Northern Territory, 34, Chemical Engineer

For petite-powerhouse Minoli De Silva, taking her place in MasterChef Australia’s Top 24 is the culmination of a lifetime in the kitchen.

Born in Sri Lanka, Minoli was six when her family moved to Melbourne, but the culinary delights of her homeland infused her childhood. Growing up, Minoli’s mother would use seasonal produce to prepare delicious Sri Lankan curries and often cooked with lesser-known ingredients including chicken giblets, bitter gourd, jackfruit and dried fish. The eldest of three sisters, Minoli says it’s no surprise her favourite dish to cook is a Sri Lankan chicken curry using a recipe passed down from her mum.

With food idols including Yotam Ottolenghi, Samin Nosrat and Massimo Bottura, Minoli dreams of one day cooking in Sicily, impressed by how the town is so beautifully influenced from different regions of the world. She cites her experience in Japan as a teenager as mindblowing, as she was stunned by the cuisine and culture.

While international chefs excite her, there’s nobody she loves watching in the kitchen more than her mum. Minoli says it’s her mum who can turn any humble vegetable or fruit into a tasty dish, teaching her daughter to trust her palate and always focus on flavour.

After graduating from Lowther Hall Anglican Grammar in 2004, Minoli completed her Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering from RMIT University.

Now based in Darwin, Minoli works as an engineering portfolio manager, and leads the Northern Territory team delivering projects across all the NT Defence Estates.

When she’s not cooking, Minoli enjoys sewing, Latin dancing, camping and painting, and hopes to open her own pop-up Sri Lankan fusion restaurant.