MASTERCHEF Australia contestants have been cooking up a storm across the south east corner, but the real winners of the visit may end up being local producers.
The film crew and cast of the top-rating show have been spotted in Noosa, Burleigh Heads, Brisbane and the Lockyer Valley during a whirlwind fortnight of filming, understood to have wrapped up earlier this month.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the state government, through Tourism and Events Queensland, supported Queensland Week on the show.
“This partnership will shine the spotlight directly on Queensland’s world-class food offering and will have viewers salivating for the freshest seafood, tropical fruits and vegetables and quintessential Queensland food experiences," she said.
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“The abundance of great quality local produce across the state is something that sets Queensland apart.
“From Hervey Bay scallops or Mooloolaba prawns straight off the trawlers, to the much sought-after Bowen mango straight from a farm in north Queensland, there’s plenty for tourists to look forward to.
Network 10 Queensland general manager Angela Neville said the show would provide a great platform to promote local produce.
“I may be biased but I think Queensland has a lot of incredible food secrets yet to be discovered,” she said.
“It’s fantastic to be working with Tourism and Events Queensland to let the rest of Australia in on the best of our food culture in fun and creative ways.”
MasterChef judge, Matt Preston, said he’d spent so much time in South-East Queensland, he almost felt like a local.
“Whether that’s Noosa Food and Wine Festival, Regional Flavours or coming up to hang out with mates,” Mr Preston said.
“During those visits, I’ve got to play with an amazing array of Queensland produce - chicken, macadamia nuts, redclaw, mango, pineapple, coconut, black sapote, carrots, pumpkin – the list goes on and on. And I haven’t even started on the seafood”.
The show has previously highlighted Australian produce including Bundaberg ginger, Murray cod and bush tucker ingredients from Kakadu.
The Queensland episodes will air later this year.
- This story first appeared on the Qld Country Life.