Melissa Leong thrilled her legions of new fans last week when she showed a glimpse into her personal life on MasterChef.
WATCH: MasterChef editing fail shows Melissa Leong in two places at once
The 40-year-old food writer and TV presenter introduced viewers to her tattooed hubby Joe Jones, a trained chef and bartender who owns Melbourne cocktail bar, Romeo Lane. “This is my husband, Joe, and this is our child, Ghost,” she said, referring to a gorgeous grey cat in Jones’ arms.
The pair met after being introduced by a mutual friend and eloped to the Californian desert in February 2017. In an interview with Vogue, the chic foodies revealed their engagement was decided during a casual conversation over a meal one evening.
“Over dinner Joe asked me, ‘So, how does eloping work exactly? Do you need to get engaged first?’,” she revealed.

“I told him I had about as much idea as he did (none), so instead, we decided to speculate on where we’d run away to, if we did decide to elope. The all-knowing dice decided that our already planned trip to the US in three-ish months would be it, so we just went with it.”
The Melbourne-based couple were married in an intimate ceremony in the Joshua Tree National Park with Leong opting for a short vintage dress to tie in with their ’60s rock’n’roll-themed ceremony.
“Joe and I share a common aesthetic for all things vintage and a bit rock’n’roll,” she explained. “And I think eloping is a pretty rock’n’roll way to say ‘I do!’”
Jones and Ghost left Twitter abuzz after appearing on MasterChef last week.
“I need to know more about Mel’s hot tattooed husband and their cat ASAP,” one fan tweeted.
Leong revealed on her Instagram that Ghost – who also made an appearance with her on Hughsey, We Have A Problem last month – is an adopted blue
Tonkinese.

“He’s had a very big year,” she wrote alongside a snap of the kitty. “His likes include taking up all the room in the bed, doling out withering stares, and deciding pilates mat time is time to chase feet.
“He has a brother too, Ghoul, but he’s toowiggly to take many good pics.”
The popular new judge – who is joined byAndy Allen and Jock Zonfrillo on the new-look MasterChef – also paid tribute to her hunky husband following his appearance on the show.
“Shout outs to my awfully hot husbando @joeyromeolane for being a legend and agreeing to be on @masterchefau with me tonight,” she wrote of the cameo. “Not only is he a classically French trained chef with
a specialist focusin pastry, he’s also an award winning bartender and bar owner (@romeolane) and one of the best things to ever happen to me. Thanks bubba. The end.”

Jones is clearly equally as besotted with his spunky wife, often taking to Instagram to share tributes to her.
“I’m extortionately proud of my wife and her partners in crime for the opportunity they’ve been given this year as the fresh faces for @masterchefau!” he posted with a snap of the 2020 judging trio when they were announced. “Thanks
for giving me a reason to watch tv again.”
Leong recently revealed the pair are using their time in COVID-19 lockdown to mix things up in the kitchen.
“Like people all over the world right now, I’m making comfort food,” she told Domain.“At our house we take turns at bringing our family heritages to
life
– my husband Joe’s Italian roots, my Singaporean-Chinese ones, as well as our joint obsession with mainland Chinese cuisine as well.”
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