Nagi Maehashi, the founder of the popular RecipeTin Eats website, publicly defended her head chef, JB Alexandre, after a fan criticized his French recipe for Tartiflette. The incident, which Maehashi described as her first experience with "online politics," led her to issue a strong statement defending Alexandre and setting boundaries for feedback on the platform.
The fan, identified as Sophie, commented on Alexandre's Tartiflette recipe, expressing a preference for recipes with more widely available ingredients in Australia and lamenting a perceived shift away from adaptable, Asian-inspired dishes. Sophie wrote, "I'm not a fan of the recipes that call for a bunch of French cheeses not easily available in Aus, or the dismissive 'other'. I remember the days when they were all based on stuff easily available in most supermarkets and local grocers... No more :(. The last thing we need is more orthodox French recipes, but here we are."
Maehashi responded directly to Sophie's comment, labeling it "dismissive" and "disrespectful" towards Alexandre. She stated, "We welcome opinions, but please remember there is a real person behind every recipe here who has put considerable effort and care into sharing recipes we love, for people’s use, for free." Maehashi emphasized that Alexandre is that person and that she took offense at the tone of the comment. She added that while constructive and polite feedback is appreciated and shapes their content, disrespect towards recipe creators is not tolerated.
Maehashi also pointed to the positive reception of Alexandre's recipes, citing "astounding" traffic stats and feedback on dishes ranging from simple apple cake to complex soufflés. She asserted that while the recipes may not be to everyone's taste, they are clearly beloved by the majority, are successful, and are "bloody delicious." She concluded by expressing her privilege in having someone of Alexandre's expertise share recipes with RecipeTin Eats.
Alexandre also shared his feelings about the criticism, stating that Sophie's comment had upset him for a couple of days. He acknowledged that while feedback on ingredient availability is fair, the phrasing "no more, but here we are" felt like a jab at years of recipes rather than constructive feedback, which bothered him. He noted that all opinions are welcome, but the abrupt tone caught him off guard.
Maehashi later elaborated on the situation via Instagram, explaining that she "unleashed her inner tiger mum" because the tone of the comment crossed a line. She reiterated that while they encourage opinion and constructive criticism, which has influenced their content, the nature of this particular comment was unacceptable.
This is not the first time Maehashi has been involved in a public dispute. In 2025, she had a notable feud with cookbook author Brooke Bellamy, whom she accused of plagiarizing two recipes, caramel slice and baklava. Bellamy denied the allegations, and her publisher also rejected the claims, stating the recipes were her own creations. The Tartiflette recipe incident marks a different kind of online engagement for RecipeTin Eats, highlighting the founder's protective stance towards her team.