Cover image via Daily Express
Most Malaysians were fuming after Kuantan-born chef Zaleha Kadir Olpin was eliminated in MasterChef UK's quarter finals because her chicken rendang skin was deemed not 'crispy'
Image via YouTube
"The skin wasn't crispy" and "The chicken was tough and not very flavoursome" were the two main criticism from Gregg Wallace and John Torode respectively which led to Zaleha's exit from the cooking competition.
One of the judges, John Torode decided it was a good idea to add fuel to the fire when he replied "Maybe rendang is Indonesian" and "Namaste" to his critics
Image via John Torode via Twitter
Unfortunately for John, it backfired. Big time.
His colleague, Gregg Wallace, who said, "The chicken skin isn't crispy, it can't be eaten," has chosen to ignore all tweets and criticism directed at him.
Image via John Torode via Twitter
Image via John Torode via Twitter
With just three tweets from John Torode, he has managed to accomplish something not even politicians could do – unite Indonesians, Malaysians, and Singaporeans
Image via Twitter
Image via Twitter
Image via Twitter
An Indonesian wrote, "Finally, Indonesians and Malaysians unite over a good purpose – rendang."
Even his usage of "Namaste" did not sit very well with netizens
Image via Twitter
Image via https://twitter.com/g_rentarou88
Sarah served the Australian-born chef a taste of his own medicine.
Local chef Norman Musa expressed his disappointment towards Torode, whom he once taught how to make rendang on John Torode's Malaysian Adventure for the UK's Good Food channel, which aired in 2015
Image via Chef Norman Musa
Image via Chef Norman Musa
British High Commissioner to Malaysia, Vicki Treadell, also defended the dish and reminded the judges not to mix up rendang and fried chicken
Image via Vicki Treadell via Twitter
John Torode even had his Wikipedia profile tweaked by trolls
Image via Wikipedia
The viral 'Crispy Chicken Rendang' has even attracted the attention of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, who posted a photo of rendang to poke fun at the MasterChef UK judges
Image via Najib Razak via Twitter
Opposition leader Tun Dr Mahathir Mohammad also jumped on the rendang bandwagon by questioning if Torode had mistaken rendang for KFC's fried chicken
Image via Mahathir Mohamad via Twitter
