Monica Mignone | Season 11 MasterChef Australia Contestant

< Pastry, Dessert, Cake Decorating + Baking

Monica Mignone is a Primary School Teacher, Cake Maker and Season 11 MasterChef Australia Contestant. Born in Melbourne as the youngest of three girls, Monica says her tight-knit Italian family was always together, spending weekends alongside her cousins enjoying picnics and riding bikes. A bubbly and chatty self-described tomboy, Monica’s passion for food and baking was inspired by watching her Nonna and Mum who are great bakers.

After graduating with a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Deakin University in 2012, Monica went on to complete a Graduate Diploma in Primary Teaching, and is now in her 5th year teaching grade 1 and 2 students. After watching the response an unbalanced lunchbox had on her student’s behaviours, Monica completed an online diploma in Nutrition at the end of 2016. The following year she started a garden kitchen at school, running nutrition lessons and teaching children about vegetables and the difference between ‘everyday’ and ‘sometimes’ foods. When Monica speaks to her students about the importance of a balanced lunch, it’s a motto she lives by in her own kitchen.

Following her MasterChef journey, Monica realised there was nothing stopping her from chasing her cake dreams, even if she didn’t win! So she decided to get back in the kitchen and teach herself how to make the best cakes possible. Monica had the opportunity to gain work experience with some notable establishments in Melbourne, and continued to be inspired of course by her Mother and Nonna. And so Monica’s cake dreams became a reality when she launched her small business Mignone Cakes - a made-to-order, retro cakery with a modern twist, using high quality products and reasonable prices. Because as Monica says, “everyone should be able to have their cake and eat it too!”

You can follow along Monica’s food journey via her website and social media platform.

COOK WITH MONICA MIGNONE

Coming from a rich Italian heritage, Monica is honoured to share the knowledge that was passed down to her from her Mother and Nonna, and also from her wonderful experience on MasterChef Australia. As a school teacher, Monica also has a passion for sharing knowledge about nutrition and the importance of a balanced diet. From Italian desserts to cake decorating and baking, choose what you would like to cook with Chef Instructor Monica.