: The Professionals judge admits she ‘cringes’ when it comes to the thought of tuning into .
The Samoan-born New Zealand Chef, 48, owns the restaurant Mere, but is perhaps best known for her role on .
First joining in 2009, she’s most recently fronted the series alongside Gregg Wallace and Marcus Wareing.
But, after 14 years involved, she announced last year after struggling to balance time between her family, restaurant and filming commitments, .
While Monica loves watching real-life chefs master their craft and offer her advice, she hasn’t rushed to tune into hugely popular fictional cooking shows.
Disney Plus series The Bear, which stars Jeremy Allen White as a chef who returns to his hometown of Chicago to manage the kitchen at his late brother’s sandwich shop, is one that hasn’t quite captured her attention for a very particular reason.
‘I’ve heard a lot about it but I kind of cringe thinking about watching someone pretend to do what we do,’ she revealed when speaking to Metro.co.uk.
However, she said there was still a chance she might still tune in.
‘I’ve heard so much it’s annoying so now I feel like I need to watch it,’ she admitted.
After 15 years on screens, this MasterChef spin off series has picked up a loyal audience, who will this season get to see 32 ambitious chefs from across the country battle to become the 2023 Champion.
Reflecting on the show’s success, Monica said it mostly came down to the fact it was a tried and tested formula.
‘It is not a show there to talk trash or make the chefs feel terrible about any mistakes or who they are – it is about building them up and encouragement of these talented young chefs that don’t quite realise how great they are yet, and we can see their potential,’ she explained.
‘I think people are hooked on the stories and over the years these chefs, especially the finalists, have gone on to gain their own followers and people have followed their journeys.
‘Then of course throw me and Marcus in the mix and it’s a win-win!’ she laughed.
After taking a season off, in which chef Anna Haugh stepped in, Monica said it felt like she was ‘going back to a family’.
Meanwhile her co-judge Marcus labelled her decision to take a sabbatical ‘brave’, adding he knew she would ‘always come back’.
‘It was never “this is the end”. I think every now and then everyone needs that little time out to readjust and to move forward,’ he explained.
With four children between them – Monica has a daughter with husband David Galetti, while Marcus has three with his wife Jane Wareing – can either see any of their kids following in their footsteps?
Marcus jokingly exclaimed that he hopes not, stating: ‘They are not putting a chef’s jacket on. Go strum that guitar for a bit longer.’
However, he went on to say that they were ‘more than welcome’ to come into the industry and he would ‘embrace’ it, but there would be expectations on them from their dad.
‘I would love to know what their point of difference would be,’ he said.
Meanwhile Monica said that due to it being a difficult industry, new talent had to ‘have a love’ for it.
‘My daughter enjoys cooking for the fun of it or when she’s hungry and that’s about it. Sometimes I have to beg her to make her something,’ she said.
‘Her go to line is: “Well I know how to cook but I don’t need to because you do it better.”‘
MasterChef: The Professionals, starts Monday October 23 at 9pm on BBC One and iPlayer and continues Tuesday and Wednesday at 8pm.
