“I would have these massive eating sessions with my chef friends where we'd go out for a whole day and eat all of the things, and it never occurred to me once that all of my friends are dudes who are six-foot-something or 150 kilos. I would just match them to the toe.”

Australian food writer and television host

Melissa Leong is an Australian food writer, critic, television host, radio broadcaster, cookbook editor, and marketer. She is best known for her work in food media and for appearing as a judge on Australian television. She has written and spoken widely about food across print, radio, and television. Leong is a judge on Network 10's Dessert Masters alongside Amaury Guichon, and she previously judged MasterChef Australia from 2020 to 2023 with Andy Allen and Jock Zonfrillo.