QLD, 32, Retail Manager

With a strong Dutch heritage, father-of-three Ben is hoping his love and passion for European cooking will give him the edge to take home the MasterChef Australia trophy this season.

Born to a Dutch mother and Dutch-Indonesian father, Ben says his greatest influences have always been family, particularly his maternal grandmother, his Oma. As a teenager he moved in with his grandparents, spending his afternoons kicking a football with his grandfather, his Opa, then watching his Oma cook stews and hearty Dutch food. Alongside his brother Danny and sister Selina, Ben describes his childhood as idyllic, with a close-knit family who always shared meal times.

A sporty and creative student, Ben played representative football in high school, while juggling his love of drawing and painting.

Following graduation in 2001, Ben worked in sports retail while studying Multimedia at the University of Queensland, and he now works in retail sports management.

Dad to Ella, 13, Phoenix, nine and Oli, seven, Ben’s food dream is to one day operate a small restaurant creating innovative Dutch food, inspired by his Oma.

Ben describes his food style as rustic with a hint of sophistication. A favourite dish is bitterballen, a Dutch meatball served with a mustard sauce. While he admits desserts may be his weakness in the kitchen, Ben is sure he will take every opportunity to grow in what MasterChef Australia throws at him.

Ben was also seen on Season 12 (Back To Win) of MasterChef Australia.