Liaw, who prior to taking out the MasterChef title was Head of Legal Asia in the Tokyo-based Walt Disney Company's Interactive Media Group, told Lawyers Weekly he is surprised at how difficult it is to be famous.

"I've got to be honest; I am finding my situation right now far more stressful and far busier than being a lawyer ever was. I didn't think it would be as hard as it is, but it's all positive, so I can't really complain too much. It's a totally new experience for me," he said.

"I wasn't in Australia for the show last year, but I'd heard about the attention and I'd heard about the ratings ... But to actually experience it is a whole different thing."

Liaw, who has been living in Japan for the past six years after leaving Adelaide firm Kelly & Co, is currently in Australia working on his cookbook - which along with $100,000 was part of his prize - and finalising plans to open a restaurant in a yet-to-be-determined location.

And while Liaw enjoys being a lawyer, resuming his legal career is not high on his immediate list of priorities.

"For the time being, I am just too busy to do that. I definitely haven't ruled out going back to the law in the future, but at the moment there are all these new doors opening up for me and I think I owe it to myself to explore those," he said.

Claire Chaffey