Eat Recipes Travel

MasterChef Australia’s Red Centre Inspired Experiences

by Eatliveescape

Everyone’s favourite cooking show, MasterChef heads to the Northern Territory tonight for a Red Centre special featuring the final eight contestants exploring the ancient, desert landscapes of Uluru and Alice Springs while drawing inspiration from Indigenous culture and flavours.

Contestants will serve up dishes using native ingredients in a team challenge at Bruce Munro’s Field of Light and an elimination challenge with bush food expert, Rayleen Brown of Kungkas Can Cook, at Simpson’s Gap.

Inspired by the contestants’ experience on MasterChef, here is a roundup of some of the best foodie experiences to enjoy in the incredible Red Centre.

  • Dine under the sparkling outback sky and on a private dune overlooking Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, with once-in-a-lifetime Indigenous dining experiences at Voyages’s Sounds of Silence and Tali Wiru.
  • Longitude 131’s signature dining experience, Table 131, features a decadent four-course dinner set among the red sand dunes in a remote, secret location and served under a canopy of stars.
  • Considered one of Territory’s gems, Jimmy Shu’s Hanuman at Crowne Plaza Alice Springs offers an incredible fusion of Thai, Indian and Nonya (Chinese Malay) cuisine. The Hanuman oysters are highly recommended!
  • Witness the outback’s star-filled skies with Earth Sanctuary. At Paint the Night By Moonlight, guests camp overnight in a swag, experience an award-winning astronomy tour and learn to paint by the moonlight, whilst being served a delicious platter and damper.
  • Todd Mall, located in the heart of Alice Springs, has some hidden hipster delights. Head for brunch at cafe Page 27 and dance the night away at rooftop bar and tapas restaurant Epilogue Lounge.
  • Owned by prominent chef Rayleen Brown, Kungkas Can Cook sells native Australian bush foods foraged from the Central Desert. Rayleen works with local Aboriginal communities, sharing ancient knowledge about bush foods and encouraging the ethical procurement of resources and foods that are locally sourced.
Melissa Leong and Rayleen Brown
  • Based in Watarrka  National Park (Kings Canyon), Karrke offer authentic tours and experiences as shared by the local Aboriginal people of the Central Australia region. Their one-hour Aboriginal Cultural Tour covers Aboriginal bush tucker, bush medicines, traditional dot painting and weapon making.
  • The Red Centre’s only operating brewery, Alice Springs Brewing Co, is the perfect place to stop by for a craft beer and classic Aussie pub meal.
  • Voyages Walpa Lobby Bar is perfect for a relaxed breakfast, lunch and pre-dinner drink, serving bushfood inspired cocktails, like Myrtle Royale and Desert Sunrise.

For viewers and fans looking to tick the Red Centre off their bucket list,  Jetstar is also currently offering cheap flights to Uluru ex Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney from as little as $89 one-way.

Watch MasterChef tonight on Channel 10, or catch up here.

Want more? Click here for a Chef Masterclass from Orazio D’Elia from Matteo and here for our Getting to Know Interview with Remco Brigou, Head Chocolatier and Product Innovator at Koko Black.

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