Sonoma founder Andrew Connole appeared on the Ten Network’s mega hit MasterChef last night, testing the top 24 contestants in a bake off.

The challenge, filmed at Sonoma HQ in Alexandria, was the result of MasterChef producers approaching Andrew with the idea of a baking challenge in Sydney’s best bakery.

The contestants split into two groups of 12 and were charged with baking sourdough bread for five of Sydney’s top restaurants currently supplied by Sonoma – Pier, Otto, Buon Ricordo, Sepia and Bodega.

Judges Gary Meighan and George Calombaris were on hand with Andrew as he took the teams through their paces while Matt Preston met with each of the chefs from the restaurants to get their feedback on the final product.

It was a long shoot for those involved with the cameras rolling from 9pm until 4pm the following day.

“It was a lot of fun, the contestants, judges and crew were all great to be around,” said Connole.
“To be a part of something like MasterChef is a great experience and the fact that they chose us to feature in this series shows how much respect there is for Sonoma in the industry. It was a really enjoyable experience.”
Sonoma was formed in 1998 off the back of a nostalgic dream of Andrew’s father, Kerry, to bake great bread in an old wood fire in Bellata, north west NSW, in the General Store and Bakery that his grandparents had owned.

After a trip to Point Reyes, north of San Francisco, in 1997 where Andrew spent time with Chad Robertson, now of Tartine Bakery fame, he returned with the dream of baking the best sourdough bread in the country.

In 2011 they celebrate their 14th year of business and a decade in Sydney. They supply bread to some of Sydney’s top chefs hatted restaurants and have four cafes open in Glebe, Paddington, Bondi and Danks Street, Waterloo.

The café restaurant at Sonoma HQ, Alexandria is due to open later in May.