Brilliant, genius, Jai ho Odisha! MasterChef India judges Vikas Khanna, Ranveer Brar and Vineet Bhatia were bowled over by the taste of ‘Chicken Besara’ prepared by Odisha’s Abhinas Nayak. And this dish got him a place in the Top 10 of the season 6 of the cooking competition-cum-reality show.
This season 6 is tagged as ‘Tasty Dish, Warna Game Finish’.
A native of Berhampur, the 27-year-old works in an MNC.
Abhinas gave a modern-contemporary twist to the mustard vegetable dish of Odisha. He stuffed a chicken breast with mustard paste blended with garlic and cumin. The judges were impressed with the neat presentation. “He did not seem to be in a hurry and bahut pyaaar se banaya hai (made it with lots of love). And the taste, the flavour, the cuts. What combination, the modern look,” they were all praise for Abhinas.
His dish said it loud and set the standard for the season 6 of the show.
Abhinas, however, was apprehensive. “Most Odia cuisine are slow cooked. I don’t have that luxury. Today’s challenge is difficult as I needed more time for this preparation. But I will try to bring in the taste,” he said.
And how! He presented the dish with vegetable and sauce and the judges savoured it all.
Abhinas, initially, could not believe that he had won the MasterChef apron. “This apron is going to change my life,” he added.
