“I believe Burmese food is worthy of winning a Masterchef title and I am here to win it.”
Myanmar home cook Suu Khin was full of pride and confidence for her home nation’s cuisine during Thursday’s premiere episode of Masterchef: Legends, which marks the 11th season of the legendary cooking show.
The spotlight was on Suu as she presented her favorite dish from her childhood — Burmese Coconut Noodle with Shrimp — to judges Gordon Ramsey, Joe Bastianich, Aaron Sanchez, and Emeril Lagasse.
“It was a profound immersion into Burmese cuisine,” said Joe.
“It’s the best dish I tasted all night,” Gordon said, handing Suu a white apron to symbolize her passing the audition and entering the top 15 of the competition.
Suu ran out to her husband outside and called her parents.
“Mom, dad, I got a white apron. I earned it,” she burst out and cried.
Suu’s performance in the audition round already has people marking her as a strong contender to win the competition.
Suu is gonna be hard to beat #MasterChef
— C🤍 (@TeamHeatherBB) June 3, 2021
Suu’s backstory, her smile, and the love she has for her cuisine makes me really hope she gets an apron! #MasterChef
— Jeff Harris (@JeffHarris7) June 3, 2021
https://twitter.com/kirs10_auz/status/1400255817136455681
A 30-year-old food blogger and wife, Suu started cooking when she was six and moved to Massachusetts when she was 22 to study at a business school. She then started a blog and found solace in cooking to cure her homesickness, until she realised that food is etched in her very core.
Suu said the world has been missing out on Burmese cuisine, and has made it her mission to promote it as she believes the best first impression any country or culture could make is through its cuisine.
“That’s why I brought my family recipe to the international stage,” Suu told FOX News.
During the audition round, the contestants were asked to prepare their unique dish, which had to please at least three judges in order to win the white apron. The white aprons were won by five cooks, including Suu, by the end of the episode. Ten more white aprons will be given in the remaining audition rounds.
Of all the day’s winners, Suu swooned judges and fans the most thanks to her wholesome backstory and, ultimately, her soup.
“Go away, Suu [so] we can finish eating the rest,” Joe joked.
