It has been a jam-packed few years for Jess Liemantara - since gracing the MasterChef Australia kitchen as Season 10’s youngest contestant (placing 4th), and returning for Season 12’s Back To Win (placing 12th).

Known affectionately as ‘Jess Lemon’, she has looked up to most of the Dessert Masters cooks as industry mentors, and now, she rightfully rubs shoulders with them as an accomplished peer.

Having dreamt of becoming a pastry chef as a child, Jess’ passion and commitment to constantly improve and evolve in the kitchen is second to none.

Her outlook on cooking was changed by her MasterChef experience and she went on to work at Om Nom, The Press Club and Nobu Melbourne, as well as gaining international private dining experience at Raffles Hotel Jakarta.

A budding entrepreneur, in 2019 Jess self-published her cookbook, A Zest of Jess, which she hopes will inspire a new generation of cooks. During Covid, she set up a pastry delivery business focussed on tarts, macarons and entremets to brighten people’s days.

The endeavour grew into a bricks and mortar store in 2022 - Esmé pâtisserie in Melbourne’s CBD where Jess showcased her delicious skills for customers. She then expanded with Asian street food restaurant Roarti, and while both outlets may now have closed their doors, Jess is no less busy.

Now working at Ned’s Bake, Jess is building on her laminated pastry skills by perfecting exquisite croissants, bread and pastries. Forever baking and in recipe development, Jess’ delectable treats can be sampled via her website, and she is busy creating workshops for future pastry classes.

Often influenced by memories and motivated by creating pastries that are as beautiful as they are delicious, Jess is adept at incorporating savoury into sweet, and can turn her hand to both plated and pâtisserie style desserts.

Jess enters the Dessert Masters competition ready to prove she has what it takes to bake with the best of the best.