‘Has she made this elimination dish before?’ Outraged MasterChef fans accuse Laura Sharrad of having an ‘unfair advantage’ after working with judge Jock Zonfrillo in the past
MasterChef Australia fans have accused Laura Sharrad of having an unfair advantage in the competition after Tuesday night’s pressure test.
During the high-stakes cook-off, contestants were tasked with recreating a range of dishes from judge Jock Zonfrillo’s three-hatted Adelaide restaurant, Orana.
Given that Laura had previously worked as a chef at Orana, fans became understandably suspicious when she executed Jock’s signature scarlet prawns, bunya nut chawanmushi and riberry crumpets with flying colours.
‘Has she made this elimination dish before?’ MasterChef Australia fans accused Laura Sharrad (right) of having an unfair advantage on Tuesday’s episode because she had previously worked at Jock Zonfrillo’s (left) Orana restaurant in Adelaide
Fans questioned whether Laura already knew how to make the dishes because she had follower similar recipes while working at Orana.
‘Laura in an elimination challenge that just so happens to be an Orana challenge. Where she worked? No surprises that she nailed it. Where’s the equality?’ one viewer tweeted.
‘[Laura] gave technique advice straight off to one of the others which implied she had done it before. I think it’s why they didn’t dwell on her dish in the tasting,’ another wrote on Facebook.
Difficult test: During the high-stakes cook-off, contestants were tasked with recreating a range of dishes from judge Jock Zonfrillo’s three-hatted Adelaide restaurant Orana
Nailed it! Fans couldn’t help but become suspicious when the brunette executed Jock’s signature scarlet prawns, bunya nut chawanmushi and riberry crumpets, with flying colours
‘I found a bit of favouritism here,’ a third fan agreed.
However, other defended Laura and pointed out that she couldn’t have possibly known the dish because she had already left Orana by the time Jock invented it.
‘She hasn’t worked there recently and all the dishes are on the current menu. She may have cooked some of the elements but no the whole dishes,’ one Facebook user explained.
‘Where’s the equality?’ Fans questioned whether Laura already knew how to make the dishes because she’d cooked them while working at Orana
Unfair? Some fans quested whether Laura already knew how to make the dishes because she’d cooked them while working at Orana. Pictured: Laura with two fellow chefs working at Orana in January, 2015
‘I found a bit of favouritism here’: Fans fiercely debated whether or not Laura had an unfair advantage
Jock has previously denied allegations of preferential treatment towards Laura, telling The Daily Telegraph: ‘I said it in the first tasting, there is no favouritism,’
He added: ‘If anything, Laura will be at a disadvantage carrying the weight of cooking for her mentor.’
Laura also assured the publication that her history working for Jock wouldn’t help her in the competition.
‘Jock has always been very honest when critiquing my food, and I expect nothing less from him on MasterChef this year,’ she said.
‘There is no favouritism’: Jock (pictured) has previously denied allegations of preferential treatment towards Laura