Matt Preston: From MasterChef to Brain Surgery and Beyond
Former MasterChef Australia judge Matt Preston has opened up about his latest television venture, his iconic fashion choices, and his thoughts on men's health in a candid new interview. The food writer, known for his flamboyant cravats and warm judging style, is now starring in the second season of The Hospital: In the Deep End on SBS, where he witnesses medical procedures firsthand.
Watching Brain Surgery Without Fainting
Preston revealed that the most surprising aspect of filming the hospital documentary was his ability to watch brain surgery without fainting, contrary to the production team's expectations. "I was so fixated by watching what was going on – did you know the brain actually does pulsate?" he said. "They're cutting bits out and it's like, 'What's that? What does that do? You just cut out an oyster-sized bit of brain – what do you mean, you won't notice that's gone?'"
He described seeing the brainstem as a particularly awe-inspiring moment. "Now, the brainstem is where it is at; you don't fuck around with the brainstem. And you're literally standing there, wide-eyed, looking at it through a hole. You feel like you are in amongst the pulsing fibres of the human noggin." The experience had a profound impact, especially when he spoke to the patient the following day. "That kid has now been seizure free for over six months, so it is a brilliant, life-changing outcome."
Men's Health: 'Grow Up a Bit'
Preston didn't hold back when discussing men's health, particularly regarding prostate cancer screening. "My personal feeling about that is, the mere fact that so few men still monitor their prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels – come on guys," he stated. "I don't understand why Australian men are so particularly bad at actually paying attention, to avoid that kind of stuff."
He hopes the show will encourage men to take preventive measures. "Hopefully if they see that moment in the show, they'll go, 'Maybe I should have an annual blood test to see how my cholesterol is travelling, my blood sugar, blood pressure, PSA, iron levels' – so you can take action if things are drifting in the wrong direction." Comparing men to women, he added, "Women are sensible about going to have scans and tests. Men, not so much. I just think men have to grow up a bit."
The Cravat Collection and Secret Skills
When asked about his signature cravats, Preston admitted he now owns about 100, having left many behind at MasterChef. "I've decided to go down the neckerchief route – it is a little less stated, not the full cowboy look," he explained. "People do like to see something around my neck – they feel cheated otherwise, like I'm some sort of fake Matt Preston."
His true indulgence, however, lies elsewhere. "The embarrassing thing is not the number of cravats, because they're just offcuts from fabric shops, they're nothing fancy. The problem is probably the 28 pairs of RM Williams and the 100 suits. I have to rotate them into the attic – a box comes out and another box comes in. You want to have the perfect outfit, don't you?"
Preston also shared a secret skill: hiding alcohol in cocktails. "Seriously, I'm a master. I can make the most innocuous tasting cocktail that's properly boozy," he boasted. His current favourite is a bourbon and cherry sour, and he's famous for his dirty negroni with olive brine. "The saltiness of the brine makes the negroni sessionable. You'll keep just having one more."
Best Cheap Eats and Global Recognition
For food lovers, Preston recommended his top cheap meal in Australia: "There's a favourite Vietnamese place I go to near Prahran Market in Melbourne called Dad Restaurant that does a really good bún chả. I'm always happy with a burger from Andrew's Hamburgers in Albert Park, mainly because of the genius idea they had where they shred a little white cabbage in with the iceberg lettuce so it is extra crunchy."
He reflected on the global reach of MasterChef Australia, recalling being recognised in unusual places. "While washing an elephant at an elephant sanctuary in Sri Lanka, by a group of very hairy-shouldered Bulgarian men who only spoke Bulgarian," he said. "That's a beautiful thing about that show, it had a very warm and positive reaction from people in all different walks of life."
Life Lessons and Sandwich Legacy
Preston shared the best advice he ever received from author Frederick Forsyth: "Listen, because opportunity knocks quietly. If you're not listening, you'll never know where that surprising big break will come from. If you're talking the whole time, you won't hear it."
If he had a sandwich named after him, it would be a Prego roll. "It is the best steak sandwich in the world. And I would like to be the best steak sandwich in the world," he declared. "It's very simple. It's garlic butter, rocket and delicious steak which is seared but super tender. The roll is crusty but the crumb is open enough to suck up the garlic butter and the juices of the steak."
Matt Preston appears alongside Jelena Dokic and Ruby Rose in season two of The Hospital: In The Deep End, airing on SBS and SBS on Demand now.
