Reynold Just Told Me Why He’s Going To Win ‘Dessert Masters’

Dessert Masters has been a massive hit for Channel 10, with the MasterChef spinoff pitting 10 professional pastry chefs against each other for a whopping $100,000 prize. 

Pastry legends Andy Bowdy, Jess Liemantara, Anna Polyviou, Reynold Poernomo, Kirsten Tibballs and Gareth Whitton are still competing. Former MasterChef judge Melissa Leong has been delightful to watch, with chocolate king Amaury Guichon’s addition to the franchise being a masterstroke. 

So far, Adriano Zumbo, Rhiann Mead and Morgan Hipworth have all been eliminated, and the kitchen is about to get even hotter because there’s a double elimination challenge on Sunday, the semi-final on Monday, and the grand finale on Tuesday. Ooft. 

The cast of Dessert Masters. Image credit: Channel 10, Dessert Masters

Fan favourite – and my personal favourite – Reynold Poernomo is coming for the crown (he is the “Dessert King” after all), and he feels like he’s got something to prove, seeing as his culinary career took off after competing on MasterChef. Some top chefs in the hospitality industry can be a bit snobby about this and the reality TV aspect is seen as a “shortcut”. To that, I say, get in the bin. I will defend Reynold with my whole being, for all eternity.

He’s since opened KOI Dessert Bar with his brothers Ronald and Arnold. The restaurant, focussed on desserts and pastries, has instantly become a Sydney classic. The desserts are delicious, creative, and yep, they’re very Instagrammable. 

“Coming from a controversial background of being self-taught, off the back of MasterChef… I can see it from other chefs and the food media industry’s [perspective] like it’s a ‘cheat way’, but I’ve worked pretty hard here with my team and my family. I feel like we deserve recognition as well, even if it’s already quite well known,” Reynold told me. 

“To be really recognised in the industry, [it’s] a stepping stone – so Dessert Masters was kind of that voice and platform for me.”

Reynold Poernomo working at KOI Dessert Bar. Image credit: Instagram/@reynoldpoer

Why Reynold Poernomo thinks he can win Dessert Masters. 

The young chef is confident in his abilities to take home the massive prize. While he reckons he’s got the talent to win – and he did snag the only immunity pin during Episode 1 – things aren’t always smooth sailing in a reality TV kitchen. Remember when Morgan Hipworth’s dessert went up in flames at the last second? Heartbreaking stuff. 

“I really hope I can win the show… when I told [my KOI Dessert Bar team] I was going on Dessert Masters, I was like, ‘I’m gonna f**k them up! I can definitely do really well. Because I’m confident in my skills, I’m very confident in what I do’,” he recalled. 

@itspunkee Dropped by @KOI Dessert Bar to chat with @Reynold about Dessert Masters ? #dessertmastersau #masterchefaustralia #reynoldpoernomo #koidessertbar #dessertmasters #masterchef ♬ Houdini – Dua Lipa

Reynold doesn’t mince words, saying that his point of view might come across as “arrogant”, but adds that he’s always “challenging” himself, “growing and learning”, traits that are perfectly suited for the MasterChef world. 

But the one thing that could stand in his way? The MasterChef curse, of course. “Anything can happen. It can be your day, you could have the worst luck, the machine’s not working or cooperating with you, or you forget a recipe, or you forget something in the oven… it all depends on the challenge and look, there have been some disastrous moments,” he explained. 

What does Reynold Poernomo think of his competition?

Reynold has a healthy dose of confidence, but he also doesn’t discredit his fellow competitors. In fact, he sounds like he’s in awe of their expertise. 

“This time round, [I’m] competing against other professionals – and not just any professionals – some of the best in the country, absolute legends and pioneers… there are some household names that have been in the pastry industry in Australia for such a long time,” he said. “To be a young gun, to be a part of it and seeing them as my heroes and pastry heroes and now to be up against them, and cook with them, that’s a pretty cool experience to have.”

Reynold Poernomo’s beautiful creation on Dessert Masters. Image credit: Channel 10, Dessert Masters

So, if a disaster does happen… will he play his immunity pin? It’s been hyped up so much that I’m beginning to wonder if he makes it all the way to the end without having to touch it. Honestly, that would be iconic. 

“I wanna try my best not to play the immunity pin, it’d be pretty cool,” Reynold revealed. “At the same time, look, I’m not gonna be stupid. If I know I’m doing something wrong or nothing is going right, I will definitely use it. I won’t feel bad about it.” 

I’m starting to get nervous, but I’m praying that our Dessert King stays safe for the remaining episodes. Brb, off to try and convince our office manager to host our Christmas Party at KOI Dessert Bar.

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Image credits: Channel 10, Dessert Masters, Instagram/@reynoldpoer