Ellie Paxton-Hall

About Ellie

I am a vibrant 20-something year old with a passion for food and an infectious laugh. I was a contestant on Australia’s MasterChef and cooked my way into the Top 5 finalists.

Since then, I’ve put my nursing studies on hold, and am pursuing my dreams – making the 1,800km move from my hometown of Brisbane to join Melbourne and it’s culinary elite.

After, fine-tuning my skills at the renown Rockpool Bar & Grill, under the watchful eye of Neil Perry, I am now living the dream of my deep-seeded love of food to bring a refreshingly different attitude to meal time.

ON MY CHILDHOOD… “Family plays a big part in my life. I am one of four children and my parents have always placed a huge importance on ‘meal-time’ so in our house it was always an ‘event’.

Watching my mum cook dinner every night begging her to teach me. I took over the ‘dinner role’ when I was about ten and was fascinated by the way you could take ingredients and turn it into something delicious.”

ON LESSONS LEARNED… “MasterChef was a real eye-opener for me. Before the show, I was studying nursing at uni but I had always has this idea in the back of my mind that I would end up in food. The series really cemented just how much I love cooking. I was extremely privileged to have had the experiences that I did on the show, which not only boosted my self-confidence but also gave me an amazing platform to share my experiences with others.

Also, I learnt not to cry so much! (although in my defense, some of it was down to the editing)”

ON INSPIRATIONS… “Mum is definitely my number one FOOD IDOL, with Jamie Oliver or Nigella Lawson a close second. I could spend all day watching them cook (Jamie & Nigella, not mum). I love their passion and authenticity. It isn’t about ‘small & pretentious’ or ‘too hard for home’! It’s great-tasting, visually stunning food made with readily available ingredients that anyone can cook and I really identify with that style of food.”

Guest Recipes