Malaysian wins Masterchef Australia finale. Natch.

Ungermann and Chan, image via Channel 10
Ungermann and Chan, image via Channel 10

A Malaysian has taken top gong at this year’s Masterchef Australia, in a tense finale.

However, like 99% of Malaysian success stories, winner Diana Chan’s moment in the sun took place outside of the Malay peninsula.

The 29-year-old, who is originally from Johor Baru, moved to KL before emigrating to Australia at 19. She grew up, like many Malaysians, in a home obsessed with food. Both of her parents gave her strong foundations in the culinary arts by stressing the importance of cooking at home.

It was her mother’s Red Emperor Fish on Spicy Fragrant Sambal that wowed the judges this season. Coupled with her strong cooking flavors, and cool demeanor under pressure, she was a clear favorite to win.

Melbourne-based Chan fought off stiff competition against Queensland’s Beb Ungermann in the finale. Many fans  cried foul over the single point win for Chan in the final moments of the program, which felt to many likely a slightly too convenient cliffhanger for producers. Ungermann lost footing in the finale after one of his cooks sliced his finger, and Chan secured the win.

Sorry Australia, but this isn’t the first time that a Malaysian has shown that we have the type of food obsession and back-catalogue random ingredient knowledge to win this type of thing. Season 2 winner Adam Liaw hailed from Penang (natch).

No worries though on losing, it happens. Just make sure those sour grapes don’t ruin this year’s Shiraz.



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