The story behind Poh Ling Yeow’s bizarre nickname: MasterChef favourite reveals her friends in the food industry call her something VERY unusual
The origin of MasterChef Australia fan favourite Poh Ling Yeow’s unusual nickname, ‘Train Tracks’, has been revealed.
While most people with that nickname earned it because of their metal braces, Poh’s story is quite different.
Brisbane chef Louis Tikaram, who hosted the first masterclass of the season this week, told 10 Daily the term stemmed from when the pair had worked together briefly about eight years ago.
Bizarre: The origin of MasterChef Australia fan favourite Poh Ling Yeow’s unusual nickname, ‘Train Tracks’, has been revealed. Pictured on MasterChef: Back to Win earlier this week
‘I kind of knew Poh, I’ve always been a big fan of MasterChef, but we got teamed up at the Noosa Food and Wine Festival, I think it must have been about 2012,’ he said.
Louis, who is the head chef of Cantonese restaurant Stanley, was allocated the same prep kitchen as Poh and they worked side by side preparing their dishes.
She said they ‘got along like a house on fire’ despite some of the other chefs ‘ragging out on’ for being a former MasterChef contestant.
Louis observed Poh’s knife skills and saw that when she cut scallions, they weren’t fully sliced and stayed connected, which is known in the industry as a ‘train track’.
Unique: While most people with that nickname earned it because of their metal braces, Poh’s story is quite different. Pictured on the first season of MasterChef in 2009
Mystery solved! Louis Tikaram, who hosted the first masterclass of the season this week, told 10 Daily the term stemmed from when the pair had worked together briefly eight years ago
Friendly ribbing: Louis observed Poh’s knife skills and saw that when she cut scallions, they weren’t fully sliced and stayed connected, which is known in the industry as a ‘train track’
It comes after MasterChef fans were shocked to discover Poh’s real age this week, with many refusing to believe she’s three years shy of 50.
‘Poh is 47 years old? I… Who looks like that at 47?’ one viewer tweeted, while another added: ‘Poh doesn’t age. What’s her secret?’
Several others pointed out on Twitter that Poh seemingly hasn’t aged since her first appearance on MasterChef in 2009.
‘Who looks like that?!’ It comes after MasterChef fans were shocked to discover Poh’s real age this week, with many refusing to believe she’s three years shy of 50
‘Poh looks good for 47’: Several viewers pointed out on Twitter that Poh seemingly hasn’t aged since her first appearance on MasterChef in 2009
Poh rose to fame on the first season of MasterChef, placing second to Julie Goodwin.
She went on to launch a successful career in the food industry, and hosted several cooking shows on ABC and SBS.
When MasterChef’s original three judges, George Calombaris, Matt Preston and Gary Mehigan, quit the show last year over a salary dispute, many fans expected Poh to return to the franchise as a host.
Success: Poh rose to fame on the first season of MasterChef, placing second to Julie Goodwin
But this didn’t happen, and she was instead announced as a contestant on the twelfth season, MasterChef: Back to Win.
The series follows 24 past competitors as they compete for ultimate redemption and a cash prize of $250,000.
MasterChef continues Sunday at 7:30pm on Channel 10