A chef with roots in the Fleurieu Peninsula is steaming toward the top 10 of hit Channel 10 cooking show, MasterChef: Back to Win.

Laura Sharrad is a former McLaren Vale local, who came a very narrow second in her first appearance on MasterChef in Season 6 as a 19-year-old, then known as Laura Cassai.

Now aged 24 with several years of professional chef work under her belt, Laura has returned for MasterChef’s ‘all star’ reboot, which has seen previous MasterChef favourites return to cook for three new judges and the chance to win $250,000. 

Laura has impressed the judges with her traditional pasta dishes, drawing on her Italian heritage. She’s also made some pretty firm friends in her fellow contestants and has had a lot of fun so far, despite the extra challenges thrown in by the outbreak of coronavirus.

Speaking with the Fleurieu App last week, Laura revealed she loved being back in the MasterChef kitchen.

“I had the best time first time around, and I was just honoured to have been asked back,” she said. 

“You rarely get second chances in life and I couldn’t miss this one.”

Laura said getting to meet and feed the new judges - Jock Zonfrillo, Melissa Leong and Andy Allen - was a privilege. After appearing on MasterChef the first time around, Laura actually began her professional cooking career working under Jock as a pastry chef at his acclaimed Adelaide restaurant. Following that, she worked for three years at Andre’s Cucina - run by another MasterChef alumni, Andre Urcini - and then Hently’s Farm at the Barossa Valley before opening Nido in Hyde Park with her chef husband Max Sharrad.

Laura is among a strong contingent of South Australians back in the MasterChef kitchen. These include Callum Hann and Poh Ling Yeow, who are also still in the running for the title.

“There’s something special about South Australians ... they are definitely bred to do well in MasterChef that’s for sure,” Laura quipped when asked why the South Aussies are just so competitive on the show.

“I think it’s the produce we are surrounded by that inspires us - we’ve got wine regions at every corner of the map, produce-driven hills, flats... I mean what don’t we have? We do wine, gin, spirits, honey, oils, fruit and veg, land stock, seafood, cheeses, dairy, you name it, we grow it!” 

Fleurieu Peninsula produce particularly has a special place in Laura’s heart and on her plate. 

After moving with her family to McLaren Vale in January 2013, Laura fell in love with produce such as strawberries from Mount Compass, the region’s farmers’ markets, cockles from Goolwa and squid caught by her father in Victor Harbor.

She also name dropped Nomad Farms, Fleurieu Milk Company, Paris Creek Dairy, Alexandrina Cheese, Falkai Farm eggs, Ellis Butchers, Kuitpo Forest marron, Romley Estate olive oil, Village Greens of Willunga Creek, Goolwa Pipi Co and Coorong Wild Seafood, as the brands and businesses behind some of her favourite Fleurieu flavours.

This year, Covid-19 has impacted on many aspects of life, with the filming of MasterChef no different. The show, which is filmed months in advance, has in the past few televised episodes seen social distancing measures introduced.

What was it like filming a reality television show in the midst of a pandemic?

“The thing that sealed the deal for me to come back to MasterChef was having weekends off - which meant I could travel home when I pleased and my husband and friends could come and visit me,” Laura said.

“Obviously when coronavirus hit, that all stopped and we went into full lockdown.

“It was hard, like really hard. 

“Some weeks I was okay, some weeks I missed home so much that I did think about leaving twice as I was so worried about our business. 

“I’m so lucky I have the most amazing husband in Max that I could focus solely on the show. 

“It’s been tough, but everyone’s been through the same thing really so it’s kind of warming to know we are all in it together.”

With camaraderie between the competitors this year seemingly at an all-time high, Laura solidified some existing friendships this year and made some new ones.

She was thrilled to reunite with fellow Season 6 competitors Emilia and Tracey and also very happy to form a strong bond with Kahn and Reynold: “definitely friends for life”, she said. Laura also said she couldn’t go without mentioning, “her pals from back home, Poh and Callum”. 

As with many businesses, Covid-19 forced the Nido team to pivot into a new direction, becoming a pasta grocer. With some government restrictions lifting last week, Laura said Nido is slowly coming back to life with limited dining-in now available. 

“The overwhelming support we have had from our wonderful locals has been out of this world,” Laura said.

“We are so grateful.”

You can watch MasterChef on Channel 10, or online via 10play. You can also follow Laura on Facebook.