On Monday night, MasterChef Australia returned to our screens for its 13th season and it was the wholesome palate cleanser we all needed after Married At First Sight.
Judges Melissa Leong, Jock Zonfrillo and Andy Allen, who made their MasterChef debut during last year’s Back To Win season are also back and whilst they witnessed some incredible home cooks, food writer Melissa remarked that there was one moment from the premiere that stood out.
Taking to Instagram on Monday, Melissa, 39, shared a still from the first episode that depicted her handing an apron to contestant Tommy Phan – a 31-year-old Sydney primary school teacher who made it to the top 24 with his chicken congee.
“Shortly after this moment on tonight’s premiere of @masterchefau, Tommy called his mum and told her he won an apron. In Vietnamese. On national Australian prime time television,” the MasterChef judge captioned her post.
“I might have shed a tear then when we heard him call her, but I wept in joy, when I saw the episode for the first time just then with my incredible crew when I realised it made it to air..
“What this means to me in my heart, I will never fully be able to express. Especially at this painful time in the world.
Melissa finished by saying: “Thank you @endemolshineau @bensonmarty and @channel10au for making me more proud than I could imagine to be a part of that moment.”
Fans were quick to agree with Melissa’s statement and remarked that positivity and inclusion is a must for 2021 television.
“This show is the positive, joy-filled moment we all need right now,” one penned.
“Representation matters,” stated another.
Ex contestant Amina Elshafei who starred on the 2020 All Star season also remarked: “Yes yes yes!!! This is what we need to see more of, the amazing cultural diversity that makes up Australia reflected in food. Well done @masterchefau team but also Tommy for being so proud of his heritage and more importantly his mum. We were all teary too!”
Tommy also re-shared Melissa’s post and noted how proud he was to be bilingual and shared a special message to children growing up with English as their second language.
“I didn’t realise how powerful it would be to speak Vietnamese to my mum on Australian TV,” he said.
“Growing up I always used to translate things from English to Vietnamese for her even when I was just a kid, which at the time felt a bit isolating because I always thought why can’t my mum speak English well like the other mums. But now I feel so lucky and proud that I’m bilingual and hope that all the kids growing up with English as their second language realise how special it is to be able to speak the language that you’ve inherited from your culture.”
“Mel, I’m already so grateful to be able to share something so special like MasterChef with you but this fills me with such raw emotion. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.”
In a previous chat with WHO, Melissa explained that filming the second season with her fellow judges has been “really fun.”
“This year we’re more familiar in the space, we’ve bonded more and we’re having a bit more fun with it. Our first pancake has been made, so to speak, so we’re all coming back to it with a lot more confidence,” she shared.
“Last year we had the All-Stars season, this time we’re back to home cook contestants who are trying to realise their dreams.”
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