That is why the city will be on the menu on the program’s August 18th episode as part of its “dreams week” segment. 

“MasterChef is also about dreams and aspiration of starting a new life and leaving the old life behind,” Preston said. 

“Ballarat has a special place in our country as a city where our dreams of nationhood have come alive, as well as also being a city where people (have) come with dreams and aspirations of building a new life (during the gold rush).”

Last month, the crew and cast of MasterChef shot an episode at Craig’s Royal Hotel. 

Preston said the hotel was a great location, full of history and hospitality.

“They were fantastic,” he said. “The wait staff were beautifully turned out, they were very professional and I was honoured to have some photographs with them.”

The program, which is in its fifth series, continues to be popular because of the special place food has in people’s lives across the world, Preston said.

“Food is central to all our lives,” he said. “The sanctity of the family table, the role of food in every significant moment in our lives. Whether it is a religious festival, birthday, wedding, wake – food is there as a way of showing love and respect.”

Preston said a good chef needed to have the ability to perform under pressure but also be able to listen and develop.

“You tend to find that the winner tends to be the ones who develop momentum in the final weeks,” he said. “It is very hard to pick the winner of the show.”

Craig’s Royal Hotel function co-ordinator Madeleine Kenyon said the crew stayed with them last month. 

“We had a full house,” Ms Kenyon said. “All the 41 rooms were reserved on July 8 and 9.”

Ms Kenyon said the hotel’s main kitchen was used for the filming. 

“Our own wait staff were filmed in the dining segment. It was a real buzz,” she said.