After a nail-biting finale that saw the winner lead with only a single point, MasterChef Australia 2017 has come to a close. Melbourne accountant Diana Chan was crowned its new winner, with Queensland’s Ben Ungermann only just pipped to the post. delicious. sat down with the nation’s latest cooking sensation to talk about what’s next for the budding 

Have you always been passionate about cooking?
“I have always loved cooking and I have always loved food. I was raised in a household where my mum and dad were always entertaining. They would serve up five different plates of food for dinner, with both of them cooking. I think that’s why I understood flavours and ingredients from an early age, which helped to shape my palette.”

Were you always a fan of MasterChef?
“I’ve always watched the show, right from the beginning. And I’ve always thought ‘I can do that!’, though I did notice that the show has become harder with each season!”

Who encouraged you to apply for the show?
“My boyfriend actually was the one who made me apply – he posted something on Facebook that I had made and everyone started commenting on it and telling me that I need to go on MasterChef. So I applied – I didn’t think anything of it but then I got a phone call, and here I am.“

The final cook-off was a very close call – did you think you had it in the bag?
“Not at all! Anything can happen and Ben worked incredibly hard. It was always going to be a close finale. I think I set the bar really high for myself in the first round, so it took a mammoth effort to try and maintain that.”

What’s next for you?
“I am overwhelmed with the love and support I have experienced, and I have been inundated with opportunities. I would love to open a casual restaurant that focuses on the fresh, lots of different fusion flavours. It also looks like there may be an opportunity to work with Tourism Malaysia a little down the track.”

As a part of your prize you’ve been awarded a monthly column for delicious. – what kind of cuisine can we expect?
“Modern fusion food with a Malaysian twist. Anything that’s fresh and flavoursome but with a focus on wholesome.”