MasterChef Australias Matt Sinclair hasnt seen wife for over two months

NEWLYWEDS Matt and Jess Sinclair have had to put love on hold for MasterChef Australia. The couple have been split apart and they may not be reunited any time soon.

Matt and Jess had to scrap their honeymoon plans so that Matt could compete on the Channel 10 cooking show and the move seems to be paying off. Matt is still in the mix at the half way point and is a firm fan favourite.

The pair haven’t seen one another in more than two months. Jess has had to make do with two short phone calls a week and the occasional letter.

“It’s a dream come true for Matt but, for me, it is bittersweet,” Jess says. “He’s not home for what has been a long time now. I’ve found it difficult at times.

“I take it day by day. That is the easiest for me. It takes the daunting part of it all away. I’m thankful that I’ve got a support system around me — his family here (in Noosa) and my family in Adelaide.

“We’re fortunate in that we can sacrifice that extra income and he can take the time. We don’t have kids yet.

“I know that every day he’s there (on MasterChef Australia) he’s getting further in the competition.”

Sinclair was approached by a MasterChef Australia scout shortly after the couple’s fairy-tale wedding in Noosa last year.

The 27-year-old coffee roaster says the show wasn’t on his radar before then. The offer to compete was too good to refuse and honeymoon plans had to be put on hold.

“I’d planned a big surprise honeymoon for Jess but that got thrown out the window,” Matt says. “The offer to appear on MasterChef dropped on the doorstep.

“I said to Jess ‘what do you think about it?’ She said ‘it may never come around again so while it’s here you have to grab it. That was a big call (on her part). She has been very supportive.”

Matt has been on a wild ride since he won an apron with a crispy skin duck breast and mushroom risotto.

A high was winning an Immunity Pin in a cook-off against Woodland House chefs Hayden McFarland and Thomas Woods. But there have been lows including competing in three elimination challenges.

“I can certainly hear in his voice (on the phone) when he has had a great day in the kitchen or a shocking one,” Jess says. “It has been quite a rollercoaster with his emotions.”

Matt and restaurant manager Jess met in Noosa but it wasn’t love at first sight. A later trip to Vietnam cemented the pair’s relationship. They have also walked the Kokoda Track together.

Whatever happens on MasterChef Australia, Matt will pursue his dream of running a food truck for markets and festivals serving South East Asian street tucker.

There’s also the long-delayed honeymoon to plan.

“There is definitely an IOU there, for sure,” Matt says. “She is supporting me in something I want to do so I absolutely want to do something for her.”

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