Kishwar Chowdhury MasterChef finale: It was a tough race to the finish line with each contestant more skilled than the last but the acclaimed MasterChef Australia found the crowning champion of its thirteenth season on July 13.
Indian-origin Justin Narayan raised the winning trophy, with first and second runners-up Pete Campbell and Kishwar Chowdhury respectively following close behind. Out of the top three, Chowdhury's journey was especially of note for fans, her being the only woman finalist to make it to the end.
Brought up amid the Bangladeshi and Indian cultures in Australia, Chowdhury is an accomplished cook with dreams of becoming an author in the field someday. Her "big family of cooks" and a drive to put the desi Bengali cuisine on the world map led her to pursue her passions as a chef.
A mother of two, Chowdhury resides in Melbourne with her family. More about her here.
Kishwar Chowdhury MasterChef Finale Dish And Other Best Moments
The magic in her hands kept Chowdhury consistently at the top of her game and the MasterChef judges in awe through the season. Her very first dish on the show was sardines in green mango broth, served with bhorta, lentils and beetroot - an eastern touch that sustained in most of her dishes, especially those fish-based.
Chingri bhorta, maach bhaja, fried barramundi in tomato broth were among the best delicacies she prepared on MasterChef this season. The final dish she presented on the season finale was panta bhaat and aloo bharta.
"This is powerful food," judge Melissa Leong said seeing her dish. "To have the heart and soul of the dish be all about something as simple as rice and water and seasoning. You know, it is powerful with history and it is powerful with flavour."
Watch here:
Thanks for letting all of us witness your Everest, @Kishjustathome 👏 #MasterChefAU pic.twitter.com/TvQoebbHBb
— MasterChef Australia (@masterchefau) July 13, 2021
"I feel like when you do something really difficult - like climb Everest or have a baby - that huge rush you get afterward physically and mentally... the pinnacle of hanging in there... For me it's all about the title of MasterChef," Chowdhury had Thanks for letting all of us witness your Everest, @Kishjustathome 👏 #MasterChefAU pic.twitter.com/TvQoebbHBb
Though she is a runner-up, grand congratulatory messages are pouring in for Chowdhury on social media for representing an entire Asian culture, heritage and history on a global stage. See reactions below:
It doesn't matter what you've achieved or not, but you've represented us, our forgotten rich history, cultural heritage & cuisine before the world, that matters. You've won the hearts of all Bengali foodies. Well done #kishwar, #Bangladesh is proud of you. #MasterChefAU pic.twitter.com/OvDeWSmRDS
— 🅷🅰🅵🅸🆉 (@_hafizZ__) July 13, 2021
Kishwar’s unapologetic choice to cook peasant food captures the fact that while fine dining may be synonymous with sophistication, it's a humble dish that often radiates the richest history, the cosiest memory & the deepest soul. The best magic lies in the mundane...#MasterChefAU pic.twitter.com/5TpIvAf5KF
— Sahar Adatia (@sahar_adatia) July 12, 2021
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