Pressure Cooking

The winner, flanked by her proud grandparents.

Last night was the first time I had watched MasterChef, and I did so under the urging of a finalist's grandparents, who are good friends.

The three contestants all worked under tremendous pressure, not only preparing each dish from scratch within a strict one-hour limit but having to answer questions on camera while they were furiously engaged.

Our friends did a good job of keeping the outcome to themselves for nearly a year, though it wasn't hard to guess from their reminders to watch the show.

When their grandaughter Dara Yu emerged victorious, it was a redemptive moment for a young woman who as a teenager lost her father tragically.

Life has ups and downs, and at the tender age of 20 (when filmed) Dara already has had more than the rest of us.