Alana Lowes
Encyclopedia
Alana Jane Lowes is a writer, presenter and actress. In 2011 Lowes competed in Series 3 of MasterChef Australia
. She eventually finished third, behind Kate Bracks
and Michael Weldon.
and graduated with a double degree in journalism and law. She worked for WIN News
in Canberra as a reporter in 2006, and then with Nine News in Brisbane in 2008. Lowes also worked as a journalist with Style magazine, where her articles included food, travel and interviews with celebrities such as Liam Hemsworth
and Julia Zemiro
.
, Lowes met or cooked with some highly-regarded people in the the global food industry, including Heston Blumenthal
, Thomas Keller
, René Redzepi
, David Chang
, Eric Ripert
, Neil Perry
, Matt Moran
, Maggie Beer
, Curtis Stone
, Marco Pierre White
, Anthony Bourdain
, and one of Lowes' food idols, Nigella Lawson
. Lowes' nickname among the other contestants on MasterChef Australia was “Nige”, with both Lawson and Lowes having long dark hair and a love of chocolate.
Lowes finished MasterChef in third place. Judge Gary Mehigan
described Lowes as "One of the best cooks we've ever had. She's meticulous and has a real drive. You sense that whatever happens, food is going to be where she goes in her life".
, as a regular food columnist with ninemsn food. Additionaly, Lowes is active on her own website and her online blog . The blog includes original recipes, travel stories and styling tips. Since MasterChef, Lowes has been busy touring Australia with cooking demonstrations and public cooking classes, and more recently entertained MasterChef fans at the annual MasterChef Live event in Sydney, Australia.
She has plans for book and television deals in the future.
Lowes is also an accomplished Australian rules football
player. Her awards include the ACTWAFL
Rising Star in 2002 and the Best-and-Fairest player in 2003. She was selected in the all-Australian team for four consecutive years. In June 2011 Lowes appeared in a video with other notable Australian women to promote the Australian Football League
Women's Week.
to help raise awareness for women’s cancers and a national ambassador for the Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Society of Australia.
MasterChef Australia (season 3)
The third season of MasterChef Australia premiered on Sunday, 1 May 2011 at 7:30 pm on Network Ten. Judges George Calombaris, Gary Mehigan and Matt Preston returned from the previous series and were joined by Matt Moran. The third season was won by Kate Bracks who defeated Michael Weldon in the...
. She eventually finished third, behind Kate Bracks
Kate Bracks
Kate Bracks is an Australian television chef. She was the winner of the third series of MasterChef Australia.Bracks, the mother of three children, was previously a school teacher. She lives in Orange, New South Wales and attends Orange Evangelical Church...
and Michael Weldon.
Early life and career
Lowes was born in Melbourne and moved with her parents to Mildura where she spent all her formative years. She now lives in Brisbane. Lowes studied at the University of CanberraUniversity of Canberra
Over the years the Stone Day program has gradually become larger and larger, taking up a whole week and now Stonefest is one of Australia's most popular music festivals. The first foundation celebrations were held in 1971. In 1973 Stone Day celebrations were held over two days, which was expanded...
and graduated with a double degree in journalism and law. She worked for WIN News
WIN News
WIN News is a local television news service in parts of regional Australia, produced by WIN Television. 20 regional bulletins are presented from studios in Wollongong, Canberra, Ballarat, Rockhampton, Toowoomba, Mount Gambier, Hobart and Perth.-History:As well as its flagship nightly...
in Canberra as a reporter in 2006, and then with Nine News in Brisbane in 2008. Lowes also worked as a journalist with Style magazine, where her articles included food, travel and interviews with celebrities such as Liam Hemsworth
Liam Hemsworth
Liam Hemsworth is an Australian actor. He took the role of Josh Taylor in the soap opera Neighbours and as "Marcus" on the children's television series The Elephant Princess and appeared in the American film The Last Song, released on 31 March 2010...
and Julia Zemiro
Julia Zemiro
Julia Zemiro is an Australian television presenter, radio host, actor, singer and comedian.- Early life :...
.
MasterChef
After gaining a place in the Top 50 of MasterChef Australia Series 3, Lowes secured a Top 24 position on 5 May 2011 with a soft-hearted chocolate pudding. During her time on MasterChef AustraliaMasterchef Australia
MasterChef Australia is a Logie award winning Australian competitive cooking game show based on the original British MasterChef. It is produced by FremantleMedia Australia and screens on Network Ten. Restaurateur and chef Gary Mehigan, chef George Calombaris and food critic Matt Preston serve as...
, Lowes met or cooked with some highly-regarded people in the the global food industry, including Heston Blumenthal
Heston Blumenthal
Heston Marc Blumenthal OBE is an English chef and owner of The Fat Duck, a three-Michelin-starred restaurant in Bray, Berkshire voted Best Restaurant in the UK by The Good Food Guide 2007 and 2009, and voted best restaurant in the world by Restaurant magazine in 2005...
, Thomas Keller
Thomas Keller
Thomas Keller is an American chef, restaurateur, and cookbook writer. He and his landmark Napa Valley restaurant, The French Laundry in Yountville, California, have won multiple awards from the James Beard Foundation, notably the Best California Chef in 1996, and the Best Chef in America in 1997...
, René Redzepi
René Redzepi
René Redzepi is the chef and co-owner of the two-Michelin star restaurant Noma in the Christianshavn neighborhood of Copenhagen, Denmark. His restaurant was voted the best restaurant in the world in 2010 San Pellegrino Awards and 2011...
, David Chang
David Chang
David Chang is a noted Korean-American chef. He is chef/owner of the Momofuku restaurant group, which includes Momofuku Noodle Bar, Momofuku Ssäm Bar, Má Pêche, Milk Bar and Momofuku Ko in New York City, the latter for which he was awarded two Michelin stars in 2009, and Momofuku Seiōbo in...
, Eric Ripert
Eric Ripert
Eric Ripert is a chef, author and television personality specializing in modern French cuisine and renowned for his work with seafood. His flagship restaurant, Le Bernardin, located in New York City, is routinely ranked among the best restaurants in the world by Restaurant magazine's and S...
, Neil Perry
Neil Perry
Neil Arthur Perry is a prominent Australian chef, restaurateur, author and television presenter. He also is the co-ordinator for Qantas Flight Catering under his company Rockpool Consulting and has a food brand sold under his name, available at Woolworths Supermarkets.Perry co-owns and is...
, Matt Moran
Matt Moran
Matthew Moran,commonly known as Matt Moran, is an Australian chef also known for being a guest on various TV cooking shows.- Early childhood and education :...
, Maggie Beer
Maggie Beer
Maggie Beer is an Australian cook, food author, restaurateur and food manufacturer.-Earlier life:Born Margaret Ann Ackermann in Sydney in January 1945 to Ronald Ackermann and Doreen Carter.-Career:...
, Curtis Stone
Curtis Stone
Curtis Stone is an Australian celebrity chef, author and television personality, nicknamed "The Quiet Terminator" by fans following his performance on The Celebrity Apprentice 3.-Background:...
, Marco Pierre White
Marco Pierre White
Marco Pierre White is a British celebrity chef, restaurateur and television personality. He is noted for his contributions to contemporary international cuisine, and his exceptional culinary skills....
, Anthony Bourdain
Anthony Bourdain
Anthony Michael "Tony" Bourdain is an American chef, author and television personality. He is well known for his 2000 book Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly, and is the host of Travel Channel's culinary and cultural adventure program Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations.A...
, and one of Lowes' food idols, Nigella Lawson
Nigella Lawson
Nigella Lucy Lawson is an English food writer, journalist and broadcaster. Lawson is the daughter of Nigel Lawson, the former Chancellor of the Exchequer, and Vanessa Salmon, whose family owned the J. Lyons and Co. empire...
. Lowes' nickname among the other contestants on MasterChef Australia was “Nige”, with both Lawson and Lowes having long dark hair and a love of chocolate.
Lowes finished MasterChef in third place. Judge Gary Mehigan
Gary Mehigan
Gary Mehigan is an English chef, restaurateur and a judge of the Network Ten series MasterChef Australia.Mehigan also co-hosts two shows on Australia's Lifestyle Food Channel, Good Chef, Bad Chef, and Boy's Weekend and will be appearing at the 2011 Good Food & Wine Show.Mehigan trained at The...
described Lowes as "One of the best cooks we've ever had. She's meticulous and has a real drive. You sense that whatever happens, food is going to be where she goes in her life".
Recent work
Lowes has considerable experience as a journalist in both broadcast and print media and in recent years has placed her efforts into freelance lifestyle, food and travel writing. Lowes is now writing for ninemsnNineMSN
ninemsn is an Australian 50/50 joint venture between Microsoft and Nine Entertainment Co.. It effectively acts as the website for both the Nine Network and MSN, and is one of Australia's most popular websites...
, as a regular food columnist with ninemsn food. Additionaly, Lowes is active on her own website and her online blog . The blog includes original recipes, travel stories and styling tips. Since MasterChef, Lowes has been busy touring Australia with cooking demonstrations and public cooking classes, and more recently entertained MasterChef fans at the annual MasterChef Live event in Sydney, Australia.
She has plans for book and television deals in the future.
Other interests
Aside from food and cooking, Lowes also pursues acting on stage and screen. She has featured in a number of short and full length feature films cast and filmed in Australia as well as a variety of television commercials. Her notable roles include The Ghosts and Blood Money.Lowes is also an accomplished Australian rules football
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
player. Her awards include the ACTWAFL
Australian Capital Territory Women's Australian Football League
The Australian Capital Territory Women's Australian Football League is the governing body of the sport in the Australian Capital Territory.-Clubs:* Eastlake Demons WFC* Tuggeranong Thunder* ADFA Rams* Belconnen Magpies* Ainslie Kangaroos...
Rising Star in 2002 and the Best-and-Fairest player in 2003. She was selected in the all-Australian team for four consecutive years. In June 2011 Lowes appeared in a video with other notable Australian women to promote the Australian Football League
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
Women's Week.
Charity work
Lowes is a national ambassador for the Cancer Council AustraliaCancer Council Australia
Cancer Council Australia is a national, not for profit organisation which aims to promote cancer-control policies and to reduce the illness caused by cancer in Australia...
to help raise awareness for women’s cancers and a national ambassador for the Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Society of Australia.