MasterChef Contestant Bar Opens Up About Late Mother’s Influence on His Culinary Journey

On Tuesday evening, Channel 12’s "MasterChef: Dream Team" will feature a deeply personal moment as contestant Bar shares the story of his mother, who passed away shortly before he began the competition. Bar reveals that he started the season 11 auditions just two months after her death, making the experience emotionally raw. He explains how his mother was the inspiration behind his passion for cooking and his role as the family’s culinary pillar, providing stability and joy through food.

Bar describes his mother as someone who spent her life bringing happiness to others through cooking. Despite the pain of her loss, he feels her presence with him during the competition, saying, "I feel she is here in the room, completely, watching over me." He admits that recalling memories of her is difficult but underscores the deep connection between his cooking and her memory.

This season of "MasterChef: Dream Team" is a special edition that brings back 12 beloved contestants from previous seasons for a second chance to fulfill their culinary dreams. Alongside Bar, notable returning participants include Jacky Azulai, Eden Harel, Gal Kaspers, Elihav Sasson, Manal Ismail, Aviva Pivko, Tair Mordoch, Costa Osdachi, Nissim Zlait, Danit Sofer, and Haim Cohen. The judging panel has also been updated, with veteran judges Michal Ansky, Eyal Shani, and Yuval Ben Neriah joined by new judge Chef Avi Biton, replacing Yossi Shitrit who moved to the regular "MasterChef" judging team.