Bondi Icebergs head chef Monty Koludrovic has spoken highly of MasterChef contestant Sashi Cheliah in a gushing message, amid backlash from viewers.
During Wednesday night’s explosive episode, viewers watched Monty being tough on Sashi but shortly after it aired, the Sydney cook had only kind words for the fan-favourite.
Sashia shared a photo on Instagram of himself with fellow finalists and Monty applauded prison officer in the comments section.
‘You did a great job mate’: Bondi Icebergs head chef Monty Koludrovic (right) has praised MasterChef contestant Sashi Cheliah (left) for his great work in a grovelling message on Instagram amid ‘bullying’ backlash
Sashi captioned the photo: ‘Amazing location… amazing friends… what more (do) I need for a great cook.’
Monty commented: ‘Wasn’t the easiest cook was it Sashi!!’
Sashi replied: ‘It was a tough cook but with your guidance I was able to pull it through… My boys call it ‘tough love.’
Top four finalists: Sashi took to Instagram to share a photo of himself alongside contestants Khan Hong (right), Jessica Liemantara and Ben Borhst (left) with the caption: ‘Amazing location… amazing friends… what more (do) I need for a great cook’
The no-nonsense chef replied: ‘Yeah you did a great job mate. Well done on all of it!!’
While there appears to be no beef between the two, viewers are still furious over Monty’s treatment of Sashi during Wednesday’s episode with some threatening to boycott his Sydney restaurant.
One fan commented: ‘That chef was a rude pr**k, I live in Sydney and I will never dine there after seeing how he treated you.’
No beef here! Chef Monty was the first to comment on his post: ‘Wasn’t the easiest cook was it Sashi!!’ The prison officer replied: ‘It was a tough cook but with your guidance I was able to pull it through… My boys call it ‘tough love’
This comes MasterChef viewers unleashed their fury at Bondi Icebergs head chef Monty for being ‘too tough’ on Sashi during the service challenge at the iconic swimming club.
Sashi planned to deliver a pumpkin, pine nut raviolo with mushroom and red wine sauce, but buckled under pressure when chef Monty constantly hovered over him.
At one point the chef even told the amateur cook to apologise to the wait staff for being late with an order: ‘Have you got anything to say to the waiters?’
Pressure: This comes MasterChef viewers unleashed their fury on Twitter at chef Monty for being ‘too tough’ on Sashi during the service challenge at the iconic swimming club. Sashi buckled under pressure of the challenge as chef Monty constantly hovered over him
Sashi answered: ‘Ah, I haven’t poured the mushroom broth yet, so…’
The chef replied: ‘What about, ‘Sorry, I’m so late.’
Sashi’s supporters took to social media to take a swipe at the chef, including one who wrote: ‘To see him being treated like that makes me really angry. He made the hardest dish with the most elements. I wanna deck Monty.’
Support and opinions: Sashi’s supporters took to Twitter to take a swipe at the chef, others vowed to boycott Icebergs. However there were a few who defended Monty saying he was ‘being direct and honest’
Others vowed to boycott the Bondi restaurant after watching Monty’s treatment towards the Sashi, one wrote: ‘If I am ever in Bondi, I definitely know where I won’t be going to dine.’
However a couple of Twitter users defended the head chef, with one saying: ‘It’s his place and he isn’t yelling. It’s being direct and honest.’
They continued: ‘If you don’t like it then try harder or do whatever it takes to make him shut up.’
MasterChef continues on Sunday 7.30pm on Channel 10