Geni (Eugenia) Papacostas
Age: 54
Home Town: Redcliffe, Brisbane, QLD (Has Lived In Melbourne)
Marital Status: Widow
Profession: Teaching Assistant
Cooking Style: Greek
“I’m known as the woman who does the Greek cooking in town”
From a traditional Greek family, Geni was brought up in Athens, before moving to Melbourne as a teenager.
“My memories are all linked to food,” she says.
“I remember going into the village in Greece with my grandmother who would make her own bread. There were a lot of family celebrations and they all centered around cooking and the preparation of food.”
As the oldest competitor in MasterChef Australia, Geni brings a wealth of experience but is insistent that she also has just as much vitality as her younger counterparts.
“I’ve always loved to cook and it’s something that I’ve used as a gift to other people. When I first moved to Brisbane I went around knocking on all my neighbours doors inviting them round for a Greek Easter Celebration. I think I opened my heart and my home to people and that’s what I do. I’m known as the woman who does the Greek cooking in town.”
“I’ve made millions of cakes around Brisbane for different celebrations, for birthdays, weddings and gifts. But now it’s time do something to reward me. It’s the next level. I can’t believe though that I’m the oldest contestant! I really feel like I’ve got so much energy.”
A dab hand at creating cakes and desserts, Geni has developed her skills over the years.
“I love refining flavours of food. It’s actually taken me twenty years to refine my custard for my specialty custard sponge.”
“I write down all my recipes and want them to be a legacy for my children. I’d love to write a cookery book to reflect the changing tastes that develop from the different generations – from my family in Greece to my children in Australia.”
With three grown up children, Geni is excited about pursuing this goal for herself.
“It’s the right time for me. MasterChef has arrived and it’s something that I have to do now. I have all this experience and I want to bring it all together and bring a real taste of Greek and Mediterranean food to the competition.”
“Cooking is something that I have loved all my life and I want to pass that love onto other people. This is my last chance.”
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