Given the storm that has swept through the MasterChef franchise, it's heartening to know at least one Australian MasterChef judge remains in his role.
Sydney chef Somer Sivrioglu is a newly minted celebrity back in his country of birth after picking up the role as judge on MasterChef Turkey.
With Sivrioglu currently shooting season two of the show, he's lured back a former star of his kitchen, Arman Uz, as executive chef.
Uz will oversee Sivrioglu's two Sydney restaurants, Efendy in Balmain and his Barangaroo restaurant, Anason.
Uz has been in the spotlight recently, in charge of the kitchen at Babylon, the new multi-million dollar rooftop restaurant that has just opened in the Sydney CBD.
We tracked down Sivrioglu on set in Turkey, buoyed by the success of MasterChef, which is the highest-rating show in its competitive primetime slot in Turkey.
While he's moved across fulltime, Sivrioglu says Uz will consult on his day off to help the transition at Babylon, which has already appointed an acting head chef.
"It is totally fine with me as the more successful Middle Eastern-Turkish venues open the better for us," he says.
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