This CAN GIVE DAY will see four top cooks compete in the MasterCook Challenge, with three cooking challenges to test their skill and grit! On Friday 21st October, the cooks will be pushing their skills to the limit, embracing their passion and putting their reputation on the line.

Introducing the Cooks

Vanessa Brady

Canberra Health Services Executive Group Manager, Campus Modernisation

Cool under pressure and adept at delivering big projects, will Vanessa cope with the pressure in the kitchen? Winner of an Innovation in the Construction Industry Award, perhaps her innovation skills will carry over to the MasterCook kitchen.

Genevieve Jacobs AM

Group Editor, Region Media

Genevieve has been a journalist for 30 years, working in print and radio, including a decade with ABC Radio Canberra, and is now Region Media Group Editor. Genevieve is known for her infamous Chocolate Roulade, but will she roll with this challenge?

Lamshed's Sous Chef Tashi

Sous Chef, Lamshed's, Yarralumla

You might think that being a professional chef will give Tashi the advantage but have you checked out the competition? Tashi is up against some fierce cooks, lucky he has fine dining skills under his belt! Erm, apron.

Cathie O'Neill

Chief Operating Officer, Canberra Health Services

Whilst Cathie is not game enough to jump off a building, she is game enough to put herself up against some other talented cooks, to go through three rounds of cooking and to see who comes out on top as the best cook of the challenge.

"CAN GIVE DAY is vitally important, it gives us a chance to celebrate what we do and it gives a chance for the community to celebrate what we do... and to really own the health service. This is a community health service, and we really want the community to feel part of it. The bonus is that we get to raise funds that we really invest in things that make a difference to patients and their families."

People's Choice Award

Your favourite MasterCook can win the People's Choice Award! To vote please make a donation on your favourite cook's Fundraising Page (find links below).

Voting closes 4pm, Friday 21 October.

The cook with the highest donation amount will receive the People's Choice Award irrespective of the Judges Scores.

Introducing the Judges

Francesco Balestrieri

Agostinis Executive Chef - East Hotel

Being the Executive Chef at Agostinis, AHA ACT "Family Friendly Venue" for 2022, gets you in to all sorts of places... but the judging bench at the CGD Master Cook Challenge has got to be a highlight for Italian-born chef Francesco.

Diana Lampe

Food Journalist & Author

Passionate cook and author Diana Lampe wrote a popular food column in Canberra Times for nine years, between 2006 and 2015. Diana loves to cook and share recipes, inspiring people to come into the kitchen and cook something from scratch, whether it’s simple or complex. So how will these cooks stack up in Diana's books?

Brendan Docherty

Executive Director (Medicine) at Canberra Health Service

Brendan runs a smooth operation, you can expect his judging method to follow the same lines, but will he be open to bribes of the donation kind? His love of fine dining and supporting his community may push him over the edge!

Peter Munday OAM

Lennock Volkswagen Phillip & Member of the CHF Board

Peter is generous in his support for the community, but will he be generous with the judging? Peter believes "the power of people brings people together" and what better way to bring people together than over good food.

"You can donate to us and help support exceptional patient care for people in our community, which includes the surrounding region. Funds raised go to support research, therapeutic programs, transformations of away-from-bed areas, and the purchase of speciality medical equipment, which enhances the patient experience throughout the year."

The cooks will be competing in three challenges

Signatory Meal

• Each cook will be required to cook 2 courses of their choice.
• They will supply ingredients, purchased using generously donated vouchers from Coles Canberra stores to total cost of $60.
• Given the limited facilities available on the day each cook may undertake 1 hour of preparation at their own facility.
• They will need to produce four servings of each course for the judges.
• Pantry staples such as flour, oil, sugar, salt, pepper will not need to be costed.

Judging Notes

• Each judge will score each course out of 10 points
• Total points available to each cook = 80 points

Taste Test

• Each chef will receive a point each for each ingredient correctly guessed
• They will have to prove their tastebuds are the most sensitive, travelled and knowledgeable.

Judging Notes

• Total points available to each cook = 10 points

Mystery Box

• Each cook will be presented with a range of ingredients that they will need to feature in one dish.
• They can use any leftover ingredients from round 1 and a range of staples will also be available.
• They will have limited time to compete the task

Judging Notes

• Each judge will score the dish out of 10
• Total points available to each cook = 40 points

Prize

People's Choice Award

Your favourite MasterCook can win the People's Choice Award! To vote please make a donation on your favourite cook's Fundraising Page (find links below).

Voting closes 4pm, Friday 21 October.

The cook with the highest donation amount will receive the People's Choice Award irrespective of the Judges Scores.

This CAN GIVE DAY we are fundraising for Canberra Hospital Foundation! We want to give patients and their families comfort, understanding and hope through their time in hospital or during treatment, and acknowledge the hard work and dedication of Canberra’s healthcare teams.

Please support our fundraising by making a tax-deductible donation to the Canberra Hospital Foundation for CAN GIVE DAY.