You don’t need us to drone on about MasterChef Australia. It’s the show that rewrote the recipe for must-see TV. What you need to know is a little more about the biggest news of 2019… our brand new judging panel: Jock Zonfrillo, Melissa Leong and Andy Allen.
No stranger to the odd award, Australia’s Hottest Chef 2018, Jock Zonfrillo, is the owner and chef of three-hatted restaurant Orana, which also won Australian Restaurant of the Year in 2018 and 2019. He also owns Bistro Blackwood in Adelaide.
Then there’s Melissa Leong, an incredibly accomplished food and travel writer, food media consultant, radio broadcaster, television presenter, MC and cookbook editor (get all that?). A first-generation Singaporean Australian, Melissa isn’t afraid to consume anything at least once.
Last but never least is MasterChef Australia 2012 winner, co-owner of Three Blue Ducks and, sure, we’ll come right out and say it, heartthrob Andy Allen. Since taking on the role of head chef at his Rosebery restaurant, Andy became the first MasterChef Australia contestant to be awarded a Chef’s Hat.
Here’s what Andy had say: “I entered this competition as a contestant in 2012, somehow I won it and then I went out into the big, bad wide world of hospitality. To be asked to be a judge – and to come full circle back to MasterChef Australia – is really flattering and really special.
“I’m stoked because it means that I’ve done the hard work to be here. You don’t ask Joe Blow to be a judge on MasterChef Australia.”
Jock, Melissa and Andy will be joined in the MasterChef Australia kitchen by a delicious assortment of the world’s best chefs, including Gordon Ramsay, Heston Blumenthal and Curtis Stone, to serve up the 12th helping of our much-loved show.
And next year the traditional recipe will boast some new ingredients when the best of the best from the past 11 seasons return to the kitchen in MasterChef Australia – Back To Win.