MasterChef’s resident vegan chef Reece Hignell breaks down as he’s eliminated

He’s MasterChef’s resident vegan chef, but when Reece Hignell had his chance to show off the kind of food he loves, it all went wrong. 

The 28-year-old was eliminated from MasterChef Australia: Back To Win on Sunday night when his starter of beetroots with hazelnut, chocolate and goat’s cheese with a lemon myrtle vinaigrette failed to impress the judges.    

Reece had dished up his starter for celebrity chefs Peter Gunn from Ides, Darren Purchese from Burch & Purchese Sweet Studio, and from Savour, Kirsten Tibballs.   

The judges found the dish lacked cohesiveness, and while the beetroot was cooked well, they felt the elements did not go well together, and the dish was less imaginative than it could have been. 

Upon his elimination, Reece looked genuinely shocked and upset. 

‘For me, like, I just love everyone in this room,’ he said, looking around, clearly emotional. 

‘I’m so grateful to meet you guys and to have that support. That meant so much to me. And obviously, these guys, I’ve [taken] so much inspiration from each and every one of them and to call them my friends is unreal. 

‘It just means a lot to me. So, overall, this experience just means the world to me’ Reece added, before wishing his fellow contestants goodbye. 

While he managed to keep it together during his farewell, afterwards, Reece broke down in a piece to camera. 

‘I’m heartbroken. It’s a sad, sad moment but it’s something that I can just reflect on now and really appreciate what I’ve done since being here. 

‘Aappreciate every moment that I’ve had here, because to do it once is something, but to do it twice is special.’ 

Plus there was a bright spark, he added: ‘And I got to meet Katy Perry, like… I’m still starstruck!’