MasterChef fans left heartbroken after fan favourite goes home
MasterChef fans have been left reeling after fan favourite Reece Hignell was eliminated from the competition over a mediocre vegetarian dish, tearing up as he was told to hang up his apron.
Reece, who originally appeared on the show in season 10, became flustered in the last elimination before finals week, as he fumbled over a beetroot and goats cheese starter that Jock Zonfrillo labelled “just nice”.
As he exited the kitchen, he said he was “heartbroken” by the call.
OMG!! I'm so devastated that @reece_hignell has gone home. I just wanted to reach through the TV and give him a great big hug!! 😭😭😭 I'm gonna miss you so much Reece!!! #MasterChefAU
— Beki Pennywise-Myers 🔪 (@PennywiseMyers) July 12, 2020
Hard luck @reece_hignell it’s such a high standard. You should be super proud mate, you were awesome - catch up soon xx @masterchefau #MasterChefAU
— Darren Purchese (@DarrenPurchese) July 12, 2020
First Poh, now Reece. #MasterChefAU really out here trying to kill me before COVID does.
— Courtney Gould (@heyycourtt) July 12, 2020
It came after a challenge that saw the contestants serve up their creations to six of Australia’s top chefs, with Orana chef Jock particularly unimpressed by the plate of food, deeming it “not finals worthy”.
The four cooking contestants; Callum, Emelia, Laura and Reece – with Reynold watching from the gantry – were asked to make a four-course meal for the judges and six other high-profile guest chefs from across the country.
Emelia managed to nab dish of the day with her barramundi and leek course, with Laura’s lamb a close second.
But between Callum’s overpowering, “confused” dessert and Reece’s underwhelming veggies, it was Reece who was forced to say goodbye.
“Reece your portions were just not quite right, your seasoning was out, and we all felt it just wasn’t finals worthy. So I’m sorry Reece, that’s why you’re going home,” Jock had said of the beetroots with hazelnut, chocolate, goats cheese with a lemon myrtle vinaigrette.
“OK,” responded a visibly upset Reece, as he hung his head.
While tasting the dish, Jock had been the most damning, telling the fellow judges and guest chefs: “It’s a nice dish, but we weren’t looking for nice today, somebody’s going home today and I don’t think nice is good enough.”
After hearing the verdict, Reece said: “I just love everyone in this room. I’m so grateful to meet you guys and have that support.
“Obviously these guys,” he added, gesturing to his fellow contestants, “So much inspiration from each and every one of you, and to call them my friends is unreal. Overall this experience just means a lot to me.”
Speaking to the camera of his eviction, Reece said he was “heartbroken".
“It’s a sad, sad moment, but I really appreciate what I’ve done since I’ve been there … To do it twice is special.”
“And I got to meet Katy Perry, and I’m still star struck,” he added with a laugh.