Mel Leong comforts Therese after her ice cream fail

After a contestant’s ice cream blunder leaves her with nothing to plate up, Melissa Leong had some kind words of encouragement.

A returning MasterChef hopeful was left devastated when her ice cream failed in Wednesday’s episode – but some kind words from judge Melissa Leong left her with her head held high.

Therese, this year’s “dessert queen” who left earlier in the competition still with an immunity pin, decided not to serve her macadamia ice cream due to its grainy texture despite it being the key element of her dish.

Approaching the judges, Therese, 31, from NSW, said she was feeling “disappointed” with her incomplete dish.

“I just want to run back and hide and not be in this moment now,” she said.

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‘Dessert Queen’ Therese came undone during tonight’s MasterChef challenge to return to competition.

Addressing the judges, she explained: “The ice cream just didn’t turn out, I got too excited with the macadamias and put too much in, and the texture was just not right. I could not serve it.”

After tasting her brown butter macadamia crumble with duck fat caramel and pomegranate seeds, Mel was the first to speak.

“It takes a great deal of bravery to front up without the key element of your dish and be here and stand here and handle it with the grace that you are, and you have my utmost respect,” she said as Therese looked close to tears.

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Mel commented that Therese had acted with ‘grace’ and ‘bravery’ in tonight’s episode.

Speaking to news.com.au last month, Leong commented that she’s been blown away by this year’s crop of home cooks for the growth they’ve achieved in the kitchen.

“Everyone starts off with a base level of what they know, but as they listen and learn from our guests chefs and overcome the challenges we set for them, it’s inspiring watching them grow and seeing them take on new skills and implement them in their own way,” she said.

“I think what’s also really great that we’ve seen in an overwhelming capacity this year is their ability to present food that speaks to who they are very quickly. They’re all able to express themselves and their perspectives on the plate. To see these home cooks do that with that with a huge degree of eloquence is very cool to see.”

MasterChef’s ‘Returning Contestants week’ has seen Minola secure a spot back in the competition, with four others set to fight it out tonight for the final second chance apron.

MasterChef Australia continues Thursday night from 7.30pm on Ten.