
“The house is always full of bread and cheese!”
MasterChef Australia screens 7.30pm Monday to Thursday & 7pm Sundays on TVNZ 2.
