MasterChef cook is a crowd favourite

Cameron Petley, left, and judge Josh Emett. Photo / Doug Sherring

He might have lost the challenge, but Cameron Petley was crowd favourite at yesterday's MasterChef cook-off at Sylvia Park mall.

Petley and fellow finalist Anthony McEntee lost to Sam Henderson and Michael Lee in a challenge involving pork loin chops, white chocolate buttons, apples, watercress, lemons, eggs and ciabatta bread.

The teams had 40 minutes to whip up a meal and convince judge Josh Emett theirs was the tastiest. The event attracted around 300 people and was held under a large marquee in the mall's courtyard.

While the men got to work Emett gave out prizes for correct answers to questions such as, "What mince do you use in a shepherd's pie?" and "How do you know a steak is cooked?"

Emily Flynn of Panmure watched the cook-off with her family and said her money was on "underdog" Petley to become the season's winner. "He's got a nice story and he's unpretentious, which is often the case with people associated with food. There's something very sincere about him. I love his simplicity."

Christine Morgan of Glen Eden agreed: "His food always looks good and is perfectly cooked. I think he's a hot contender."