Victoria Osteopath @mkrap

Like many over the last few years, Max Krapivsky has battled through the different stages of COVID restrictions. In February 2021 as Melbourne sat on the cusp of yet another lockdown, Max and his fiancée Simmone decided they weren’t prepared to cancel yet another wedding. So, with four hours’ notice, they simply whipped it up, which was no mean feat securing the attendance of more than 80 guests. It might not have been the winery venue they had planned, but Max admits it was perfect. Perhaps this commitment to a plan and can-do nature will serve him well in the MasterChef kitchen, and Max is keen to make every minute count.

It’s fourth time lucky for Max in the MasterChef kitchen, after applying on three previous occasions. He came close last season (Season 13) and competed in the second chance cook at Judges Auditions, but narrowly missed out. The year of additional practice has done nothing but cement his place in this year’s Top 24, and he intends to cook all the way to the Grand Finale.

Crediting his Russian grandmother Rita with his link to his Russian heritage, Max says she was an exceptional cook, and he also admires the works of Gordon Ramsay and Josh Niland.

Also inspired by chefs including Matty Matheson, Thomas Keller, Massimo Bottura and his own father, Max is passionate about soccer, and loves to read and travel when he can.

He dreams of one day opening his very own dine-in bottle-o, an Aussie-centric wine and beer local with a small rotating chalk-board menu.