Dubbed sunshine in human form, Alex Crisp is currently shining her light in the MasterChef Australia kitchen.
Raised in Fremantle, Alex is a first-generation Australian. Her mother, Britta, is from Denmark and her father Gary is South African. The mix of cultures always made for maximum flavour on Alex’s dinner table growing up, setting off her culinary curiosity.
She recalls her ninth birthday when her Dad told her she could pick out any gift she wanted. Her choice? A Jamie Oliver cookbook.
After her parents separated, Alex stepped up in the kitchen when she was 10. Cooking a meal was a lovely way to bring the family together, and a chance to honour her connection to her grandparents, particularly her Momor (Danish grandmother) and Yoyo (South African grandmother). Each year her Danish friends and family throw a “Viking Fest”, with a huge feast, and Alex is excited to honour her heritage in the MasterChef Australia kitchen.
Despite earning a double degree in Science (Human Biology) and Design (Fine Arts), it is food that’s become the founding stone of Alex’s career, working in fine food sales and specialising in gourmet products, cheeses and smallgoods amongst other delicacies. Her daily exposure to the food scene has further fuelled the fire inside, and Alex knows that cooking is not just a hobby, it’s her true calling in life.
With more than 70 cookbooks at home, Alex will lean into her savoury cooking strengths during the competition, balancing flavours across a range of cuisines. She also ranks her creativity and positive attitude amongst her secret weapons.
Back home, her sister Tori and pets; Benson (cat), Pumba (dog) and chooks Hei Hei, Bingsu, Tina, Nigella, and Chief, will be cheering Alex on.
Alex hopes the competition brings her one step closer to her dream of opening a late-night café-come-wine bar where everything is perfectly imperfect, and guests feel totally at ease, as if Alex were welcoming them into her very own home.
