Monday night’s MasterChef Australia: Back to Win grand final will not feature the fan favourite Reynold Poernomo. In the end, the MasterChef’s “dessert king” was brought down by a dessert.
Poernomo was eliminated in an emotional semi-final on Sunday night after his fellow contestants Emelia Jackson and Laura Sharrad better replicated an elaborate toffee apple dish from the celebrated chef Martin Benn. Poernomo’s caramel was too sweet. His “apple” (re-moulded from apple shavings coated in toffee) was too small.
Despite this, the MasterChef judge Melissa Leong praised his “obsession with excellence and relentless pursuit of perfection”. “You embody what this competition is all about,” she said.
Poernomo was tipped as a clear contender for the Back to Win title before the season even started. In 2015, he finished fourth in the seventh season of MasterChef and earned a reputation for his high-concept, technically masterful and artfully executed desserts.
I dead set thought I was going to learn how to walk before Reynold went home on a dessert challenge.. I’m shook #MasterChefAU
— Dylan Alcott (@DylanAlcott) July 19, 2020
In 2020, he did not disappoint. Poernomo’s highlights of this season include an Alice in Wonderland-themed dessert with an ornate chocolate tree and collapsible “rabbit hole”; a Harry Potter-inspired golden snitch; and a dessert simply titled “Space”, based on a part of the Milky Way that tastes of raspberry and rum.
Some fans feel slighted by the fact that, in the end, this inventive chef lost the MasterChef: Back to Win title because of someone else’s invention.
Reynold breaking down in tears over 3rd place is the saddest #MasterChefAU moment yet.
— Michelle Rennex (@michellerennex) July 19, 2020
Reynold was booted out because his talent can't be contained into other chef's recipes, and that's ok. He was truly one of the most talented and inventive cooks to ever set foot in MasterChef
Sunday night’s episode was also notable for Poernomo’s rare display of emotion when speaking about his family and the difficulties of the past few months. MasterChef was one of the only local television productions to continue filming through the pandemic; social distancing measures were enforced and all remaining contestants stayed in Melbourne – many living away from their families and businesses.
“I haven’t had an easy life – as an immigrant,” Poernomo said, fighting tears. “No matter how hard my family works, there’s always something that kind of knocks us down.”
"I came on here because I love to cook" - and boy, can Reynold cook 🧡 #MasterChefAU @fooderati @zonfrillo pic.twitter.com/ifIWFJ7H9Q
— masterchefau (@masterchefau) July 19, 2020
Poernomo was born in Indonesia, and came to Australia when he was five. His parents also work in the hospitality industry and he’s previously spoken about how hard they’ve worked to support their family. He now runs KOI Dessert Bar in Sydney with his brothers, among other hospitality ventures.
KOI’s main location in Chippendale is a one-minute walk away from Holy Duck – one of the Sydney venues hit by new Covid-19 cases yesterday.
“I didn’t come here for the fame,” he said. “I came on here because I love to cook. “Winning: it’s not about the title, it’s about being able to give back to my family.”
Reynold’s story shows how the pandemic is so much scarier for immigrants who rely on their businesses for everything, as they don’t have family money to fall back on or big family homes to move into or wealthy parents with companies they can work for #MasterChefAU
— Niccy T (@NicReality) July 19, 2020
like so many other immigrant kids, Reynold has placed so much pressure to not only succeed for himself, but his family
— Isha Bassi (@Isha_Bassi) July 19, 2020
and I hope he understands that coming third isn’t a failure - he made all of us, including his family, proud #MasterChefAU
'No matter how hard my family works, there's something that knocks us down.'
— Mariela Summerhays (@mashsummerhays) July 19, 2020
Reynold being vulnerable and talking about the experience of immigrants is everything I love about this show. #MasterChefAU
Poernomo’s brother and business partner Arnold tweeted his support and thanked Reynold for “leaving the legacy of our family, story, our name”. “Most importantly thank you for showing everyone that nothing is impossible.”
No we didn't have an easy life. But thank you for leaving the legacy of our family, story, our name. Most importantly thank you for showing everyone that nothing is impossible.
— Arnold poernomo (@ArnoldPoernomo) July 19, 2020
Love you little bro..through ups and downs we always have each other#MasterchefAu https://t.co/vdZcXqTvPH
Jackson and Sharrad will face off in tonight’s MasterChef grand final – “two lifelong friends and talented cooks”, as Poernomo said on his Instagram. The winner will take home $250,000.
“Whoever lifts that glorious trophy, deserves it!”
