EXCLUSIVE: Former MasterChef guest judge Anna Polyviou shares her real thoughts on the show’s new judges and reveals the one ousted contestant she ‘would’ve loved to see go further’
Anna Polyviou starred as a guest judge on the 2014, 2015 and 2016 seasons of MasterChef Australia.
And while promoting her new venture with Chargrill Charlie’s, the pastry chef told Daily Mail Australia who she was shocked to see eliminated from the current series.
‘I love Courtney [Roulston], she’s a good friend of mine. Her cooking is fantastic, and I would have loved to see her get further,’ Anna said on Thursday.
EXCLUSIVE: Former MasterChef guest judge Anna Polyviou (pictured) on who she was shocked to see eliminated, the new hosts and her exciting new venture
The dessert queen, who previously tipped Reynold Poernomo to take out the title, added that she hopes Laura Sharrad will come a close second.
‘Her dishes are incredible and she is so talented,’ she said.
Anna went on to say that while it’s sad to see Gary Mehigan, George Calombaris and Matt Preston leave the show, the new judges are doing a ‘fantastic’ job.
![Shock evictee: 'I love Courtney [Roulston], she's a good friend of mine. Her cooking is fantastic, and I would have loved to see her get further,' Anna said of Courtney (pictured) during an interview with Daily Mail Australia on Thursday](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2020/06/05/09/29256824-8391319-image-m-4_1591346924353.jpg)
Shock evictee: ‘I love Courtney [Roulston], she’s a good friend of mine. Her cooking is fantastic, and I would have loved to see her get further,’ Anna said of Courtney (pictured) during an interview with Daily Mail Australia on Thursday
‘I think they are all incredible and doing a fantastic job, Melissa in particular. She is so intelligent and such a beautiful soul,’ she said.
‘She has been so encouraging to the contestants and has such a warm presence that resonates through the TV. She makes you fall in love with cooking all over again.’
The comments come as Anna promotes her exciting new venture with Sydney-based fast food chain Chargrill Charlie’s.
New look panel: Anna added that the new judges are doing a ‘fantastic’ job. Pictured from left to right: Andy Allen, Melissa Leong and Jock Zonfrillo
After the success of her triple chocolate cookie dough, Anna has released two new combinations – Brownie Beats and Fairy Bread Confetti – for the next installment of their ‘Local Flavours’ range.
Priced at $15 a tub, the cookies are fast and easy to bake at home.
Anna, who is known for her intricate sweets, said desserts don’t need to be complicated to taste good.
‘As much as I love the complicated stuff and using difficult techniques, it’s all about bringing it back to basics that give you those childhood memories, and that warm fuzzy feeling in the tummy.’
Praise: ‘I think they are all incredible and doing a fantastic job, Melissa in particular. She is so intelligent and such a beautiful soul,’ she said. Anna is pictured with Melissa earlier this week
Dessert queen: The comments come as Anna promotes her exciting new venture with Sydney-based fast food chain Chargrill Charlie’s.
Anna added that while she specialises in sweets, she ‘cooks everything’.
‘I was actually originally a savoury chef believe it or not. Sunday nights I love to do a delicious roast with Yorkshire pudding and I make my own jus.
‘During the week I like to keep it lighter and fresh – salmon, noodles, green veggies,’ she continued.
‘Some other favourites of mine are Moussaka and Spanakopita. I love Greek cooking! I make all of the filo pastry from scratch with recipes given to me by my mum.’
Sweet! After the success of her triple chocolate cookie dough, Anna has released two new combinations – Brownie Beats and Fairy Bread Confetti – for the next instalment of their ‘Local Flavours’ range. Pictured during a promotional trip earlier this week