Masterchef worth a taste

Last week on Masterchef New Zealand, the judges dismissed a competitor whose father died the day before.

Part of me says, oh for God's sake, it's a silly cooking show. Where's the human decency?

Another part of me says, too right. The death was a tragedy for the woman and only cold-hearted bastards didn't feel badly for her, but the decision was correct. If her food wasn't good enough, then she had to go home.

On balance, I've decided it's a silly cooking show and the judges showed their integrity. They're making decisions with their mouths not their hearts.

The judges - Simon Gault, Ray McVinnie and Ross Burden - also advanced a guy who cooked pork in cola and a young woman who cooked vegan. They immediately became my favourite competitors.

Silly cooking shows need bravehearts - people who challenge the biases of the celebrity chef-judges. Can vegan food taste better, week after week, than food made with animal products? Course it can. She still won't win.

Masterchef NZ: Wednesdays, 7.30pm, TV One.

- © Fairfax NZ News