MasterChef South Africa

Alicia Nicola (32), Advertising Creative Director, Cape Town

Signature dishes: Egg yolk and corn ravioli in a burnt butter and chili sauce with crispy basil leaves. Slow-cooked lamb ragu with butternut and goat's cheese stuffed gnocchi.

Favourite heritage food: Garlicky West Coast mussels with crusty bread. Karoo lamb chops on the braai with tomato salad and garlic bread.

The quintessential foodie, Alicia has two passions in life: food and design. Polished and intelligent, she is a self-taught cook who pursues food knowledge through every avenue from culinary short courses to devouring Youtube videos. Her main cooking style is modern Mediterranean.

A gifted food storyteller, Alicia enjoys the scientific side of food, researching techniques, and creating food content. Watching her mother cook Greek fare and her grandmother bake has influenced her warm relationship with food. She believes that food and the effort you put into its preparation is love made tangible.