Wednesday night’s MasterChef episode left viewers confused for a number of reasons – from a non-vegan vegan chef featuring on the show to a poorly timed Coles’ ad for lamb.
Fans of the show took to Twitter to air their bewilderment and upset after a guest judge on the show, owner of Melbourne vegan restaurant Smith & Daughters Shannon Martinez, revealed she isn’t even vegan.
Judge Melissa Leong was the one who spilled the beans, which prompted Martinez to admit she was not vegan.
“No, I’m not [vegan],” she said. “Shock, horror.”
She added: “But I think that lends itself to sort of why I make the food that I make, you know?”
“I’m coming at vegan food from a non-vegan perspective, I guess. Understanding mouth feel, textures, flavours.”
However, not everyone agreed, with some MasterChef viewers calling out the chef’s choice to eat meat yet specialise in vegan cooking.
One person tweeted: “It really unsettles me that the owner of Smith & Daughters isn’t vegan.”
Meanwhile, an ill-timed Curtis Stone lamb ad for Coles caused viewers to call out the ironic placement of the ad, considering the entire episode was centred around vegan cuisine.
One person tweeted: “Got to love #MasterChefAU playing a Coles lamb ad as a part of their Masterchef partnership during the vegan challenge…”
“@masterchefau – lets do a VEGAN episode! @Coles – LAMB RACKS, JUICY LAMB RACK ADS,” posted another.
One said the ad placement was a bit insensitive: “Lamb ads by Coles during this episode seem a bit insensitive.”
Some other Tweets included:
Given Coles is so connected with #masterchefau could they have maybe not run an ad for lamb with close ups slicing a roast during the vegan episode?
— Elly Baxter (@ellybaxterpr) May 20, 2020
The Curtis lamb commercials are perfectly placed on Masterchef vegan night. 👀 #MasterChefAU
— Robin Illingworth 🇦🇺🏴🇳🇿 (@bobillingworth) May 20, 2020
Nice!! Vegan episode on @masterchefau and the first commercial is about Coles lamb #MasterChefAU #masterchefaustralia
— aussieninja (@aussieninja) May 20, 2020
