MasterChef Australia 2023 runner-up Rhiannon Anderson has revealed that one of her first moves post-show will be writing a cookbook in honour of her late mum who was a chef.

“Mum used to work in pubs, she worked in bistros. But she put herself through [training] to become a chef while being a single mum,” she explained in an interview with Chattr.

“There was no beating around the bush with her. It was like we knew where we stood. Before she passed away, she was like, ‘Go and chase your dreams’. So I did and now I’m here.”

In fact, Rhiannon said that her mum’s love of cooking helped encourage her own interest in it.

“I just remember growing up, she would have to work nights,” she said. “So I would have to cook for the siblings because I loved it even back then. All my memories are always based around food, which is pretty funny.”

The special note hidden in a recipe book

The home cook recently stumbled across a cookbook owned by her mum with a note from her mum’s sister, revealing a hidden dream.

“I found a book when she passed away and my aunty had written a note in it. It was from when mum was 19 years old, and it said, ‘I expect to see your name in print’.

“I was like, ‘Oh my god’. So, my mum actually always wanted to do a cookbook and I didn’t even know that. So, I would love to do a cookbook and dedicate it to her,” she said.

What kind of cookbook does Rhiannon want to write?

Rhiannon said that she already has an idea in mind for the cookbook, and wants it to link culture with culinary education.

“The cookbook I want to do would be how to cook different cuisines for my kids. Like, tonight, we’re going to Mexico. Tonight, we’re going to Thailand, let’s go to Italy. I liked to make them culturally aware through food,” she explained.

“I’d love to do a cookbook with all different cuisines in it, not just one. And my mum, her first job was in a curry house, so I would definitely put some of her recipes in there,” she added.

Stream MasterChef Australia 2023 on 10Play.

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