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MasterChef Singapore Season 3 Winner Johnathan Chew Reacts To Critics Who Call Him A One-Trick Pastry Pony: “I Have Got At Least 50 More Tricks”

The NUS dental student also responds to naysayers who think he didn't deserve to win because he didn't know what ingredients he was cooking with. 

On the season finale of MasterChef Singapore on Sunday (July 3), NUS dental student Johnathan Chew beat out visual arts instructor Azwandi ‘Andi’ Robani and S ‘Nares’ Nareskanna to take home the eponymous title.

But not everyone is celebrating Johnathan’s win. Some netizens kicked up a fuss over the embarrassing fact that the 23-year-old knew jack about his ingredients on not one but two occasions.

In Episode 9’s ‘Three Star Challenge’ — where the contestants had to put together “an immersive Michelin-worthy fine-dining experience” using ingredients chosen by Tristin Farmer, the executive chef of the three-Michelin-starred Zen  — Johnathan had no idea what venison was.

“I don't know what animal it comes from,” Johnathan said then. “I’m going into this challenge blind.” Oh, deer.

And then in the finale, he whipped up a Seared Grouper — except he didn't know what fish he’d picked from the pantry.  

One commenter said, “He will go down in history for being the first [MasterChef] who doesn’t know what kind of fish he is dealing with.” (More of that in a bit.) 

Johnathan is fully aware of the feedback circulating online — the good, the bad and the ugly — but chooses to focus on the positive ones.

“I have come across a lot of encouraging and congratulatory messages on social media,” he tells 8days.sg via e-mail. “My favourite ones are those that say I have inspired them. Inspiring people was not my primary goal when I joined MasterChef. However, it’s so heart-warming to know that young students out there have been inspired by my MasterChef journey.”

Oh well, haters are going to hate. If the naysayers think they can do better, then they can always sign up for the competition — the casting call for MasterChef Singapore Season 4 is now open! But that’s another story for another time.

Meanwhile, the newly-crowned MasterChef winner shares more of his experience on the show.

 

 

 

 

Cookin' up a storm: MasterChef Singapore Season 3 winner Johnathan Chew celebrating his triumph with his mother and brother behind him, and runner-up S 'Nares' Nareskanna on the extreme right.

8 DAYS: Congratulations on winning MasterChef Singapore! You had us on the edge when you cooked a fish dish without knowing what fish it was. Did you have a Plan B that didn’t involve fish?

JOHNATHAN CHEW: Thank you, it’s been surreal and overwhelming. No, there was never a Plan B. I felt compelled to cook a fish during the finale.

The fish incident— it was a grouper, by the way — wasn’t the only time you didn’t know what you were cooking with. In Episode 9, you said you have no idea what venison is. Many netizens weighed in that a chef who doesn’t know his ingredients shouldn’t be the champ. Care to comment?

Well, let me ask another question: As a chef, is it more important to know the name of an ingredient, or to figure out how to navigate and cook an ingredient one is not familiar with? I might not know the name of the fish, but I knew the properties of the fish. I knew it was a white fish with less fat content, and the best cooking method for it. This is a culinary competition, and being able to think on your feet even if you are working with unfamiliar ingredients is an asset.

Seriously, did you really not know what venison is?

To prepare for the competition, I spent my free time scouring food-related books, from the science of spices to figuring out how to fillet and prepare seafood. I felt that this prep work helped me to execute the cook well, especially when I had to work with unfamiliar ingredients. Personally, I know I am as deserving of winning the title as any of the other contestants. We all came into the competition with a different story, chasing different food dreams.

Go fish: Johnathan's entree, the Seared Grouper With Lemongrass Beurre Blanc And Charred Kailan.

Some netizens have issues with you being more of a desserts guy. After all, this is MasterChef, not a baking show. Do you feel you got lucky with your tart in the finale?

I am proud of the tart I made in the finale. To many, it is just a simple tart. But there is a time limit, and it is not easy to create four tarts in an hour. Admittedly, it was not the most creative in terms of presentation, but I sincerely feel proud of what I pulled off in the short span of an hour.

I am admittedly more comfortable with making desserts. However, my savoury dishes have received praises on multiple occasions — Ep 1’s fish soup, Ep’s 3 crostini platter, Ep 7’s sous vide salmon and Ep 8’s wonton noodles. Yes, I am better at desserts, but that does not make me less of a cook. Neither am I just a “one-trick pastry pony”. This man has got at least 50 more tricks.

After all, this is a cooking show, and taste ultimately triumphs. Unfortunately, taste is something that sometimes gets lost in translation between the screen and the audience. A dish might look good, but if it falls short in taste and flavour, that’s not going to rate highly with the judges.

Just dessert: Johnathan's Lemongrass Meringue Tart topped with a kumquat compote.

You're the third consecutive guy to win MasterChef. Who among the female contestants do you find formidable and would make worthy opponents in the finale?

[Homemaker] Shamin [D’Souza]! I love her humour behind the camera, and for how her food always comes from a place of love for her child. To all the ladies out there, I am rooting for you in season 4! :)

Have you spoken to the previous MasterChef champs Derek Cheong and Zander Ng?

I have reached out to Derek over Instagram. I asked him for advice on practical things, like how he decides how much to charge for certain items.

What are your favourite MasterChef moments that TV audiences didn’t get to see?

My favourite moments include gathering at fellow contestants’ apartments — because we were quarantined together — and having the most delicious potluck ever. No, I did not bring desserts, HAHAHAH. My favourite moments are these small moments; taking off my kitchen boots after a long and tiring day.

You had a breakdown in the kitchen takeover challenge at Jaan's. We only saw a brief moment of that. Are there more such scenes that didn’t make the final cut?

In Episode 5, I missed out on the fried abalone liver and fried dough bits in the ‘Keeping Up With The Chef' challenge. I was so beaten and convinced my time in the competition was up. I have very high expectations of myself. I believe that if I pursue anything, I should always give my 110 percent. If I fail, I will know that I gave it my best shot. That dish I put up did not feel like my best shot. I was very dejected.

Of all the kitchen gear you’ve won, which one are you most excited about?

Definitely the V-Zug oven! I am certain we have yet to explore the full capabilities of the combair-steam oven, given the constraints of the MasterChef timer. I am looking forward to experimenting with new techniques using the oven.

What cooking technique did you pick up from the show?

Using a sous vide machine to incorporate flavour into an ingredient. I picked this up after cooking the asparagus using sous vide during the 'Keeping Up With The Chef' challenge with Chef Petrina Loh [in Episode 5].

What advice would you give folks planning to compete next season?

Just trust yourself and take that leap of faith. There will not be a better time when it comes to signing up for MasterChef. My practical advice would be to practice recipes that are doable within an hour. Having a story definitely helps, so cook with your heart; otherwise, it better taste incredible!

Are you ready to be treated like a rock star at school and in restaurants?

No! Treat me like any other normal person and I might bake you a cupcake or something.

What’s next for you? Are you going to finish your dentistry studies?  

I am going to finish my studies and graduate in two years. I plan on continuing my home-based baking business via my Instagram account, @thebatteredboy. Beyond that, I also happen to be working on my own cookbook which will feature desserts. There shall be an emphasis on troubleshooting whenever you encounter missteps.

Your surname is Chew: You’re destined to be either a chef or a dentist! Have your friends joked about that?

That’s a first! I think I should play with this pun if I ever set up a dental clinic, right beside my cake shop that [judge] Chef Bjorn [Shen] said [in Episode 6] he wanted to open with me!

Watch the Season 3 finale of MasterChef Singapore here:

Catch the complete Season 3 of MasterChef Singapore on meWATCH. For those interested in competing in Season 4, click here for more information. Audition submission closes at 11.59pm SGT on Oct 13, 2022.

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