It’s the fight to get into the top five, baby, and with it, we lost a true titan of the MasterChef universe.
Round one kicked off with chef Phil Wood bringing along his potato duchess, which just happens to be the name of my after-hours alter-ego.
It wasn’t just any potato duchess, either, but a potato duchess with shiitake mushrooms and cauliflower.
“Potato Duchess” is the title I dub myself when I accidentally finish an entire family size of chips by myself #MasterChefAU
— Lan (@thatslantastic) July 5, 2020
I love potatoes so much that they would be the last food I’d like to eat before I die but this dish is bloody LUDICROUS!! No one needs potatoes cooked 17 ways smooshed through a sieve, piped, baked, deep fried.
Phil needs to get out more.
— Kylie Orr (@KylieOrrWriter) July 5, 2020
It was a tough dish to recreate, and things got off to aa ominous start…
“The hardest part of this challenge is managing time” … Everyone looks at Poh #MasterChefAU
— Brandon Black (@Serious_Black96) July 5, 2020
Reynold is up there thinking about how he would have 3D printed a cow, made butter, started a multimillion dollar organic potato farm and still had time to do his hair in 75 mins. #MasterChefAU pic.twitter.com/mdrop0KESr
— Bobby Bandog (@BandogBobby) July 5, 2020
When Phil came over to Callum‘s bench, he was not too pleased about how things were going. Not. Happy. Callum.
Phil looks MORTIFIED #MasterChefAU
— Megan ((Abortion is Healthcare)) (@427_Impala) July 5, 2020
Phil’s a happy bloke, isn’t he? #MasterChefAU
— Ben Shute (@Ben_Shute) July 5, 2020
Just tell Callum what’s done wrong or get stuffed. You’re not as cute as you think you’re being. Fucksake #MasterChefAU
— Maya (she/her) (@tweetmayatweet) July 5, 2020
For Callum, things just went from bad to worse.
Oh no…Callum #MasterChefAU pic.twitter.com/VzoBbOnvZC
— Betsie (@BetsieNathaly) July 5, 2020
‘They don’t look great’ – Callum. That is an understatement. #MasterChefAU
— Bec Derrington (@becderrington) July 5, 2020
When it was time for tasting, Emelia and Laura nailed it. Poh, Callum and Reece… not so much.
Emelia is KILLING THE GAME. She’s so cool. She’s so on top of it. Bish wore a white power blouse in the kitchen she was so confident. #MasterChefAU
— Em Rusciano (@EmRusciano) July 5, 2020
Off they went to round two, which was the contestants’ revenge. This time around, they had free reign with the core ingredients of Phil Wood’s potato duchesses: either potatoes, cauliflower or mushrooms. It even stressed out Queen Julie Goodwin herself!
I do not like this stressful show
I do not want my friends to go.I do no like it Cal my pal
I do not like it Reece the beast
I do not like it Poh my bro
I DO NOT LIKE THIS STRESSFUL SHOW! #MasterChefAU— Julie Goodwin (@_JulieGoodwin) July 5, 2020
Poh then had a crisis as to whether or not to do a Chinese dish or an Italian ~redemption~ dish~. From here, things only went downhill for our beloved angel.
https://twitter.com/Markish_Gambino/status/1279724722444353536
POH I WILL FOREVER BE YOUR RIDE OR DIE BUT THIS IS STRESSING ME THE FUCK OUT #MasterChefAU
— Benjamin Law 羅旭能 (@mrbenjaminlaw) July 5, 2020
Then, literally at the very last minute, Poh abandoned her emulsion and started making a substitute burnt butter sauce instead. Far out.
https://twitter.com/CulkinAndrew/status/1279729017533247493
Poh reminds me of myself at 11:56pm the night an assignment was due. Every. Single. Time. #MasterChefAU
— Jenn (@miss_guided191) July 5, 2020
Me: can I get a mental health plan doc?
Doc: what’s your main source of stress?
Me: Poh
#MasterChefAU— lizzyhoo (@lizzyhoocomedy) July 5, 2020
The judges’ interference wasn’t helping things, either.
The judges 100% talk to Poh like she’s their teenage daughter:
‘Leave yourself enough time’
‘Text me when you arrive’
‘Don’t be late coming home’ #MasterChefAU— Lolo (@Lorenishie) July 5, 2020
Andy : ‘I do not need to remind you, but someone is going home today’
Poh: ‘Go buy some socks and leave me alone you twat’
— Dave (@davey0511) July 5, 2020
Does anyone on this stupid show consider that constantly interrupting Poh and yelling “Come on, Poh, hurry up!” might not actually make it any easier, quicker or less stressful for her? #MasterChefAU
— Isobel Ardent (@isobelardent) July 5, 2020
You know that thing, where you can touch type and then someone watches over your shoulder and you can’t coordinate your fingers. That’s what they’re doing to Poh. Leave her alone. Let her live, do her thing. #MasterChefAU
— Shan (@ShanStar) July 5, 2020
Then, the music petered out into a blur as we watched a frazzled Poh scramble around the kitchen. It was an out-of-body experience, not only for Poh, but for us. The music. The MUSIC. The MUSIC.
I feel like I’m watching Poh’s poignant death scene in a war movie #MasterChefAU
— DrFavaBeans (@DrFavaBeans) July 5, 2020
#MasterChefAU oh no, the music behind Poh is NOT good news. like she’s already passed on and is in heaven
— salka⁷ D-DAY ○◎FACE◎○ (@twt_Salka) July 5, 2020
That’s Poh going home music if ever I heard it #MasterChefAU
— Margaret C (@PBearfiftyfive) July 5, 2020
Let’s face it, Masterchef this year would have been a lot less dramatic without Poh’s chaotic energy #MasterChefAU
— Amber (@missrobinson) July 5, 2020
Ultimately, the inevitable happened. Australia was heartbroken. Melissa even called Poh “a national treasure,” and she’s not wrong at all.
Hard to put into words what Poh even being on TV meant to me – this part Chinese-Malaysian kid, growing up in a sea of white – and so many other Asian-Australians.
What an absolute icon of Australian food. Gonna eat a goddamn century egg this week in her honour.#MasterChefAU
— Benjamin Law 羅旭能 (@mrbenjaminlaw) July 5, 2020
Ejecting Poh is like shooting Bambi. It doesnt matter what the context is, it’s always wrong. #MasterChefAU
— Paul Karp (@Paul_Karp) July 5, 2020
As Poh’s #MasterchefAU campaign ends… so too does 2020’s last chance at redemption.
— Michael Lucas (@MrMichaelLucas) July 5, 2020
Check your ovens for Poh #MasterChefAU pic.twitter.com/73g4GbdbTy
— Spiky Trap Podcasts (@SpikyTrap) July 5, 2020
me now they sent Poh home #MasterChefAU https://t.co/nCtpyO0UP4
— matthew (@mattetna) July 5, 2020
Poh IS Masterchef, what’s the point in watching this without her? #MasterChefAU
— Kiera (@UnderYourPorch) July 5, 2020
Melissa with the goodbye speeches is the greatest addition to this years new judging panel. I’m here for it. And I’m here for Poh’s farewell speech AND Callum’s beautiful words. This is ridiculous. A brilliant farewell. 😭😭😭 #MasterChefAU
— Shan (@ShanStar) July 5, 2020
There should be a #MasterChefAU spinoff series where all the judges have to cook for Poh.
— Adam Liaw (@adamliaw) July 5, 2020
It was a case of so much talent, but not enough time. Goodbye, Poh. It’s been real.
