When the MasterChef 2020 winner was announced as Thomas Frake, it is fair to say it attracted some controversy – but now fans have leapt to his defence.
In the final, the remaining three contestants – Thomas, Sandy Tang and David Rickett – prepared three courses for the judges.
As they delivered their verdict, Judge John Torode praised Thomas as “a real talent” and “a grafter”, while fellow judge Gregg Wallace approved of his “definitive style”.
Read more: Who won MasterChef 2020? The winner has been announced
Classic ‘pub grub’
Thomas’s decision to try a new take on pub classics won over the judges, but divided fans.
He served up a starter of monkfish tails in a beer batter with a main course of ox cheek braised in black treacle, bone marrow and porter.
He followed it with a dessert of salted caramel custard tart served with grated nutmeg, popcorn ice cream and toffee popcorn.
Read more: Masterchef serves up meat and poison with ‘toff’ contestant Teddy
But many thought 24-year-old Sandy’s duck egg ice cream and cannelloni offering deserved to take away the top prize for being more inventive and original.
Outrage over the winner
On Twitter, the outrage was palpable.
One fan wrote: “Sandy was absolutely robbed. The future of restaurant cuisine is ‘inventiveness’ and Sandy demonstrated that in abundance, anyone can cook classics/pub grub, but to invent something unique is a talent and Sandy should’ve been champion!”
Another waded in: “What a surprise! Didn’t think it would be Thomas, congrats for the win though. Sandy is my favourite, she is so brilliant! I pray she will have a Michelin restaurant someday.”
SANDY WAS ROBBED #MASTERCHEF
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