MasterChef Australia contestant Rue Mupedzi’s time on the show was curtailed when she was sent home a few weeks before the finals.
That’s not to say the Zimbabwe-born chef hasn’t wowed judges and viewers with her innovative recipes.
The 30-year-old oral health therapist has certainly made her mark as she won one of the biggest prizes the competition has ever seen.
Rue was speechless when she won an immunity challenge after the judges fell in love with her sweet and spicy BBQ sauce recipe, BarbeRue.
Not only was she shedding free this week, but she also won the life-changing award of having her sauce made, packaged and sold in all Coles stores across Australia.
MasterChef Australia star Rue Mupedzi’s BBQ sauce becomes a worldwide hit after its introduction to Coles
Speaking to Yahoo Lifestyle, after being banned from the competition this week, Rue said she’s delighted for people to enjoy her sauce and being able to sell it in Coles is “the cherry on top” of her MasterChef Australia experience.
The Pertherin native said she had received messages from fans around the world wanting to try her sauce.
“Everyone says, ‘We’d like to try this sauce. Can you tell us she’s coming to our country?” she told the publication.
Rue was left speechless on the show two weeks ago when she won an immunity challenge after the judges fell in love with her sweet and hot sauce
‘And you know what? Maybe I should think about something that might be a possibility. I don’t know, but that would be an absolute dream come true.
‘Be [on MasterChef] made me believe in myself so much more. It opened my mind to the world of food and it opened my mind to the possibilities that are out there for me – for example, a Coles product was never on my list.”
Rue’s Sauce will be available now from Coles for a limited time.
An enthusiastic Rue appeared on Channel 10’s The Project last week to talk about the new sauce.
Admitting she had never tried BBQ sauce before arriving in Australia nine years ago, she gave a preview of what fans can expect from her flavorful concoction.
“It’s mild for me,” Rue laughed after The Project host Georgie Tunny said the label on the BarbeRue bottle had a chilli rating of three – meaning it was extra spicy.
“I love chili, but I get a little sweaty,” added The Project’s Steve Price, who tested the sauce.
Rue later explained, “If you eat it straight out of the jar, it gets very spicy.”
She won the life changing award of having her sauce made, packaged and sold in all Coles stores across Australia
The fan favorite described BarbeRue’s flavor as “smoky, sweet and spicy.”
After the episode aired on Thursday, she shared on Instagram that she was “speechless” when she won the award.
Sharing a carousel of photos of her and her new product, Rue wrote, “I’m a woman of many words and I feel so speechless, overwhelmed, nervous and grateful at the same time.”
“I never thought I could make it at MasterChef, let alone make the top 10 and then claim one of the biggest wins in the competition,” she continued.
An enthusiastic Rue appeared on Channel 10’s The Project on Friday night to talk about the new sauce
“It’s mild for me,” Rue laughed after The Project host Georgie Tunny said the label on the BarbeRue bottle had a chilli rating of three – meaning it was extra spicy
“I feel like everything was set up for this win.” I truly believe everything worked together for my good.’
The chef then thanked her season’s judges, Andy Allen, Melissa Leong and the late Jack Zonfrillo.
Rue continued, “I’m so grateful for the judges’ continued support.” They’ve helped build my confidence in the kitchen and they’ve continued to discover something in me that I sometimes couldn’t see myself.
“I honestly feel like I can do whatever I set out to do to move forward.”
Rue’s Sauce is available now from Coles for a limited time