Age: 38 

State: New South Wales 

Occupation: Clinical Research Manager 

Instagram: @Alyona.Iljuhhina 

Born in the former USSR and raised in Estonia, the food of Alyona’s childhood was simple, but laid strong foundations for a cook with a unique perspective and passion for flavour.

Instilled with a no-waste ethos from the word go, Alyona was taught to make cheap cuts delicious, and used ingredients like chicken livers, hearts, giblets and salmon heads to bring flavour and nutrition.

With fond memories of fishing with her grandfather, and her grandmother teaching her how to use the whole animal straight from the farm, to honour every part. Alyona is inspired by chefs like Josh Niland, who do the same today in a fine-dining setting.

Following her doctor parents into a career in science, Alyona gained her master’s degree in pharmacy and a second master’s in clinical nutrition. Her studies saw her travel to the UK, Scotland and lastly Ireland, where she worked for five years. It was while working front-of-house in a Dublin restaurant during a sabbatical that she realised the depth of her passion for food, constantly inspired by seasonal menus from the head chef.

Relocating to Australia in 2019, Alyona says that her food obsession has been a constant evolution. Her curiosity for Australia’s coastal and fresh, seasonal produce has been a huge catalyst in her newfound love for native ingredients and indigenous spices. With a cooking style that is intuitive, creative and soulful, flavour is paramount, and everything connects to her story and Slavic-Baltic roots.

Now working in Clinical Research, Alyona appreciates the restorative power of food. In future, she aims to run programs and retreats to help women improve their sense of wellbeing through soul food, full of flavour, story and connection, to provide nourishment beyond the plate. She feels passionate about sharing her skills to help people make food simple, delicious and inspiring as a building block to better health.

Supported by her mother and sister back home in Estonia as she lives out her MasterChef Australia dream, Alyona strongly believes that the competition will unveil a whole new layer of magic in her life, and she is ready for it.