Late last year, we first met Christina Batista from MasterChef across the table at dinner. This year, we sat down with the gorgeous diva for five, to grab some tips on cooking, hosting a dinner party and, of course, where to buy the best vintage garb in town.
1. How has your life changed since you first graced our screens on Masterchef last year?
Before going on MasterChef I was a stay at home mother of two. Now, I get to live out my food dreams by writing about food on my website, doing cooking demonstrations and starting my own business selling Portuguese Street Food. Oh, and there is being recognised by strangers (which is a little weird but still exciting at the same time)!
2. You're known for your penchant for vintage 50s attire. Will you give us the scoop on some of your favourite little places to shop?
I am very lucky as my mother is a dressmaker and makes most of my clothing. However, when I want to buy real vintage pieces, there’s no place better than Eva's Vintage in Annandale.
3. What's your favourite cooking utensil and why?
As far as I am concerned you can't go past a good quality chef's knife! The secret to a great dish is all in the preparation and using a good quality chef's knife is a must.
4. If you're having a romantic night in, what would you cook and what film would you choose?
When I'm planning a romantic dinner for Kate and me it has to be something we can share and eat with our hands. Usually I would start with a charcuterie plate, followed by chilli mud crab. There’s nothing like a bit of heat to spice things up! Dessert is always left to Kate, and it’s usually something chocolatey. As for a film, we don't watch a lot of romantic movies so it's usually something we haven’t seen before or a box set of our favourite TV shows.
5. Some may say you're a bit of a catering goddess. Any tips for those stressed out about their next dinner party?
My biggest tip is to plan! Plan your menu, then organise as much as you can before your guests arrive. Also, don't be afraid to take shortcuts when needed (for example, buying store bought pastry or getting your butcher to french the lamb, break down the chicken or truss the beef for you). Lastly, know your limits and cook something you know how to! If you do a mean roast, make a mean roast. And if you’re like me and not great with desserts, stick with something simple!
