‘I’m struggling to find the words’: The Junior MasterChef judges are left momentarily speechless by Laura and Dev’s impressive culinary skills during the first challenge – as their winning dishes earn them immunity
Based on Sunday night’s Junior MasterChef premiere, viewers are in for a treat this season.
Judges Melissa Leong, Jock Zonfrillo and Andy Allen were blown away by the contestants’ culinary skills, particularly Laura and Dev who won the top two dishes.
Laura presented a winter lime granita with a white chocolate and lime zest mousse, while Dev cooked a lamb Mughlai curry with a saffron rice and smoked chicken kebabs.
‘I’m struggling to find the words’: The Junior MasterChef judges were blown away and left momentarily speechless by Laura and Dev’s culinary skills during the first challenge on Sunday’s episode. Pictured: Melissa Leong
‘I’m so excited. I definitely didn’t expect this. Everyone’s dishes looked perfect, so I just feel really privileged,’ Laura said after it was announced she had won alongside Dev.
‘For me to win the first challenge out of everybody here, I’m just still speechless. I have no idea what to think.’
Dev also never expected to win, saying on camera: ‘I’m amazed. I was so nervous at the beginning of the cook, I never expected this. I know that [immunity] gong is a big advantage. I’m real excited.’
So much talent at such a young age: Laura (pictured) presented a winter lime granita with a white chocolate and lime zest mousse. She earned herself a spot in the top two dishes of the night
Impressive: The young cook balanced many flavours for her winter lime granita (pictured), including a macadamia and ginger crumb and a Sichuan pepper meringue shard
Laura and Dev have earned themselves the chance to use the immunity gong during an elimination challenge.
Melissa appeared to have no doubts on her choice of a top two winner, having told Laura during the judging of her dish that it’s ‘simply extraordinary’.
The young cook balanced many flavours for her winter lime granita, including a macadamia and ginger crumb and a Sichuan pepper meringue shard.
Savoury: Dev (pictured) cooked a lamb Mughlai curry with a saffron rice and smoked chicken kebabs. He also earned himself a spot in the top two dishes of the night
What a feast: Fellow judge Jock Zonfrillo was also full of praise for Dev’s lamb curry and smoked chicken kebab dish (pictured), which he presented with a cucumber raita and a coriander chutney
‘I’m struggling to find the words because I can’t,’ Melissa told Laura. ‘I’m struggling to be able to match this dish and you, because it’s simply extraordinary.
‘If I wasn’t looking at you right now and this was served up to me, this could be any other season of regular MasterChef, for sure.’
Jock was also full of praise for Dev’s lamb curry and smoked chicken kebab dish, which he presented with a cucumber raita and a coriander chutney.
Praise on Twitter: Viewers at home were also blown away by their talent, with many amazed Laura could present such an intricate dessert dish with delicate flavours at a young age
‘The lamb shoulder here, the cook is amazing,’ he said. The level of spice is incredible. The creaminess, the heat, the tingle, the way that the lamb just falls apart in your mouth as you’re chewing, it is just exceptional.
‘The smoked chicken? Just, like, please! Unbelievable,’ he continued.
Viewers at home were also blown away by their talent, with many amazed Laura could present such an intricate dessert dish with delicate flavours at a young age.
‘Outrageous you have prepared that dessert,’ one said of Laura on Twitter.
Junior MasterChef continues Monday at 7.30pm on Channel Ten
Tune in: Junior MasterChef continues Monday at 7.30pm on Channel Ten