Francis Legge From Masterchef: The Co-Owner of Shortbread Society and His Wife Are Very Supportive of the LGBTQ+ Community!

Table of Contents

• Francis Legge's Background

• Francis Legge on MasterChef

• Performance on Snack vs. Chef

• The Shortbread Society

• Support for LGBTQ+ Causes

Francis Legge's Background

Francis Legge, one of the competing chefs of Netflix's Snack vs. Chef, does not have his own restaurant but he is the co-owner of Shortbread Society which sells shortbread delights through Goldbelly along with his wife, Christine. The Scottish chef also has previously competed on Chopped as well as Masterchef where he got his start. Additionally, Francis Legge identifies himself as a member of the LGBTQ+ community.

Francis Legge was born in London but grew up in Scotland. He developed a passion for baking and pastry making from a young age, often assisting his mother and grandmother in the kitchen. After graduating from culinary school in Scotland, Legge moved to New York City to pursue his culinary dreams.

Francis Legge on MasterChef

Legge first gained attention on season 5 of MasterChef in 2014, where he impressed judges with his creative, outside-the-box dishes. In episode four, Francis decided to go big or go home! He said I'm making 12 different flavors of donuts, the judges thought he was wasting his time. But when Francis put up his dish Gordon Ramsey, after tasting it, said, "Long live Scotland!" in reference to the vote on Scottish independence. Francis created one of the winning dishes and was a team captain. He made it to the top 11 contestants before being eliminated. Since then, he has appeared on other shows like Chopped and Foodgod, steadily building his reputation.

Performance on Snack vs. Chef

Snack vs. Chef on Netflix, hosted by Hari Kondabolu and Megan Stalter, is a reality cookery show with a unique premise. It invites a number of culinary professionals to demonstrate how well-versed they are in some of the most popular foods in the nation. To win the judges' approval and the $50,000 big prize, contestants must recreate classic snacks or create their own delectable dishes during multiple rounds.

In the first round, Legge had to recreate Cheetos. The judges felt his version wasn't spicy enough compared to the original Cheetos and the dough wasn't crispy. However, they did agree Legge's Cheetos had good flavor with a "deeply umami and intensely spicy" powder.

Legge eventually won the first round when the other competitors failed to meet the challenge. In the next round, chefs had to make their own snack inspired by ingredients from the previous round. Legge created "Scorcheez," fusing his doughnut-making skills with the powdered Cheeto element. Judges praised the powder's spice and umami but ultimately eliminated Legge before the finals.

The Shortbread Society

Together with his wife Christine, Francis founded The Shortbread Society in New York. They saw a lack of quality shortbread options and wanted to change that.

Every week, they hold exclusive pop-up events in NYC and New Jersey to showcase their luxurious shortbread creations. They also distribute nationwide through Goldbelly. The business has quickly gained attention for elevating shortbread to new heights.

They Shortbread Society says, “Built on a love for traditional shortbreads started in the highlands of Scotland, Chef Scottish Francis (known as the “Banksy of Bakers”, and crowned the “Donut King” by Chef Gordon Ramsey himself) has brought his treasured family recipes to the states and given them a contemporary NYC twist. 

Working alongside his wife and Co-Founder Christine, as well as their two Italian Greyhounds, Hamlet & Midnight, they carry on the family legacy to share their passion for shortbread with you.”

Support for LGBTQ+ Causes

Francis Legge publicly identifies as a member of the LGBTQ+ community. He and his wife actively support LGBTQ+ causes. During Pride Month, they contribute to the Stonewall Gives Back initiative each year.

Legge expressed hope that viewers of Snack vs. Chef would enjoy the show and support Netflix's dedication to LGBTQ+ awareness. He aims to provide a positive example as an openly LGBTQIA+ chef succeeding in the culinary world.

—This article was written, restructured, or adapted by Russell with information gathered from sources around the internet. Russell is the producer of Amber Live and is greatly overworked to pull it all together.  If it’s on the internet, it must be true. (We’re kidding.) BUT, if you find any errors or omissions in the article, please let us know so that we may correct the issue. Thanks for your support!