MasterChef Malta Judges Panel Revealed
Last summer, in July 2023, it was announced that Malta would be joining the 60 other countries that air their own country’s version of MasterChef.
For those not already familiar with the TV hit, MasterChef is a reality show where cooks from all parts of the country compete against each other in weekly culinary challenges. These cooks are judged by a panel of celebrity chef judges who are tasked with setting the challenges, and eliminating a contestant each week based on the quality of their food until one is left standing. In these last couple of days, the chef judges for the inaugural season of MasterChef Malta were finally announced!
JOE VELLA
With a 40-year career on his resume, 18 of those years spent as an executive chef at The Hilton Malta, Chef Joe Vella is a notable name in the culinary scene. Inspired by culinary icons such as Auguste Escoffier and Gordon Ramsay, he has judged several cooking and baking events in Malta and abroad over the years, always trying to be impartial and fair while encouraging competitors. He has even had the pleasure of working with the Roux brothers, Albert and Michel, for whom he is full of admiration for them.
Moreover, Chef Joe Vella was also a visionary collaborator who was also instrumental in the Air Malta team’s reinvention of Business Class meals. Among his many achievements is the renowned Lifetime Achievement Award that Chef Vella received in 2015; this award is a testimonial to his exceptional service and unwavering dedication to the culinary profession.
LETIZIA VELLA
Next is Chef Patron at The Golden Fork and culinary prodigy Letizia Vella. With a training background at Michelin-starred restaurants like Heston Blumenthal’s Dinner in London and The Fat Duck, Letizia has made a notable name for herself in Malta’s fine dining scene. Her participation at the San Pellegrino Young Chef Academy Regional Competition was a turning point in her career, one that affirmed her love of cooking and steered her on her path. Furthermore, her partnership with Four Hands Dinner competition winner Gregory Kikis demonstrated her ability to combine a variety of cuisines and ingredient to produce new creative dishes.
Chef Letizia Vella’s passion and drive for her occupation is undeniable. While some may associate the work of a chef with high-stress situations, Letizia lives for the adrenaline rush she gets when a new order needs to be made; “The beauty of this industry is that each and every day is show time, a show which delivers smiles on grateful diners and a solid element of satisfaction to the whole team.”
VICTOR BORG
Last but not least, Chef Victor Borg comes with knowledge and skills attained from working at Michelin-starred restaurants such as Bagatelle in Oslo and Gordon Ramsay’s Aubergine in London. In 2019, he became the Executive Chef of Under Grain in Valletta, and barely five months after its founding, Under Grain achieved Michelin-star success. At the age of 15, Chef Victor Borg started his culinary journey by honing his craft in one of Malta’s first five-star hotels. He worked his way up and was eventually invited to join some of the world’s most prominent kitchen brigades, such as the Bellevue Palace in Bern, Switzerland.
After winning the National Chef of the Year title at the age of 24, Victor was able to compete with Malta’s National Team of Chefs for 15 years in a row, acting as captain for 8 of them. He led his team to two gold medal victories at the World Association of Chef Societies (WACS), making him the only chef from Malta to achieve this. Finally, his restaurant Mange Tout in Xemxija has been voted Malta’s Best Overall Restaurant for 7 years running.
MasterChef Malta airs on TVM next month in February 2024. As the competition show approaches closer and closer, stay up to date by following the show’s Instagram page (@masterchefmalta). While we have yet to receive an air date, one thing we know for sure is that the competitors are in excellent hands!
