MasterChef Australia’s original judges and their love for Indian cuisine

It all started with a wobbly table at The Boathouse. It was a rare Sunday of 2006. For, the overwhelming morning rush at the river-side restaurant in Melbourne had resulted in the celebrity chef, Gary Mehigan, coming to work on the day. Amid all the chaos and panic, walked in a towering (literally) food critic. Matt Preston for The Age. Quite a Casablanca moment! Of all the days in all the restaurants in all of the world, Preston walks into Mehigan’s. And, of all the tables… “It was chaos everywhere. I step into the kitchen and wonder what is going on! I am angry, and the restaurant manager comes and tells me ‘Matt Preston is here’, and I went ‘nooooo’,” Mehigan holds his head reliving the origin of the story. “And then they put him on the only wobbly table in the restaurant.” The current Preston is all praise for the quick fix that followed. “Isn’t that what a good restaurant is all about?” he says. But as the critic then would choose to mention the table in his review, the chef would choose to tread with caution. He advised the same to fellow tradesman George Calombaris at the start of MasterChef Australia (2009). “I remember saying to George, ‘I think we should be careful around that one’,” Mehigan admits. Calombaris nods. ‘A little frosty’ is how Preston would later term the relationship in his memoir Big Mouth, released this November. “It was like the relationship between a cobra and mongoose,” says the English critic who came to Australia chasing love. He lost the love, but found Australia. His fellow countryman, Mehigan, who moved to Melbourne in 1991, says that though they knew each other “there was always that professional distance that is between a hard-working restaurateur and a critic”. Preston, after all, as he admits in his familiar inexhaustible joie de vivre, made the most of the opportunities that knocked on his door to go from a DJ, punk rock musician, to a journalist, critic, TV celebrity and author. “It was the scarf,” he quips of his inclusion in the MasterChef show, which was originally planned to have two judges. “So again, that’s a quiet knock, isn’t it?” Mehigan joins in. The relationship quickly thawed too. And, as the episodes and seasons of one of the most-watched reality cooking show progressed, the two chefs and the critic formed a special bond, working together, enjoying boys’ weekends, the best meal together — revelling in the pleasure of a little brioche bun in Barcelona’s Disfrutar, and much more, while judging many talents. “That was the most difficult part — being the judge,” Calombaris says of the many hats they have donned among them over the years – chef, critic, judge, author, reality show participant, TV series anchor. And, that is despite both Calombaris and Mehigan having endured their share of challenges as restaurateurs. While the former had been vocal about the Australian government’s policies vis-à-vis businesses like running a restaurant, the latter discouraged his daughter from becoming a chef to save her the “pain” (Jenna is a practising nurse now). “The industry is a tough one,” they both say in unison, “the Covid times were the most difficult for the hospitality sector, and it needs to keep reinventing now”. Still, the task of making or marring a dream is the toughest for them. “It is emotional (the task of judging),” Calombaris adds. “In my restaurant, I can be brutal to my chefs…” “No, not brutal. Let’s delete that. You demand high standards,” Mehigan is quick to the rescue. “But I feel judging can be really hard because it is going to hurt people,” Calombaris continues. But, as Preston puts it, it is heartening when they see the winners from previous seasons becoming the judges now, or the original MasterChef talent becoming another Gary, George, or Matt in the food or media industry. Their 11 years at MasterChef Australia (2009-2019) not only meant that the trio became global celebrities, their approach, a far cry from the then prevailing aggression towards the participants in other shows, also made them people’s favourites. So much so that every time they would put together, the social media would go into a frenzy, speculating and requesting their return. But they would embark on their exclusive, and sometimes overlapping, journeys. The three finally came together in India in the last week of November — for a Grand Reunion — touring Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru to relive the MasterChef era all over again. After nine months of preparation and collaboration with the food community platform, Conosh, the trio not only held their Masterclass in the three cities but also helmed the kitchens for exclusive dinner experiences. So, is this reunion a signal of something more permanent? “Who knows!” says Mehigan. “Never say never,” quips Preston. And, Calombaris just gives his characteristic wide-eyed silence with a hint of a smile well contained. “But it has to be something special, something that provides hope,” Preston adds. “Something that brings joy, is free flowing, and meaningful,” Mehigan. “Something like he is doing,” Preston says of Mehigan’s ‘India’s Mega Festivals’ series with the National Geographic channel. India, is indeed, special for them. Mehigan has been to the country more than 15 times now. He can not only list the young chefs to watch out for but also immaculately recount the standout preparations of the many acclaimed restaurants here. His social media equally celebrates the food of Indian streets and corners. “India has so many cuisines. And, the food that is coming out from some of these restaurants is beautiful, celebrating tradition, but with innovation, local ingredients, sustainable… with all the right messaging,” he says. “That was the reason Matt and I were happy with Gary finalising the menu for this trip,” Calombaris points out as they all admit to looking forward to another trip to India soon. Who knows! That just might be the definitive to that ‘something’. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstpost_’s views._ Read all the  Latest News ,  Trending News ,  Cricket News ,  Bollywood News , India News  and  Entertainment News  here. Follow us on  Facebook,  Twitter and  Instagram.