In her conversation with Nina Marković, Snežana revealed her lifelong passion for cooking, reminiscing about her first culinary creation—a hearty goulash crafted in her youth. With food constantly on her mind and cookbooks serving as her relaxation refuge, it's no wonder she caught the eye of MasterChef Australia's casting team.
MasterChef Australia Snezana Calic, Photographer: Kelly Gardner
Despite not being an avid TV watcher, Snežana's dedication to MasterChef has been unwavering since her arrival in Australia. Each episode ignites her imagination, prompting her to ponder the delectable possibilities tucked away in that mystery box.
"I don't watch much television but the only show I watch is MasterChef, ever since I came to Australia, and every time they lift that box, I say 'wow, what would I make.'"
Her journey to the MasterChef kitchen wasn't solo; her husband played a pivotal role in the application process, capturing her culinary creations through the lens of his camera and compiling them into an impressive portfolio that caught the attention of the show's producers.
While Snežana's roots trace back to Croatia, the turbulence of war led her family to seek refuge in Serbia, where she later pursued her studies in economics.
"I was born in Croatia and then because of the war we moved to Serbia, and that's where I studied. My parents came here (to Australia) much earlier but since I studied in Serbia, I took Serbian citizenship and couldn't come on that refugee program. So I came much later than my parents."
Despite the geographical distance from her parents and siblings, Snežana found solace in the warmth of her extended Serbian family and friends.
Although her career in the financial sector has flourished, Snežana's true joy resides in the kitchen. For her, cooking isn't merely a chore but a canvas for creative expression—a sentiment inherited from her remarkable mother, whose culinary prowess continues to inspire.
"Well, of course, my mom, she cooks all the time. When she makes something, it's like you lick the pot, literally. And since I was little, I always hovered around her to see what she was doing, and always chopped something and made something."
Snežana's culinary journey began at the tender age of seven, when she surprised her family with a savory goulash delicately infused with sweet cabbage. The incredulous reaction of her uncle, who rewarded her culinary prowess with a bounty of chocolates, remains a cherished memory.
Today, Snežana shares her culinary passion with her husband, Alex, and their two children, Lazar and Lenka, nurturing not only their palates but also their burgeoning interest in the art of cooking."
