Geraldton's culinary star Luke Harris has cooked his way into the MasterChef top 10, a milestone he says has been a dream since childhood. The 20-year-old former Geraldton Christian College head boy acknowledged the emotional rollercoaster he has taken fans on but remains committed to his mantra of living and dying by the sword.
Apology and determination
“First of I should apologise for the roller-coaster of emotions I’ve put you all through but truth be told, my mantra is to live and die by the sword so I don’t know how much that is going to change,” Harris told the Geraldton Guardian. “I swore to myself coming on MasterChef I would never be accused of playing it safe and I still feel strongly about that.”
Turning point in pressure test
Wednesday night's episode marked a turning point for Harris when he not only survived but excelled in a challenging chocolate dessert pressure test with guest judge Kirsten Tibballs. “A small part of me was happy I was in it, because I thought I feel like I haven’t exactly earned my spot in the top 10. I’ve worked really hard but I haven’t always pulled things off, so I was really glad to have the chance to actually prove that I deserve to be in the top 10,” he said.
Dream realized
“Top 10 is a special milestone because it’s been a dream since I was a little kid. Since I was like eight years old, watching MasterChef, the dream was to get in and to win it, and top 10 is one step closer to it,” Harris said. He admitted being surprised to make it this far given the high standard of competition.
Personal growth and strategy
Harris said the show has accelerated his cooking skills and personal maturity, teaching him to handle high-pressure situations and setbacks. “This kitchen has a funny way of testing you in ways that have nothing to do with cooking,” he said. “Whenever anything goes badly or I do badly, I enjoy taking it as a chance to prove like a bit of redemption.”
Behind the scenes, contestants overthink and become superstitious, often getting it wrong. Harris's strategy: “My theory was to always come into the kitchen with several ideas committed to memory in case of an emergency but otherwise try let the brief guide me.” He learned that “black apron cooks you play it safe and white apron cooks you give it a red hot crack.”
Favorite guest judges
Harris met celebrity chefs including Robert Irwin and Maggie Beer. “Robert Irwin, 100 per cent. I was very, very excited, probably too excited for my own good. And of course Maggie, she’s the queen of Australian food and an absolute icon,” he said, noting a full-circle moment cooking for Beer.
Passion for cooking for others
Harris's cooking journey began as a hobby but grew into a passion when he saw the joy it brought others. “I never really have ever enjoyed cooking for just myself. I’m terrible for getting takeaway. But there’s just something about cooking for other people and seeing the joy that they get out of that,” he said.
Support from hometown
His former food technology teacher Derek Goforth praised Harris's talent: “You could see there was something special there, but I don’t think anyone could have predicted just how quickly his talent would develop. His success on MasterChef has been a surprise to me, not because I doubted him, but because the level of skill he is displaying at such a young age is extraordinary.” Goforth added, “Geraldton is incredibly proud of Luke, and rightly so. He is not only an outstanding young cook, but an outstanding young man.”
Harris acknowledged the support from his hometown but also the pressure: “Being the youngest in my family I’ve probably been raised to really care about expectations and not wanting to let people down, and it’s no different with the support I’m getting from back home in Gero — I really, really, really want to do them proud.”
Future plans
Harris plans to let the dust settle before deciding his next moves. “The ultimate goal would be a career in food that involves both inspiring others online like I was inspired, but also having an avenue for others to taste my food in person,” he said. While remaining tight-lipped about his progress, he promised exciting viewing ahead: “I’m just even more keen than ever to show people what I can do, and however it goes it should be good watching, I hope.”
