Jessica "Jess" Liemantara is a contestant on MasterChef Australia Season 10, 12, & Dessert Masters Australia Season 1. She is placed 4th on Season 10, 12th on Season 12, & 3rd on Dessert Masters Australia Season 1.
Biography[]
Retrieved from 10play.com.au
Season 10[]
Although she may be MasterChef Australia’s youngest recruit this season, Jess’ burgeoning talent should not be underestimated. A lover of all things sweet, this dessert queen loves making high tea-style slices, macaroons, caramel slices and mousse cakes with glazes.
Born in Perth following older brother Jeremy, Jess was only one when her parents moved the family to Melbourne. It is where she has been based ever since, except for a two-year stint in Indonesia during primary school.
In Melbourne, Jess’ parents owned a fusion café and restaurant, specialising in Thai, Malay and Indonesian cuisine. Food was always a significant part of life at home. She loved food technology in high school, admitting it was probably the only subject she really enjoyed. Graduating from Highville Secondary College in Glen Waverly in 2015, she now works as a waitress at Nobu in Melbourne’s Crown Casino. She loves working in hospitality and getting to know and talk to lots of different people.
Citing Cedric Grolet, Anna Polyviou and former MasterChef Australia contestant Reynold Poernomo as her sweet culinary inspirations, Jess also describes Gordon Ramsay as a huge influence, marveling at his strength, confidence and knowledge.
Jess has learnt many of her skills from YouTube and online blogs, but admits her dad and grandmother also played their part. From her grandmother she learnt to mix dough for ginger cookies and from her dad, delicious soups, stir fries and noodles.
When she is not cooking up a sweet treat in the kitchen, Jess enjoys arts and crafts, and working with polymer clay. She likes to make charms, scrapbooking, heading to brunch with friends, and plays soccer, volleyball and basketball.
She hopes to one day open her own dessert café, aimed at impressing the masses.[1]
Season 12[]
Just 19 years old when she entered the MasterChef kitchen in season 10, dessert powerhouse Jess Liemantara is once again the youngest recruit this season. Happy to have her ability defy her age, Jess has proven she’s the reigning Sweet Queen, recently self-publishing her first cookbook, A Zest of Jess.
After leaving the competition in fourth place, Jess knows the skills she’s developed in the time since leaves her in the best position to hone her sights on the MasterChef trophy. She’s worked as a pastry chef at Om Nom Dessert Bar, The Press Club, Nobu Melbourne, and catered several events during a stint at Raffles Hotel, Jakarta.[2]
Trivia[]
- She & Reynold ranked higher than all former guest judges on MasterChef: Kirsten Tibballs, Andy Bowdy, Anna Polyviou, Kay-Lene Tan and Adrian Zumbo on Dessert Masters. However: Both never won in any of the three seasons.
- In Season 10 & 12, she wasn't as comfortable working with seafood.
- She learnt to appreciate Bailey's Irish Whiskey as it is her mother's favourite liqueur, which she puts a shot in Jess's morning coffee.
- Her favourite ingredient and animal are honey and bees, to the point that she tattooed a bee on her right wrist before Dessert Masters.
- One of her favorite movies is Bee Movie
Season 10[]
- At 19, she is the youngest contestant of the season
- She is the last woman standing in her season.
Season 12[]
- At 22, she is the youngest contestant of the season
- She is the first contestant in MasterChef History to win 2 Immunity Challenges.
Dessert Masters Season 1[]
- At 24, she is the youngest woman of the season.
- She is the last woman standing in her season.
References[]
External links[]
Jess Liemantara on Instagram