MasterChef: Melissa Leong snaps at viewer who questioned focus on curry

‘You don’t understand’: MasterChef judge Melissa Leong snaps at a viewer who questioned the show’s focus on curry


Melissa Leong is often seen as the ‘nicer’ judge on MasterChef – but if you speak negatively about the show and its cuisine, then you can expect a sharp response.

The food critic, 39, snapped at a viewer on Facebook on Tuesday night, after they said they were ‘sick’ of seeing certain contestants making curries ‘all the time’.

Without naming names, the fan wrote: ‘A little sick of seeing one or two cooks cooking curry all the time, their specialty, to stay in the competition.’

Hitting back: Melissa Leong is often seen as the ‘nicer’ judge on MasterChef – but if you speak negatively about the show and its cuisine, then you can expect a sharp response

Melissa, who is an expert on international cuisine, offered a no-nonsense reply and then tweeted a screenshot of the exchange. 

She clarified that curry isn’t a one-dimensional dish and actually spans many cuisines, meaning a chef can make curry every week and still offer plenty of variety.

‘Curry is a style of dish that encompasses thousands of dishes across all parts of Asia, the Middle East, Africa and beyond,’ she said. 

Impatient: The food critic, 39, snapped at a viewer on Facebook on Tuesday night, after they said they were 'sick' of seeing certain contestants making curries 'all the time'

Impatient: The food critic, 39, snapped at a viewer on Facebook on Tuesday night, after they said they were ‘sick’ of seeing certain contestants making curries ‘all the time’ 

Melissa then wondered if anyone would make a similar criticism about a MasterChef contestant cooking European-style stews.

Finishing her rebuttal, she argued that it makes sense for the chefs to ‘play to their strengths’ and it’s not their fault that some viewers ‘don’t understand the nuance, variation and technique’ of different types of curry.

Melissa’s exchange with the narrow-minded viewer drew praise on Twitter. 

Shots fired: She clarified that curry isn't a one-dimensional dish and actually spans many cuisines, meaning a chef can make curry every week and still offer plenty of variety. Pictured: Melissa with fellow MasterChef judges Andy Allen (left) and Jock Zonfrillo (right)

Shots fired: She clarified that curry isn’t a one-dimensional dish and actually spans many cuisines, meaning a chef can make curry every week and still offer plenty of variety. Pictured: Melissa with fellow MasterChef judges Andy Allen (left) and Jock Zonfrillo (right)

It comes after Tuesday night’s episode of MasterChef saw contestant Maja Veit eliminated after a pressure test.

Maja faced off against former teammates Tommy, Depinder and Pete after they lost Monday’s Deliveroo challenge.

She struggled during the challenge and was sent packing after the judges said the thickness of her beef wellington pastry prevented the inside from cooking properly.

Sent home: It comes after Tuesday night's episode of MasterChef saw contestant Maja Veit (pictured) eliminated after a pressure test

Sent home: It comes after Tuesday night’s episode of MasterChef saw contestant Maja Veit (pictured) eliminated after a pressure test