MasterChef features Australian chefs working at the highest level.
But judge Melissa Leong has urged one competitor to stop being so hard on herself after overcooking her lamb dish on Wednesday night.
‘Stop it, please,’ the food critic scolded Sabina Newton, after she visibly took the judges’ criticisms to heart.
Tough love: Melissa Leong (left) has urged Sabina Newton (right) to stop being so hard on herself after overcooking her lamb dish on Wednesday night
Leong’s fellow judge Jock Zonfrillo was the first to point out the slight deficiency with Sabina’s meal.
‘A lot to love about this dish,’ he began. ‘Only negative for me is the lamb, it’s a touch over cooked. Maybe a little past medium. That’s my only negative.’
Another judge, Andy Allen, instantly picked up on Sabina’s disappointment.
‘Don’t be disappointed,’ he hastened to add. ‘I can see it in your face straight away, this is a very good dish. Quite simple but so sophisticated on the palette.’
Honest appraisal: Leong’s fellow judge Jock Zonfrillo was the first to point out the slight deficiency with Sabina’s meal
Imperfect: ‘A lot to love about this dish,’ he began. ‘Only negative for me is the lamb, it’s a touch over cooked. Maybe a little past medium. That’s my only negative’
Leong was even more forthright, adding, ‘You’re hard on yourself, and I can see you going down your shame spiral at the moment.’
‘Stop it please. Because you really have earned your place to be here,’ she continued.’
‘Keep cooking this well, it’s just down to these little details.’
The advice finally elicited a smile from Newton.
Better now: Leong’s advice finally elicited a smile from Newton
Meanwhile, Minoli De Silva and Scott Bagnell were sent home from MasterChef Australia on Sunday night’s double elimination episode.
After round one, Minoli broke down in tears after failing to impress the judges with her pan-seared snapper with green mango noodles.
Scott also said he was ‘gutted’ to have been eliminated after overcooking his pan-seared mirror dory during round two.
‘This is really hard’: Minoli De Silva (pictured) broke down in tears as she was sent home in a double elimination alongside Scott Bagnell, on Sunday night’s episode
Round one saw the contestants having one hour to create a dish using one or more ingredients from the black mystery box.
Minoli and Depinder Chhibber had the least impressive dishes, with judge Melissa Leong describing the flavours of Depinder’s walnut ice cream with a pumpkin brown butter cake as ‘muted’.
However, Depinder was safe from elimination with Melissa announcing to Minoli that she was going home.
Breaking down in tears, Minoli said: ‘I’m really glad I made it to the top 10, but this is really hard because I really wanted to get further in the competition.’
Emotional: Minoli failed to impress the judges with her pan-seared snapper with green mango noodles. ‘I’m really glad I made it to the top 10, but this is really hard because I really wanted to get further in the competition,’ a devastated Minoli told the judges
Round two saw the contestants have an hour to create a dish with horseradish as the hero ingredient.
Scott and Linda Dalrymple presented the least impressive dishes, with Linda choosing to make a vanilla and horseradish panna cotta with a horseradish syrup.
However Linda was safe from elimination with judge Jock Zonfrillo telling Scott that his fish was ‘unfortunately overcooked’.
Sent home: Scott (pictured) failed to impress the judges with his pan-seared mirror dory with a split sauce of horseradish cream and a spring onion oil, with a fresh salad on top. Judge Jock Zonfrillo said the fish was ‘unfortunately overcooked’
Scott presented a pan-seared mirror dory with a split sauce of horseradish cream and a spring onion oil, with a fresh salad on top.
‘I’m gutted to be leaving the competition, but I’m also so proud of my achievements,’ Scott later said in a piece to camera.
MasterChef Australia continues Monday at 7.30pm on Channel Ten
Devastated: ‘I’m gutted to be leaving the competition, but I’m also so proud of my achievements,’ Scott later said in a piece to camera. Pictured with Linda Dalrymple