Antonija Rittuper (b. 1992) is a graphic designer and contestant of the eighth season of MasterChef Croatia. She grew up in Široki Brijeg in a family with five children, and completed her studies in graphic design in Zagreb. Interestingly, she took her last name after the marriage Rittuper – Allegedly, he is only the fourth person in Croatia with that surname. Antonija has been connected to traditional Herzegovinian cuisine from a young age and is especially a lover of banana bread. In his free time, he practices dancing and prefers creative recipes in which he combines old traditional dishes with modern cooking techniques.
Family and culinary role models
Antonija often points out that her greatest culinary role models are mother and grandmother. In interviews, she admitted that she learned a lot from them in the kitchen, which can be seen in attention to the details and traditional recipes she applies. As guilty pleasure He mentions the lamb on a spit – a dish that she could eat every day. This combination of family flavors and her creativity in the kitchen explain why she decided to apply to MasterChef; He wants to show that he proudly associates the cultural heritage of Herzegovina with his own passion for modern cooking.
MasterChef Croatia 2025
Antonija signed up for MasterChef to combine designer precision and love for cooking. In an audition performance, she presented her version of the traditional Herzegovinian dish “Pura Moderuša”. The jury was delighted – chef Mario Mihelj pointed out that the plate looks fantastic thanks to its design sense of aesthetics, and everyone agreed that Antonija’s dish ‘brilled’ both in the presentation and in the taste. She herself stated that her long-standing goal is to win at MasterChef and that she is already dreaming of a trophy in her hands. Thanks to that performance, she managed to win a place in Masterchef’s kitchen and prove that she is among the candidates with extreme talent and self-confidence.
Key challenges and successes at MasterChef
In the further part of the competition, Antonija stood out through several important episodes. Her style is characterized by precision, more components on the plate and unobtrusive but harmonious tastes. Among the key moments, it is worth noting:
- Sea Challenge (October 2025) – A week dedicated to seafood. Antonija prepared a modern version of brunch with tuna, sparrows, Swiss chard and cuttlefish, and her dish was declared the best. Thanks to this performance, she won gold immunity card, which guarantees her passage to the next round.
- Stress test (October 2025) – After the next challenge, tension appeared. A piece of kitchen towel remained on Antonia’s right side of the plate, which the chefs immediately noticed. The jury, led by Goran Kočiš and Stjepan Vukadin, refused to taste the dish and sent Antonija for a stress test. However, she remained composed: she stated that she was entering a stress test ready and determined – she plans to return to the competition. (In the end, despite that omission, she managed to stay in the game.)
- Technical Assignment (October 2025) – The challenge of precision with limited time. Antonia’s plates stood out with perfectly prepared components and a clear representation of the task. Mario Mihelj stated that Antonija ‘excelled in all the items we were looking for in this task’. The four components of her dish were extremely precise, so she won once again immunity card.
- Dessert Challenge (November 2025) – Preparation of the most stable cake in the team. Antonija put together a technically demanding cake in a pair with her colleague Damjan Tepić. Jury members praised the stable structure and creativity (a special banana supplement). Their dessert was declared the best, which brought Antonia Reward: Another Immunity Card.
Through all these challenges, Antonija showed impeccable concentration and organization, and meetings with immunity cards confirm that she was considered one of the strongest candidates of the season.
Conclusion and complete dedication
Antonija Rittuper successfully translated her background as a graphic designer and Herzegovinian into a creative kitchen story. She has already won several immunity cards, and the jury generally praises her as the hope of the competition. Her combination of tradition (dishes like ‘Pura Moderuša’) and the modern approach reflects the goal that MasterChef sees as a platform for the presentation of Herzegovinian cuisine with a new seal. Whether he will realize his dream and win the title of MasterChef in 2025, he will reveal future episodes. For more news about Antonia and her performance, follow the news and announcements of the MasterChef show – every new season brings surprises and culinary joys!
Sources: Details about Antonija Rittuper’s life and affinities are taken from interviews and profiles (Nova TV MasterChef, Dnevnik.hr), and achievements and comments from the recording of MasterChef in 2025 are documented in media articles (jabuka.tv; 24 hours).
