Leslie Gilliams, who just arrived in Ho Chi Minh City, is a man of 'a lifetime of integrity - against MasterChef'

Leslie Gilliams, one of the outstanding contestants of MasterChef America season 5, recently came to Ho Chi Minh City to interact with fans at the Hobby Horizon 2025 event taking place on July 18.

"Integrity Saint" Leslie Gilliams was curious in front of a lottery ticket stall on the streets of Vietnam during his first visit to Ho Chi Minh City in July - Photo: MasterChef

This is Leslie Gilliams' first time in Vietnam. On the first day of landing in Ho Chi Minh City, the Masterchef USA season 5 contestant was given a cake with a salt shaker on top.

He humorously greeted and thanked the Vietnamese fans for their gifts: "Finally, I did it, I'm here. I got a cake and a salt shaker. Are you kidding me?".

'Thanh Liem' and his wife dissolve in Vietnam

In the show Masterchef - Masterchef USA season 5, Leslie Gilliams was a contestant with a calm, sharp demeanor and outstanding cooking skills. Initially, he caused controversy when he built the image of a "difficult uncle", talkative, sometimes arrogant and not highly appreciated by other contestants.

Overcoming initial prejudices, Leslie gradually proved her ability and became one of the most consistent chefs in the competition.

The cake and meme photo given to him by Vietnamese audience - Photo: MasterChef

He impressed by passing 6 consecutive Pressure Test rounds, the most rigorous elimination challenge series in MasterChef, and reaching the final top 3.

According to the Masterchef organizers, in the history of the show, few chefs have achieved the same results as Leslie Gilliams. He is also the oldest contestant in the top 3 finalists.

However, in the semi-finals, he was unexpectedly eliminated after being accused of "mistakenly using salt instead of sugar" in the baking competition.

Although the finished product was praised for its appearance, Leslie still had to stop at the top 3 position overall.

Faced with fans' suspicions that this could be a staged situation, he chose to remain silent and accept the result.

Last year, when he shared the moment of making the controversial cake in the contest on Facebook, a Vietnamese fan questioned whether he really confused salt and sugar?

Leslie Gilliams responded "firmly" that he was not mistaken. It was his straightforward spirit that made many Vietnamese audiences affectionately call him "The Incorruptible Saint".

Leslie Gilliams and her husband on their first night in Ho Chi Minh City - Photo: MasterChef

Although he did not win the championship at Masterchef, Leslie Gilliams is still loved by Vietnamese audiences because of his strong passion for food, his approachable and friendly personality towards Vietnamese fans when he often shared videos of the American Masterchef program, dubbed in Vietnamese, on Facebook.

On his personal page, he just reposted the letter and meme photo "A lifetime of integrity - Against MasterChef" given to him by a Vietnamese fan.

The MasterChef Vietnam program fanpage also shared the moment Leslie Gilliams was traveling on the streets of Vietnam and stopped in front of a lottery ticket booth, observing with curiosity.

Many Vietnamese audiences are excited by this image of Leslie Gilliams and look forward to the day they can meet and interact with him in person.

Leslie Gilliams sends greetings to Vietnamese audiences - Video: MasterChef

Lam Lake

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/leslie-gilliams-vua-den-tp-hcm-la-nguoi-mot-doi-liem-khiet-chong-lai-masterchef-20250717104245728.htm