"I made mistakes and I will make more, but I do not regret them"
Two years after being eliminated just before the finale, Nissim Zalait returns to the "MasterChef" kitchen with a desire to correct and prove himself. In an interview with +12, he talks about the fear of failure and the line he will not cross even on the way to victory: "I want to remember that I remained true to my values, that I did not betray myself in the name of the competition."
About two years ago, just before the finalists for the 11th season were determined, Nissim Zalait found himself in a particularly difficult situation. Zalait, who served in the reserves throughout the season, was eliminated and finished in fourth place. Now, he has returned to "MasterChef" with the goal of continuing to progress and grow.
"I missed it, and it's time to fix what was a bit lost in the season I participated in," he explained regarding his decision to return in an interview with +12. "I want to refine things, to bring a slightly more modern and different aspect than last time, perhaps more professional."
What has changed since the last season? "In between, I mostly wore green (military uniform), and a lot of other things happened. My father passed away, I had a daughter, the hostages who remained alive returned, and I started working at the 'Psagot' winery, becoming the pastry chef there."
Are there things he regrets from the previous season?
"I truly believe that the path I took led me to be who I am. Therefore, to say 'you regretted', the answer is no. I don't regret the mistakes I made either. I'll tell you a secret: I'm going to make mistakes this season too, and I'm not going to regret them."
How did family and friends react to his return? "I didn't tell most of my friends, and most of my family either. I mean, the immediate family obviously knows, but not many people know. My circle is less connected to Instagram, so the messages I received with the list of participants were actually from various people who come to the winery."
Zalait admits that he has fears regarding failure. "Definitely. I don't want to leave here, I want to give it my all," he said. "I want as many opportunities as possible to learn. There are different judges here, and these are new nuances in judging and in the culinary knowledge that is developing."
What is he willing to do to win?
"I will fight as long as there is something to fight for, until the end. And yet, and this accompanied me in the previous season too, I am not willing to lose myself. I remember that in the end, even though it's a competition and I want to win, I go to sleep at home and want to remember that I remained true to my values, that I did not betray myself in the name of victory or the competition. It is possible to combine them."
