MasterChef NZ contestant quits, as praise from Marco Pierre White not enough

Ben Sheehan has walked out of the MasterChef NZ competition.

A MasterChef NZ contestant who shocked judges, competitors and viewers by walking out on the TV3 reality show says he has "zero regrets" about his decision.

Ben Sheehan, a top eight competitor, left the show at the beginning of last night's elimination episode, despite being told by a top chef in a recent challenge that he deserved to be in the top two.

Ben Sheehan leaves the MasterChef kitchen.

The 26-year-old Auckland marketing manager told the judges he didn't like the competitive environment and was ready to go home.

"Over the last couple of weeks I've come to the realisation that the MasterChef competition isn't for me ... I'm hanging up my apron," he told the show's three shocked judges.

"For myself, cooking is all about relaxation and the competitive nature of this competition isn't for me. I'm ready to go home."

Ben Sheehan has walked out of the MasterChef NZ competition.

In a new blog post, Sheehan said cooking held a special place in his heart and he didn't want it to become "a daily grind".

"In tonight's episode I was down, missing home, missing normality, frustrated, tired of being cooped up, and over the competition. I couldn't see sticking it out to the end as an option. Leaving after the high of working with Marco, on my own terms, was something I was happy to do," he wrote.

"Most of all, in my six weeks in the MasterChef house, I realised what cooking is to me - and it holds a special place - not something I want to turn into the daily grind.

"So, after weeks of thought, playing out all possible scenarios, countless discussions with Tam, pros and cons lists, I left.

"To this day ... I have zero regrets about my decision. Walking out those studio doors was a huge weight off my shoulders."

Man, I am so so so humbled by the support. Thank you, wonderful #masterchefnz fans x

— Ben Sheehan (@SheehanSays) September 7, 2015

Sheehan had earned the praise of chef Marco Pierre White during a tough restaurant challenge.

Marco Pierre White had praised Ben's efforts in the kitchen.

White said Sheehan had, "stayed solid and delivered from the start to the finish".

After leaving the show, Sheehan said he wanted to go while he was on top.

"I don't see myself as better than four or five people here," he said. "I didn't want to end up presenting a dish that was terrible.

"I'd rather go out on this high."

Sheehan's walk out didn't stop another contestant from being eliminated during the episode, which saw Nadia Lim appear as a guest judge for a challenge involving the creation of a potential My Food Bag dish.

While Gemma Wynne-Lewis' pork chop with parmesan polenta was crowned the winner, Lily Brown's Moroccan venison with spiced plum salad had "a tad too much going on" and she was sent home.

Gemma.

Lily.

Six contestants remain in the running for the MasterChef NZ title.

- nzherald.co.nz