Guess who! MasterChef judge looks almost unrecognisable in throwback photo
He’s the popular judge on the hit Network Ten reality show MasterChef Australia.
Ever since he joined the program, he’s swiftly earned the admiration of many viewers due to his nurturing approach with aspiring culinary talents.
This well-known culinary enthusiast boasts an impressive family history in the kitchen, as they have received an impressive total of four Michelin stars.
Apart from being skilled off-camera, he is equally comfortable in front of it, having been featured on various television shows such as Chef Academy, Celebrity X Factor, Cooking with the Stars, Celebrity Hunted UK, Hell’s Kitchen UK, among numerous others.
A dedicated viewer of MasterChef was taken aback when they recognized the renowned chef in an old video clip that recently reappeared, which had been filmed 17 years ago.
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Can you guess who it is?
That’s right! It’s none other than lauded French chef Jean-Christophe Novelli.
As an over-the-moon enthusiast, I couldn’t help but take to the vibrant world of Reddit this past week to reminisce and share a nostalgic snapshot of Jean-Christophe from his time as a judge on American Top Chef back in 2008.
They inquired, “Who served as a judge on the fifth season of American Top Chef?” Then, they mentioned that they recognized him when they heard his unique French accent.
‘Jean-Christophe Novelli!’ they excitedly responded.
‘I was re-watching old episodes of Top Chef and recognised his voice.’
The photo showed a very serious-looking Jean-Christophe pictured when he was around 47 years old.
He appeared nearly unidentifiable, adorned with a significantly plumper visage compared to the one commonly seen in the MasterChef kitchen.
Over the past few years, I’ve kept my signature hairstyle intact, but there’s a noticeable change in my hair color – it seems to have lightened up a bit.
The post was met with a flurry of chatter from fans, with the likes of: ‘No way!!!’
Another made reference to Jean-Christophe’s accent with: ‘This find is fan-tas-tique!’
A third added that they too had been keeping tabs on Jean-Christophe’s earlier TV appearances.
They mentioned that they used to watch ‘Cooking with the Stars’ primarily because one of the seasons featured him as a mentor chef.
In the year 2024, Jean-Christophe became a member of the MasterChef team, taking on the role of a judge alongside Andy Allen, Poh Ling Yeow, and Sofia Levin.
In no time at all, Jean-Christophe won over the hearts of many spectators due to his excellent coaching skills and charming demeanor.
As I reflect on the nail-biting finale of MasterChef from last year, it’s hard not to notice the overwhelming response from fans on Reddit, sharing their disappointment that the promising talent, Jean-Christophe, didn’t receive enough spotlight during his debut season.
However, one dissatisfied spectator pointed out: “Though I’m a big fan of him, it seems like both the contestants and the judges overlook him.
Laugh awkwardly when he speaks aloud, blush and giggle excessively when he compliments or taps the table.
‘Poh appears to be the center of focus and seems involved in almost everything. However, despite his compliments towards the contestants, they tend not to view him as credible or sincere.’
The viewer commented that Jean-Christophe is quite ‘kind’ and ‘always eager to assist’, yet it seems no one appears to notice or appreciate this.
On Channel 10’s cooking competition, other users expressed approval and numerous individuals commended the restaurant owner for his inspiring and upbeat demeanor.
‘He’s totally our favourite judge. Total breath of fresh air,’ one person said.
Another exclaimed: ‘He’s absolutely crazy, but I can’t help but adore him! During the restaurant service competition, he was jumping up and down, yelling with delight. And guess what? He even managed to pin a crab on Harry!’
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2025-06-25 09:19