Fourteen years after her first visit to the Masterchef kitchen, Alana Lowes is back to win. Since first appearing on our screens in 2011, Lowes has worked as a cook and a food writer. Her favourite topic? Her love of Brisbane’s food scene.

Lowes is currently appearing on Masterchef Australia: Back to Win. She spoke to Broadsheet about where (and what) she’s eating and loving in Brissie lately.

I think it’s world class. I constantly get asked by our southern neighbours, “What is going on in Brisbane, there are so many amazing restaurants!” The way the hospitality scene has evolved since my first season of Masterchef Australia back in 2011 is incredible and it shows no sign of slowing down. I feel my heart burst with pride and my eyes light up when I get any chance to talk to people about the food scene here in Brisbane.

Never miss a Brisbane moment. Make sure you're subscribed to our newsletter today.

SUBSCRIBE NOW

Otto in Southbank is probably one of my favourites. I love anything on the river, especially if you can catch the sunset. The champagne lobster pasta with lemon butter and bottarga is life changing! Even a spot at the al fresco bar is worthy of a special occasion. Catching the river breezes, sipping wine and snacking on antipasti sounds like the perfect afternoon to me.

Howard Smith Wharves is my go-to, especially if there is a group of us. I do love Greca – its Greek feast banquet menu is the best for a large group looking for a long lunch vibe. Plus, you can bounce from lunch to a cocktail bar and then back for dinner all in the one spot. If you’re looking for somewhere quieter, The Lex at W Brisbane is a New York grill-style diner and has a sweeping terrace to soak up views of the Brisbane River.

Bella & Tortie is the spot. It’s the place you dream about all week, waiting for it to open for two days on the weekend. It’s hands down the best place to pick up some baked goodies. Get there early though, otherwise you might just miss out on perfection in the form of tarts, canelés, cookies and slices of cake. Owner and pastry chef Suzi is the flavour whisperer behind combos like espresso caramel pecan banoffee tart. Need I say more?

A place not too many people know about, but should, is Ach in Hamilton. It’s Middle Eastern-inspired, which is my absolute go-to for flavours and it’s all cooked over a custom hearth. I jumped into the kitchen with the guys just before we started filming the latest season of Masterchef for some last-minute training. The boys are really pushing out creative and innovative food you won’t get anywhere else in the city.

Another place I love going to (but don’t get to visit nearly enough!) is Nug General Store. It offers super cosy, date-night-worthy Italian. Ben Veldhuijzen and his wife, alongside front-of-house manager Ruxi Petrisor, are delightful. It’s tucked away on Bakery Lane, the cutest lane in the Valley.

I am obsessed with the Scenic Rim at the moment, from Summer Land Camels and their camel feta to Di Fyson from Fifth Acre Farms and her roadside produce stall at Scenic Rim Farm Shop. The finger limes there are out of this world.

What’s your favourite spot for a late-night feed?
Do you mean like 9pm? I have two little kids, so a late-night feed is getting home at 9pm or 10pm with a crew of people and feeding them from my own fridge/freezer. I always have homemade sausage rolls and party pies in my freezer ready for the moment my house is inundated with an after-party crew. But if I had to stretch it out for a late-night feed out on the town, I would definitely hit up Snack Man and share plates of Chinese food in the Valley. Its outdoor area has had a glow up, so sitting under the canopy of the old fig tree with twinkling fairy lights is something pretty special.

I can’t choose just one here. In Brisbane, it would be Essa just off James Street. Phil Marchant celebrates local produce on an ever-changing menu and his Jerusalem artichoke ice-cream with shaved truffle changed the way I thought about ice-cream flavours.

I also love to showcase regional places on the edge of Brissie, like Blume in Boonah. It’s only an hour from Brisbane and Jack Stuart is serving up incredible dishes using seasonal and hyper-local Scenic Rim produce.

When it comes to cooking, I find myself consistently reaching for my silicone spatulas. Whether I’m whipping up a cake or making a sauce, a spatula is always there. I have an array of them in various sizes, each perfectly suited for its own task. I find such joy in scraping up every bit from a bowl or jar. Honestly, I use them so frequently that I’m convinced it’s time to expand my collection with a few more.

I’ve loved churning interesting ice-cream flavour combinations on this season of Masterchef Australia. My vino cotto ice-cream was described by Andy as one of the best things he’s eaten this year, so when it was my birthday a couple of months ago, I had the Breville ice-cream maker on my wishlist, which I received and love. Cucumber and mint ice-cream, anyone?

@alanalowes

Alana Lowes appears on Masterchef Australia: Back to Win, which continues Sunday at 7pm, and Monday to Wednesday at 7:30pm on 10 and 10 Play.