Season 1 Masterchef Australia contestants and lovers Chris Badenoch and Julia Jenkins are going to be opening a restaurant on Smith St, Collingwood. Yes that would be in Melbourne.

The Age states the pair are currently renovating the premises.

The article states:

[They} are in the renovation stages at the 50-seat Josie Bones, which they describe as a ‘‘beer bar with food matching’’, near Gigibaba on Collingwood’s Smith Street. ‘‘It will be a high-end beer experience,’’  Badenoch says. ‘‘We’ll follow the share plates concept with a good showing of nose-to-tail dishes. I want to show people it’s not scary, although it will be a combination of both my and Julia’s styles of food.’’

They are hoping to open in the next couple of months.

This should dovetail nicely with Chris Badenoch’s launch of his cookbook The Entire Beast. Great concept, and great timing, unless there is a salmonella outbreak it should be successful.

Interesting to know who is bankrolling the restaurant. The article didn’t mention a silent partner, so either Chris is using his money he is receiving from his cookbook, and maybe Julia is getting some money from her parents.

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I don’t know what it is with these young whipper snappers on Masterchef Australia this year, first Callum wants his own TV show (see injera’s post on that here), and now Matthew Caldicott wants to try his hand at modelling.

Woman’s Day says he is looking to launch a modelling career, and he is looking to see if any of the agencies are interested in him.

Matt Preston is now officially on a diet according to New Idea. He now realises it is all about portion control. He said he realised he needed to go on a diet when the wardrobe girls on Masterchef were letting out his jackets without him knowing about it.

Wirra a Western Australian AFL player has withdrawn from Dancing With The Stars as he wants the better dancers to have a shot at the Grand Final (Source: Throng)

Fifi Box’s TV career continues to go from strength to strength, she will host a new show on Channel 7 called Four Weddings. It is based on a British series that can be seen on Lifestyle You where four couples compete for a deluxe honeymoon. The other contestants and attend the weddings and vote, it is a bit like Come Dine With Me voting system. It is an enjoyable program.

Ellen De Generes dances at the finale for So You Think You Can Dance. She replaced an injured dancer, Alex Wong. No news on whether we will get to see the US version of the show here. ( Source: TV Tonight)

One of my favourite American Idol’s Fantasia Barrino has attempted suicide. Her personal life is a bit murky with rumours of a liaison with a married man, and rumours of a sex tape. (Source: TV Tonight)

Daniel Macpherson is apparently one of the most popular guys on TV, so I think he will be the host of the Australian version of The Amazing Race.

If you want to know how Kate Gosselin makes her money this blog tells you how here.

In a definition of irony the Millionaire Matchmaker Patti Stanger has broken off her engagement to Andy Freidman. They met through a matchmaker five and a half years ago. (Source: Popeater)

Kara DioGuardi found out she was fired from American Idol on the news. Also for those who like trivia her father is a republican candidate. (Source: Huffington Post)

There is going to be a reality TV convention in Los Angeles next April. I am quite happy to lead a tour group there. LOL. It will have panel’s and reality TV “stars”. Also there will be online reality TV awards. Mark Burnett is involved. (Source:Hollywood Reporter)

Did one of America’s leading reality TV bloggers get banned from the Survivor set because off Russel Hantz? Great article on Reality Blurred. Also one of the negatives of not doing puff pieces, you don’t get access. I am still waiting for my interview with Jonathan Daddia.

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How can we miss Masterchef if it really won’t go away?  Another week goes by and our season two contestants keep themselves in, at least, our peripheral vision.

Matt Preston alerted the Twitterverse to this story, about Callum’s dream of having his own show, asking whether people would watch it.  Would you?  I’d watch it once, and – to be honest – would be hoping for it to be more Julie Goodwin than Poh, as it would make for a more entertaining blog post!

I fear that Callum has no real understanding of the television world, even after his months of immersion.  ”It [hanging out with Poh] made me jealous because her job is so fun – it’s MasterChef without the pressure of being eliminated.” They might not call it “elimination”, but networks do have other ways of making unsuccessful shows disappear.

Adam Liaw has been busy blogging, and posted a fabulous piece about the chefs he met on the show.  I hope Claire is taking note of the comment about Shaun Presland: “Your food is defined by your passion, not your ethnicity.”  It’s a really fun post, with some interesting insights and genuine laugh-out-loud moments.

Aaron Harvie has taken to social media like a duck to water, and has been dropping hints of an upcoming project with Matthew Caldicott.  He was also spending time yesterday with “some of the MC boys”.

For those of you with pay TV, the real Masterchef is starting on Monday.  Some of you hardcore fans might have already found ways to see this series (I’m guessing it’s the one from earlier this year), but if you haven’t it is definitely worth checking out. It’s on Lifestyle Food at 7.30.

Finally, if you are still jonesing for a reality TV cooking fix, check out The Restaurant on BBC Knowledge, Thursdays at 7.30. You might be able to catch the opening episode again on repeat during the week – I watched it and was instantly hooked (shameless plug for my recap here).

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Channel Ten are obviously missing the ratings they were getting for Masterchef, so they have brought forward the premiere of Junior Masterchef.

The show will now commence mid September. Also if this job advert on Mumbrella for a Junior Masterchef  community online manager is any indication, it looks like the night’s it will be shown will be Sunday, Monday and Friday.

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Rumours are circulating up in the Byron Bay area that Masterchef Australia Season 2 winner Adam Liaw is getting married in the area later this year.

Adam who has a Japanese girlfriend of two years will be be moving back to Australia to capitalise on his post masterchef  opportunities. He has said previously that he is worried how she will cope with his new found fame because she is a private person.

He is currently looking for a site on his first restaurant in Sydney a Japanese style pub. And also he is working on his first cook book to be released next April.

I don’t know where he would find the time to get married, but if the rumour is true then an October wedding could be on the cards.

UPDATE: Adam Liaw tweeted to say he was not getting married. So she won’t be living in Australia on a marriage visa just yet.

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Wondering what Season 2 contestants of Masterchef Australia are up to well the chances are they are blogging. Forget making sauces they are tapping away to continue connecting with their fans and I expect to try and extend their allotted 15 minutes.

They appear to be much savvier then their season one counterparts, with a greater online presence on both blogs, Facebook and Twitter.

Whereas Season 1 winner Julie Goodwin has no social media sites, but she does have own TV series. Her new series debuted this weekend. The show is called Home Cooked! With Julie Goodwin, Injera has reviewed the show over on her blog Blah Blog Blah.

Season 2 winner Adam Liaw appears to be making steps to opening a restaurant in Sydney. News.com.au say Adam has been looking at premises in restaurant hot spot Surry Hills and Darlinghurst for his Izakaya which is a Japanese type pub. He is also writing his cookbook with a launch date of April next year. He has a blog http://adamliaw.com and his latest post is about his dish that was not shown on the seven deadly sins challenge. His dish Angry Chicken apparently got good wraps from the judges.

Callum had rumours circulating last week, that he was going to delay going to Melbourne to commence work experience at George Calombaris’s restaurants to see what other opportunities would come up for him post-masterchef. This has now been denied and he will be going to Melbourne. However you can continue to read his food thoughts and what is happening in his life on Callum’s Kitchen. His latest blog proves he is a hot blooded male as he talks about meeting Jennifer Hawkins.

Is partner in masterchef crime Matthew Caldicott also has a blog called Makes You Scream For Icecream where he has recipes, and talks about food places he has visited. He is doing work experience with Neil Perry, and is also considering doing dinner for ten where people eat with him at Sydney’s good restaurants. Well if he does that good luck to him, but I would have thought his fan base wasn’t that cashed up.

Popular contestant Alvin Quah, has started a website called Cinnamon Pig with a blog and recipes. He also talks about his favourite places to eat. Hopefully he will also pop up elsewhere.

The girl who should have made the final’s Marion Grasby had a blog pre-masterchef called Hedonistic Hostess she just touched base with it again. Marion is writing for the Masterchef Magazine, which I must say I still prefer Delicious, sorry guys. Also she is producing a range of sauces with Coles. Ka-Ching! Also I think she has been doing some recipe development for a kitchen appliance. I suspect we will be seeing her on TV sooner rather than later either on programs or in advertisements.

The other person who should have made the final’s Jonathan Daddia (I never was granted that interview by Network Ten with him) has a website http://www.jonathandaddia.com, however there is nothing on there. I would like to know what he is up to. Last time I heard he may have a backer for a restaurant.

Aaron Harvie the cool cat that really did have nine lives also is on line at Food That Rocks his last post was on hangover food. He is also developing an italian/mexican sauce range. I am hoping this is not a hybrid cuisine.

Jimmy Servai is opening an indian restaurant in Surry Hills towards the end of the year, he has hired a head chef. He also has an indian sauce range. I think these were developed prior to him going on the show I suspect. He also has a website  at www.jimmysspicekitchen.com.au  however I just tried to go on it, and google is saying there is malaware on it. So avoided it.

The queen of the desserts Skye Craig also has a website to promote her desserts and herself called Wild Sugar. Her desserts look amazing, also there is a blog on it which tells you what she has been up to post-masterchef.

Sharnee Rawson is also blogging at http://sharneerawson.blogspot.com/ it is about what she is up to, I did not get past the first page, but did not see any recipes.

Late to the blogging party are Julia Jenkins and Chris Badenoch. Chris’s blog is called Chris Badenoch latest post is on horse meat recipe, which he reckons is very tasty. Julia’s blog Eat And …. is not receiving much love from her but she may be busy with other projects. Has her TV program Delish been renewed? I never saw it, but Injera reviewed it on her blog.

There are probably others from Season one and two that have an online presence and if you have the links please put it in the comment section.

UPDATE: As anon has pointed out I missed Claire Winton Burn’s blog called Cooking From The Hearth – Claire Winton Burn. She has her article on places to eat in Melbourne which is quite informative for non-Melbournians.

Also Poh Ling Yeow has not embraced the social media, but her career is not being hindered by this, she has made 40 episodes of her own show Poh’s Kitchen for the ABC and the series have now been sold to Discovery Asia which will see her beamed into homes in Central and South East Asia.

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For the guys who wanted a post on Skye Craig here it is. Former Masterchef Australia contestant Skye will be promoting pineapples. An article on Nine MSN says that:

Ms Craig, who’s working with Tropical Pineapples to promote the Queensland grown product, says she prefers fresh food rich in natural Vitamin C to popping a pill.

“I prefer to look at preventative measures in terms of taking care of your body,” she said.

“One cup of fresh pineapple gives you 100 per cent of the recommended daily intake of Vitamin C, so for me that’s certainly a preference – and that’s the way I like to live my life.

“I really believe that with the right amount of fresh healthy food plus rest and exercise your immune system becomes really strong and you don’t need to go to the pharmacy as much.”

The MasterChef contestant said pineapples could be used creatively, such as in puddings with coconut sorbet, or on kebabs.

Also good news for Julie Goodwin’s new cooking show Home Cooked, as it got a good review from influential News Limited TV writer Dianne Butler.

She said the show was good, and thought it would have been a good lead in to the 6.00pm news on a weeknight. She said the banter between Julie and her guest was good, and she came across as knowledgable. On the down side she did think the recipes were a bit tired.

Julie’s show Home Cooked premieres on Channel Nine this Saturday at 5.30pm.

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Last year’s winner of Masterchef Australia Julie Goodwin new cooking show will be starting this Saturday at 5.30pm on Channel Nine. Apparently the format will be Julie with one special guest a week. This week it will be Gyton Grantley who will be hosting a new show called The Real Hustle.

She will cook on the first episode slow-cooked lamb shanks, chicken noodle soup and chocolate fondant.

In the Sydney Morning Herald she defends her home style cooking.

“[My] cooking is home cooking, the sort of thing I hope people want to cood for tea, or cook for their friends or their family,” she says.

The articles also says her career continues to thrive. She has been signed up to promote women’s plus-size fashion franchise Autograph, and she has filmed a segment for Getaway.

Speaking of thriving careers, Gary Mehigan continues to be busy with his restaurant Fenix re-opening, and also the filming of Junior Masterchef, but he talk to TV Week about how the pressure to make Masterchef even better in season 3.

The article said:

There’s a bit of pressure to come up with fabulous challenges and ideas for next season,” judge Gary Mehigan says. “There’s nothing like a bit of pressure – and from other shows, too, like My Kitchen Rules  - to put a rocket up and see what we come up with.”

With applications for the third season already open, Gary says he’s been thinking about where he’d like to take the next group of contestants on the now de rigueur overseas trip.

“I thought, ‘How can you top Paris?’” he reveals. “But I was thinking New York, or Santiago, or Buenos Aires, or India!”

Gary is quick to argue against a fourth judge on the panel – a la Anna Gare on upcoming spin-off Junior Masterchef – and notes we’re unlikely to see the judges tone down their theatrics. His personal wish is that the series follow a more altruistic path.

“I’d like to see something that really strikes at the heart chords,” he says. “Something really good that we do as a bunch of contestants and judges.”

Well Gary if you want good ideas for next season, this blog’s readers have come up with some crackers on this blog post.

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It has been 3 days and I have not done a Masterchef post, so I thought I better rectify it.

Adam Liaw is already working on his cookbook according to TV Week, and as he said on the show it will have an Asian food theme.

The article said:

Adam’s plan for the cookbook, tentatively titled Two Asian Kitchens, is to feed Australians’ growing “thirst for knowledge” about Asian food.

“The two Asian kitchens in my mind are the traditional kitchen and the modern kitchen,” he says. “People want to know not only how to make good Asian food, but also the principles behind it so that they can then apply that to the way they cook.”

The 31 year old also reveals that the book is likely to include a variation on his popular “Seven Gods” signature dish, although he says it will have to wait until he’s had a chance to finetune his skills at some of Australia’s top restaurants.

“I think people gloss over the work experience, because it’s not quite as sexy as your own cookbook or $100,000,” he says. “But we learn in the competition that we’ve got a long way to go before we can really consider ourselves to be great cooks. If I can do the work experience first, I think the cookbook will be better for it.”

Adam concedes that stepping out of the limelight to live the life of a real chef might cost him lucrative opportunities, but he points out that he’s thinking about long-term success.

“You can’t chase the fame,” he reasons. “While it might be viewed as financially appealing to go off and do some things that are going to make me a lot of money since the show has just finished, if it doesn’t fit in with my broader goals and with what I want to do in my life, I don’t think it makes much sense to do it.”

I think I will be interested to buy his cookbook as it could have some interesting dishes in it.

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Claire Winton Burn who came third on Masterchef Australia made headlines for her love life as well as her cooking.

Now the show is over Claire talks about how this effected her and her family to TV Week.

The article said:

On cloud nine after her recent engagement to partner Trevor, last girl standing Claire Winton Burn says she hopes to start a family with her man in the future.

“I’m in a really happy, committed relationship and with that comes all of the things that everyone wants, including children, but at the moment I’m just focusing on what’s next for me career-wise after Masterchef,” Claire, 31, tells TV WEEK. “We are talking about getting a puppy though, which is exciting.”

After having her personl life dragged through the press and being branded a homewrecker, Claire says she feels terribly guilty for exposing her loved ones to the scrutiny of the spotlight.

Being eliminated right before the big finale has also been hard to digest for the former lawyer, who risked her career and put her family through the media wringer by attracting attention on the hit show.

“The thing that does upset me is the way it has affected Trevor, his family and my family, as well,” Claire reveals. “It’s disappointing because while I may have signed on for this, it’s the people who haven’t who have really suffered and I feel responsible for what they’ve been through. It’s especially hard because I’m not there to support the in person.”

Claire found her relationship with Trevor dissected after it was reported he left his wife and newborn baby to set up home with the former lawyer, who he met at work.

“There have been a lot of factual inaccuracies and it’s certainly been a difficult time for Trevor,” she acknowledges. “but he’s been incredibly strong and amazingly supportive. He’s been behind me 100 per cent. It hasn’t put any strain on our relationship at all.”

As for the bashing she’s received on many online forums, Claire is doing her best not to dwell on the negativity. “It’s obviously hurtful and affects you,” she admits. “but everyone is entitled their opinion. I’m not going to win everyone over. I have lots of support, but I have lots of detractors, too. That’s just the risk I’ve taken by putting myself in the spotlight, but I’m focusing on the next chapter.”

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