Masterchef contestant returns

BY CLIO FRANCIS

Latest Masterchef casualty Kelly Young has already started working for judge Simon Gault in a top New Zealand restaurant.

Last night on TV One's Masterchef show Young was axed from the competition after creating two abysmal pies during the mystery box challenge.

This morning Young told Stuff.co.nz she has left her job as a personal trainer and is now working as a chef in Gault's Auckland restaurant Euro.

"Restaurant work is definitely a hard job to be in but you've got to start somewhere eh?"

"I'm starting at the bottom of the heap but you've got to do the hard yards."

Her new boss Gault was hard but fair, Young said.

"He is pretty awesome, he's just like how you see him on the show."

Last night Young was lambasted by the judges for her efforts in the pie challenge.

Contestants were tasked with baking a savory pie and sweet pie of any description.

Young made a chicken pie which guest judge Judith Tabron of Soul Bar and Bistro refused to taste. 

Her sweet option was a pumpkin pie with pumpkin seeds and toasted coconut.

Judge Ray McVinnie compared the pumpkin seeds to "beetles".

Ms Young said it had been "quite embarrassing" watching herself on the show last night.

"I was thinking why didn't you just keep it simple stupid."

In the elimination process Ms Young and her fellow contestant Kirsty Cardy were selected to be in the bottom two.

"We were both sort of standing there thinking 'oh s**t, what's going to happen?'

"We had a big giggle about it and they told us off, they said 'this isn't a laughing matter'

Young is picking either Brett McGregor or Steve Juergens to take out the Masterchef title.

"Steve has a lot of knowledge. He has a lot of experience with cooking.

"Brett has got a strong basic foundation and he seems to pull off a lot."

She predicted her companion in the final two last night, Cardy, had a possible outside chance at the title.

"Kirsty is definitely creative.

"I'm thinking she is a possible wildcard contender."

Since her appearance on the show Young says she has been recognized on the streets, an experience she describes as "quite funny".

"Yeah, it's been happening quite a bit eh.

"You either get the whispers or the "hey, how'd you go?' or the 'we want you to win Kelly'

A confidentiality agreement prevented Ms Young telling others when she left the show.

"It was quite hard.

"I haven't even been able to tell my friends.

"It just meant I haven't been able to out on a big night or out on the p*** because I might have started blabbering to people."

- © Fairfax NZ News