TAMARA Graffen was sporting a funky apron when she presented her audition dish to the MasterChef judges.

But she was happy to trade it in for a white one, symbolising her covetted spot in the reality cooking show's Top 24.

In tonight's season nine premiere the 28-year-old had the judges' taste buds dancing with her audition dish: Szechuan pork belly and chive dumplings with red oil vinegar sauce.

"If I give you this you must give me your apron," Matt Preston said.

"I'm a big yes. That's a delicious plate of food."

The Holy Spirit College graduate, who now lives in Broome with her husband, hopes to swap a career in civil engineering for food.

"I loved my job but cooking is this real passion that has grown from absolutely nothing to this point where I'm in this crazy whirlwind of the competition," she said. "I can really see myself doing this for the rest of my life now."

Even though she chose to serve up a savoury dish tonight, Tamara's first love is desserts.

"I told the judges at the time 'I don't know why I'm making this dish. I love desserts but this is something I love to eat'," she said.

"I've always thought of myself as a desserts person. My love for food started with making sweets and mini cupcakes."

The MasterChef auditions continue tomorrow night when Maggie Beer guest stars.