Meghan Markle’s MasterChef Visit Led to a Contestant’s ‘Embarrassing’ First — and It Wasn’t His Cooking

Meghan Markle’s appearance on MasterChef Australia certainly raised the stakes for the Top 4 contestants, with one of them facing an awkward situation during the challenge.

It is quite natural that anyone would get flustered in the presence of celebrities, especially if it’s royalty. A similar thing happened when Meghan Markle walked through the doors of MasterChef Australia this weekend. She was met with surprised and equally thrilled faces. The coveted competition had selected its Top 4 and was already at a critical stage, but the Duchess of Sussex’s appearance certainly seemed to raise the stakes, as the home chefs tried their best to impress her with their dishes.

As part of the immunity challenge, Markle had brought a bounty of vegetables and organic produce the contestants had to cook with. While the culinary enthusiast encouraged them to prepare something “sentimental”, the judges’ brief was straight: cook something “fit for a Duchess”. One of the contestants fighting for a semi-final spot was Casper Kenworthy. He had decided to cook barbecued octopus with Jerusalem artichoke puree, and some fried Jerusalem artichokes.

However, Kenworthy suffered an “embarrassing” situation for the first time in the kitchen, and Markle’s presence made it all the more awkward for him. He was peeling ginger when he cut his finger. “I’ve just cut my finger,” he said via the Daily Express, “It’s the first time I’ve ever cut myself in this kitchen, and it’s in front of Meghan. Kind of embarrassing.” The 28-year-old didn’t let that falter him, as he eventually prepared a beautiful dish.

As Kenworthy approached the judges’ table with his dish, he was asked whether he was feeling “nervy”. He accepted that he was since “the ticket to semi-finals is on the line and a very high caliber guest judge” was present for the challenge. Markle commended his “sweet” statement before tasting the meal.

“I think this is beautifully balanced. I love how silkened the Jerusalem artichoke puree is. It’s pitch perfect actually. And that crispiness that you have on the other version of the Jerusalem artichoke, it really is highlighting that as a featured ingredient. I love the heat, so the sauce is going in for more. And also I will say, I think the char on the octopus – it’s really beautifully cooked, and it’s really, really beautifully complemented by the other choices you made,” Markle appreciated the dish.

However, it was not only one royal’s presence that graced MasterChef Australia that day. Prince Harry also joined in on the fun, albeit virtually. He video-called his wife, who was all praise for the contestants.

Although Kenworth prepared one of the best dishes of the day, it was his fellow home chef, Petro Papathomas, who won the ticket to the semi-finals. The former was eventually eliminated in the next episode after placing fourth in the prestigious contest this season.