Masterchef: Malaysian viewers furious over ‘crispy’ rendang critique
Anger as judges John Torode and Gregg Wallace eliminate contestant over traditional dish

Masterchef has come under fire after a Malaysian-born contestant was eliminated from the BBC cookery show because her chicken dish wasn’t deemed crispy enough.
Zaleha Kadir Olpin left the competition after judges John Torode and Gregg Wallace criticised her chicken rendang.
“I like the rendang flavour, there’s a coconut sweetness,” Wallace said. “However, the chicken skin isn’t crispy. It can’t be eaten and all the sauce is on the skin so I can’t eat it.”
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
However, the two judges came under intense scrutiny on social media after Malaysian viewers said chicken rendang is never meant to be served with crispy skin.
Even Malaysia's Prime Minister Najib Razak joined in, asking: “Does anyone eat chicken rendang ‘crispy’?”
Olpin’s chicken rendang, a rich south-east Asian curry made by stewing meat in coconut milk and spices, was served as an accompaniment to nasi lemak, another “beloved Malaysian dish”, says the BBC.
Olpin told the judges the dish had been one of her childhood favourites, saying: “There was a special stall outside my school that sold the best nasi lemak so I used to save up pocket money on Fridays.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
“The dish is very special to me.”
Malaysian journalist and food writer Jahabar Sadiq told BBC News: “Crispy chicken? No. The meat has to be soft and that's a result of hours of cooking... Many people associate chicken with being fried but there is no craft, no skill.
“But this is chicken rendang, not KFC, so it all boils down to how the chef controls the spices and the flames.”
-
AI workslop is muddying the American workplace
The explainer Using AI may create more work for others
-
Japan poised to get first woman prime minister
Speed Read The ruling Liberal Democratic Party elected former Economic Security Minister Sanae Takaichi
-
The 5 best mob movies of all time
The Week Recommends If you don’t like a good gangster flick, just fuhgeddaboudit
-
Russia is ‘helping China’ prepare for an invasion of Taiwan
In the Spotlight Russia is reportedly allowing China access to military training
-
Interpol arrests hundreds in Africa-wide sextortion crackdown
IN THE SPOTLIGHT A series of stings disrupts major cybercrime operations as law enforcement estimates millions in losses from schemes designed to prey on lonely users
-
China is silently expanding its influence in American cities
Under the Radar New York City and San Francisco, among others, have reportedly been targeted
-
How China uses 'dark fleets' to circumvent trade sanctions
The Explainer The fleets are used to smuggle goods like oil and fish
-
One year after mass protests, why are Kenyans taking to the streets again?
today's big question More than 60 protesters died during demonstrations in 2024
-
What happens if tensions between India and Pakistan boil over?
TODAY'S BIG QUESTION As the two nuclear-armed neighbors rattle their sabers in the wake of a terrorist attack on the contested Kashmir region, experts worry that the worst might be yet to come
-
Why Russia removed the Taliban's terrorist designation
The Explainer Russia had designated the Taliban as a terrorist group over 20 years ago
-
Inside the Israel-Turkey geopolitical dance across Syria
THE EXPLAINER As Syria struggles in the wake of the Assad regime's collapse, its neighbors are carefully coordinating to avoid potential military confrontations