Cheers To The Nonnas & Yiayias Of Australia For Raising Such Lovely MasterChef Contestants

Episode two of MasterChef rounded out the top 23 for this season, and it seems the driving force behind who could and couldn’t plate up the best dishes was whether or not the contestants’ ethnic grandmas were sending them good vibes and culinary ingenuity via ESP or something.

We heard of nonnas, we heard of omas, and we heard of yiayias tonight.

This episode really was a touching (if not slightly cliched) tribute to the inter-generational love of food that so many Aussies inherit.

Conor was the first to invoke his ethnic ancestors by channeling his yiayia (who is still alive, for the record).

Connor is a single 27 year old with a Greek background who talks to his large collection indoor plants. Wish there was some indication they are from Melbourne. #MasterChefAU

— ben vernel (@benvernel) April 20, 2021

Connor channelling his inner Poh in this challenge… #MasterChefAU pic.twitter.com/vdbTWyYTNy

— Tas Mavridis (@MavridisTas) April 20, 2021

I would die for Conor #MasterchefAU

— Erin Van Krimpen (@erinaree) April 20, 2021

Babe. We need to make Conors name mullet bae. I’ll start the merch I’m thinking hats with mullets and big ass fans

— khanh (@khanhong) April 20, 2021

Meanwhile, Katrina invoked her oma.

The fish she plated up in the end surly would’ve made her oma proud, even if there were a couple of hurdles along the way.

Andy called it “authentic, generous and goddamn spicy,” and damn, now I just wanna eat it.

She did NOT just say she’s making a NAZI goreng… girl please, think of your Oma #MasterChefAU

— Fiza Zali (@fizawanders) April 20, 2021

Ohhhhhh hey Indo Oma Katrina! Me toooooo!!! Yum! Bring it! #masterchefau

— Elena Duggan (@elena_jo_duggan) April 20, 2021

…fuck. Seriously?! It’s only episode two and someone has already whipped out a hibachi grill. The drinking game still stands, apparently.

This kitchen implement which continues to haunt us across MasterChef seasons was Sara‘s choice to cook her steak.

I am now committed to this bit. #MasterChefAU pic.twitter.com/kJ0tvW7eQd

— Spiky Trap Podcasts (@SpikyTrap) April 20, 2021

#MasterChefAU @masterchefau I’m playing Masterchef Bingo. Umami, nonna, cracker, balance the elements, our culture is about food, tuile/mille-feuille, purée, I’m doing this for my family, hibachi

— RangeFromDeep (@RangeFromDeep) April 20, 2021

Hibachi!
#MasterChefAU pic.twitter.com/JMBhzAl7uG

— Michelle ???????? (@MichelleMackey1) April 20, 2021

I saw a hibachi. Take a shot#MasterChefAU pic.twitter.com/nsYxwJYQON

— Kath2015DG (@Kath2015DG) April 20, 2021

Hmm… we sure haven’t seen much of Ben this episode.

That’ll teach him for speaking over Mel.

A certain someone was clearly not “invited” to any air time tonight ???? #MasterChefAU

— eeek (@eeeka208) April 20, 2021

The editors tonight have definitely preempted the old ‘I’m not an asshole, I was just edited that way’ excuse from Ben by editing him out completely and I am here for it. #MasterChefAU

— Sir Kumference (@sirkumference) April 20, 2021

Ben is obviously paying the price for disrespecting Melissa. #MasterChefAU pic.twitter.com/NoyUEdswww

— Michelle ???????? (@MichelleMackey1) April 20, 2021

Let's "invite" a different Ben back instead #MasterChefAU pic.twitter.com/TaPAXn66kO

— leakelodeon (@Asamishair) April 20, 2021

Wait, hang on. What happened to the guy that disagreed? Also Lol #masterchefau

— khanh (@khanhong) April 20, 2021

On a more wholesome note, isn’t it nice to finally see proper Germanic cuisine represented on MasterChef? Perhaps there’s more than one oma being channeled tonight!

Gut – and I cannot stress this enough – gemacht!

Can't believe #masterchefau is FINALLY waking up to German/Austrian food. Like, they're right next to France and Italy.

— Tabitha Woo (@tabitha135) April 20, 2021

I may need to stop watching #masterchefau. The continuous mispronunciation of Kaiserschmarrn hurts me!

— Julia Kretzenbacher (@juliakretz) April 20, 2021

Back soon – going to Google if I can buy a butter bath from Bunnings #masterchefau pic.twitter.com/k1ip8B0YoO

— Sonia ❤️ (@soniat71) April 20, 2021

But perhaps the grandma-grandchild bond which stole the show tonight was Elise and her nonna.

She cried in the end, and hey, so did we.

Yes I’m CRYING over Elise and her nonna’s pangrattato ???? #MasterChefAU

— Trent ✌???? (@trent_vu) April 20, 2021

Just give her nonna the apron #MasterChefAU

— leakelodeon (@Asamishair) April 20, 2021

But not everyone was infatuated with nonna’s energy in the kitchen.

Say nonna one more time #MasterChefAU

— vee (@veespirit) April 20, 2021

Say “my nonna” one more time #Masterchefau

— Rachael Langsford (@drdragonfly1) April 20, 2021

So many mentions of Nonna tonight! #MasterChefAU

— Brandon Black (@Serious_Black96) April 20, 2021

Make Nonna proud – drink #MasterChefAU

— Dear Jane (@austenite20) April 20, 2021

With all the nonnas, yiayias, and other grandparents being used as cooking inspiration/sob story fodder tonight, they may as well get their own damn season.

Which would be amazing TV, for the record.

???????? from my best pal on #MasterChefAU pic.twitter.com/1VYx2Zgrrp

— becca (@becca_varcoe) April 20, 2021

MasterChef need to live stream the reactions of all of the nonna’s #masterchefau

— meg (@kissyharrry) April 20, 2021

Can we have a masterchef teams year – contestants plus their nonna/yia yia/ oma? #MasterChefAU pic.twitter.com/Nov2bHy8sW

— Debs (@TaperJeanGirl) April 20, 2021

Everyone is channelling their ethnic grandma to which I say cut out the middle man and get all the grandma's in that kitchen!#MasterChefAU

— Brendan Wan (@BrendanWan) April 20, 2021

I want to see 24 nonnas in the kitchen next series. #MasterChefAU

— Kristen Sadler (@KristenSadler18) April 20, 2021

Ma (my Croatian grandma), if you’re watching this from heaven, please feel free to beam down some of that ćevapčići know-how when you get a chance.

Ja te volim.