MasterChef judge George Calombaris pulls rabbit meat from his restaurants Judge George Calombaris from the Channel Ten (10) TV program MasterChef Australia. Calombaris meets with protest group Agrees to stop serving rabbit in his restaurants "We cannot ask for a better outcome," say protesters MasterChef judge George Calombaris will stop serving rabbit meat in his restaurants under an agreement struck with animal welfare protesters last month. Activist group Freedom for Farmed Rabbits protested outside Calombaris' flagship Melbourne restaurant The Press Club on January 18, citing the "promotion" of rabbit meat on Channel Ten's MasterChef. Calombaris then met with representatives from the group on January 29 and agreed to an indefinite moratorium on the use of rabbit meat in his restaurants. "We cannot ask for a better outcome for rabbits in cages everywhere," said lead protester Jack Styles in a congratulatory email distributed to supporters of the campaign. This sends a clear message to rabbit farms that society will not tolerate animal cruelty and the demand for rabbit flesh is diminishing. Lauren Calleja, spokeswoman for The Press Club, says the restaurant has not served rabbit meat since last year, but Calombaris was keen to address the protesters' concerns. "George won't put rabbit back on the menu until he has personally inspected the conditions at the suppliers," she said, though Calombaris' busy schedule could forestall such an inspection for some time. Ms Calleja said the meeting was a chance for both parties to sit down "one on one" and better understand each other. Mr Styles had started a petition on change.org, asking Calombaris "to cease supporting and profiting off animal cruelty" and claiming that public exposure for rabbit meat on MasterChef had led to an expansion of the rabbit farming industry. The petition gathered 12,251 signatures, and Calombaris took notice. "Upon being made aware of the cruelty and conditions behind the hidden industry of rabbit farming in Australia, [Calombaris] did not feel that it was suitable to continue serving rabbit meat at any of his restaurants," Mr Styles told the petition's supporters. Ms Calleja strenuously denied the assertion that Calombaris had ever promoted rabbit meat on MasterChef, but she stressed that the meeting with Freedom for Farmed Rabbits had been respectful and productive.