Did you know Rachel comes from W.A.?

Masterchef Recap – 30 May 2011

The Blue Team are relaxed as we join them in Margaret River lingering in bathrobes over breakfast pastries and discussing the singing kookaburra’s. 

Rachel is excited to be wearing chef’s whites for the first time.  Especially because they are still in W.A. and she’s from W.A….

Matt Preston announces the move “from the mine to the vines” as the Blue Team gathers in the vineyard to learn the rules for the “Double Shot at Immunity” challenge, where the winner will have a chance at an Immunity Pin as well as being safe from elimination for a whole week.  It will be an Invention Test.  But instead of one ingredient for all, everyone will get their own core ingredient.

The ingredients are unveiled.  Nine are pretty much what you would expect – beautiful local proteins, but as ever a twist – ostrich eggs.

Time to draw for ingredients.  Today’s novelty mechanism is numbers under wine bottle lids.

Jay starts and gets what he’d hoped for – marron. Billy gets veal, Dani scallops, Adam lobster and Ellie pork.  Five down and still no ostrich egg.  Kumar would be happy with anything but the ostrich egg – so of course that’s what he draws.  This could be a big problem.  When he first saw it, he was expecting a dinosaur to come out!

Rachel has lamb.  Credit Analyst (and former vegetarian) Sun gets venison.  George helps out with some advice “I’d focus on cooking it beautifully.”  Thanks George.  Michael gets the goat which leaves Peter with crab.

We meet the local executive chef who likes “his food to sing to him.”  He generously allows the contestants 5 minutes to pick some veggies from his organic kitchen garden before the 60 minutes to cook commences.

Kumar opens his egg with a machete.  Rachel is amazed at how much white is in the egg.  Kumar (presumably relieved that no dinosaur jumped out) now thinks it was like watching a child being born.  We just thought it looked like a big egg.  After discussion with the judges Kumar ditches his frittata idea and opts to make egg nets.

Jay breaks down his marrons, tying the tails to spoons.  To make completely sure they don’t escape he also locks these in an esky. Michael is poaching his goat fillet in olive oil and Rachel thinks she’d “have to pour arsenic on the lamb to make it taste disgusting.”  StKildaFlaneur can think of something else he wishes she would do with that arsenic.

George enlightens everyone by advising “today is all about winning.”  The scriptwriters are having another bad day as he continues…”30 minutes to go – boom, boom, shake those vines.”

Meanwhile Sun is worried about stuffing up her Venison – “there are a thousand ways it could go wrong.” But she knows to get double immunity, “cooking well isn’t good enough – you have to be the best.”  Sound’s like she’s been listening to George.

Kumar is having trouble with his egg nets, which appear to be omelettes with holes in them, and Rachel reminds us again we are in W.A. and she’s from W.A. Time is running out and Gary tells everyone “it’s time to plate up the fruits of your labour.”

Onto tasting.

Rachel’s up first.  Her overcooked lamb and unpeeled roasted beetroot disappoints. Next is Jay’s “Garden of Marron” – poached with baby vegetables.  He has “remained true to the marron.”  Peter is having doubts about whether he is good enough, but his mountain of crab has been cooked spectacularly.  We wait to see how Sun as a recent ex vegetarian has done with the venison – “the most meaty of all meats.” The verdict is “good job.” Simple and precise, only lacking a killer sauce.

Kumar approaches with the much anticipated ostrich egg net with roasted garden vegetables.  George “likes it, but doesn’t love it.” Gary says he loves it, but sounds half hearted. Adam, Ellie, Billy and Dani are in and out in 60 seconds. Adams lobster bisque lacked flavour, Ellie’s pork would have been better with more crackling, Billy distracted from and didn’t add to his veal, and Dani is in trouble with George for slicing a scallop.

Only Michael’s goat in white wine sauce remains.  We suspect it will be good.  It is.  George pronounces the olive oil poached goat as spectacular and feels Michael could win the competition.  The judges concur that two dishes are in the frame but one stands out.  The two mates Jay and Michael are summonsed forward. Each of them respects but fears the other.  They would each love a crack at immunity.  Tomorrow night Jay will get another chance.

Once Upon A Time In The West

Masterchef Recap – 29 May 2011

Morning in the Masterchef House.  Craig is sitting in a darkened room playing a cello. Hayden is out for his morning run.  Everyone else seems to be waiting in the kitchen.  On his return Hayden spots an envelope by the front door.  Only half an hour to pack before heading to the airport.  As the contestants frantically throw clothes into suitcases we think it was lucky Hayden went for that run!

At the departure gate they discover they are off to Perth, but we already know this is not the final destination.  Transferring to a chartered flight, they find themselves in "the middle of nowhere."  Onto a bus and we are fortunate there is a helicopter standing by to track them as they head to a big hole in the ground – the Sunrise Dam goldmine.

Waiting at the bottom of the pit are the judges.  Matt Preston in jeans, workshirt and cravat looking like an actor in a bad western. The “hardest Masterchef Challenge ever set” is then explained – two teams, 24 hours and 1,350 meals for 450 hungry miners who will decide the winner. The successful team will be off to Margaret River for two days of pampering.  The losers are condemned to another shift in the mines kitchen before a dreaded Elimination Challenge.

Teams are divided. Blue to the left,  Red to the right.  Finally the moment we are waiting for: Mining Theme Rev Up #1.  Gary obliges – “Guys, we have dug you a great blooming hole.  Your job is to dig your way out!”

Leadership groups are selected.  Blue captain Jay chooses Dani as his deputy.  Red team captain Danielle appoints Kate as vice-captain.  Jay soon has some white board action going as each team member gets 2 minutes to pitch their ideas.  Potatoes – gratin or mashed? As menu planning continues we discover “food is important to the miners – they wouldn’t be happy if there was no food.”

By now we have heard (more than once) that Rachel is from W.A. and her hubby was a miner at this very mine for 10 years.  She’s even eaten in the canteen before.  She’s very excited to discover a photo of him on the wall – but why is he standing in a rubbish bin?

Kumar has started on a big Curry – 35 kg’s of meat has gone in.  Danielle is completely stressed but using it in a good way.  Time for Mining Theme Rev Up #2.  This time from George – “You guys need to work faster or this mine isn’t going to get blasted with your food!”  Hmmm – we think perhaps not the greatest effort from the scriptwriters there.

Stress is building. Someone turned off the curry.  Sun suspects Danielle, but we learn it was Kumar. Meanwhile Danielle burns her chicken cacciatore, and she just wants to get out of the kitchen.  Gary suggests a solution – pulling out the burnt bits. Dani’s broccoli gets the thumbs down. Gary thinks it’s only suitable for giraffes at the zoo.  Jay makes the decision that it has to go.

10 minutes after the doors open for dinner (like the gates at the MCG) the blue team is out of spuds and the hungry miners are “motoring through the pork.” Both teams race to supplement their menu’s with barramundi out of the freezer.  The Blue Team elects to serve theirs fried in batter, whilst the Red Team is grilling to order.  The miners are however getting sashimi, with both teams putting out raw fish.  As service comes to an end Matt Preston thinks the voting is daunting “they could be voting for red or for blue.”

Jay discovers no one is rostered to clean up.  This was Dani’s job so he heads off to wake her up.  Dani decides Rachel should do it.  Rachel tells us that when she learned she had to clean the kitchen by herself she was “so angry at Dani” – perhaps because there is no one to listen to her stories about how she comes from W.A. and her hubby was a miner.

Prepping for breakfast starts at 11.30 pm.  Ellie feels that the Blue Team is not very organised, they don’t know what’s on the menu. After a while it dawns on everyone that there is no menu.  They’d obviously run out of room on the white board to decide on this earlier.  It’s then Dani’s turn to go and wake Jay up, whose “face is all scrunched up” and Dani thinks he’s delirious.  This does not diminish his inspirational leadership as he instructs Dani to “look at the Red Teams board and match it”.  Dani thinks they are in “deep trouble.” This is hardly surprising when they’ve “been thrown a million hurdles.”

Breakfast is scheduled for 4.30 am but miners start arriving at 4.00.  As well as eating breakfast they will make their own lunches from ingredients provided.  The Blue Team gets food into the bain marie’s but the Red Team is lagging.  Kate forgets to dress her salads, but we know that’s not all shes’s forgotten as miners search in vain for the advertised porridge.  Discovering her error Kate is not concerned – she doesn’t think it will be a “big game changer.”  

Jay returns and does what he normally does – gets busy with some pig meat, experimenting with deep fried bacon.  Normally calm Gary is not impressed, mistaking Jay for Matt and calling him a cowboy!  We then get shots of Jay’s sad curled up bacon contrasted against Mat’s delicious oven roasted alternative.

Suddenly we are back at the air strip.  On one side the chartered plane awaits.  On the other the bus back to the mine.  Matt tells us 1,350 votes have been cast (obviously voting is compulsory at W.A. mine sites) and the contestants “hopes are on a knife’s edge” – there is only 20 votes in it.  Voting differentials between the teams was 40 for dinner, 124 for breakfast and 64 for lunch.  Quickly digesting these numbers we can calculate that the team that won breakfast also won the challenge.  It’s the Blue Team.  We leave them sipping champagne in Margaret River.  

30 Second Masterchef: Silver Foil & Sugar – Just Add Flame

Masterchef Recap – 26 May 2011

As befits the imminent Elimination Challenge a funereal mood permeates the Masterchef House as the Blue Team don their black aprons, board the black SUV’s and proceed to the Masterchef Kitchen.

Dani spots the 10 benches and correctly surmises they will all be cooking.

Recalling the nipper challenge George announces its time to “plant a flag in the sand and say I’m here to win! Prove it to us, but above all prove it to yourself!”

Hayden declines using his Immunity Pin and Matt Preston makes it clear “if you go home today, you’re gone for good.” He goes on to explain it will be a skills race or “the race of your life,” in 75 minutes they must demonstrate sequentially four pastry skills before serving up a dish of their choice.

The skills in order – sponge, custard, toffee and ganache. Contestants putting up the best of each of these elements and the overall dish will be safe.  To make it even tougher only the recipe for the sponge will be provided.  Reflecting on the prohibition on multi-tasking Sun is scared.

Peter is having technical trouble as his egg whites “just aren’t peaking up” his concern is amplified as “everyone is going to see I’m in trouble – I know nothing about deserts!”  Peter continues to slip behind – “the egg whites are just not progressing.”  He makes a decision to bin the first attempt.  Starting again from scratch his eggs are soon “looking glossy.”

With sponges into the oven the leaders are moving onto the next element.  As Matt explains “it’s all about how the custard performs on the plate and how we relate to it.” Taking this on board Peter is planning a baked custard which he wants to use as a “construction element.”

Sun is having a bad day.  Her first attempt at toffee hass crystallised. The sponge is wobbly and her custard tastes like cornflour.  She fears she has “cooked herself into a corner.”

Meanwhile Andrew doesn’t want to sound arrogant but he makes great ganaches.  Having never made a ganache before Sun’s world of pain continues as her first attempt turns into a hard mass.

Eyeing the room the judges can see Cleo has two elements on the go.  She has started her ganache whilst her toffee is still colouring on the stove.  George goes over to investigate. Their eyes meet and she knows she’s been busted! Advised of her error she puts the ganache aside and finishes her toffee.  Picking up where she left off with the ganache instead of starting over, we can only suspect there could be more trouble ahead.

Time is up and a tearful Sun concedes defeat - “in reality I have no hope.”

Matt has seen some cracking dishes, but it’s time to “decide between who stays and who goes.”

Hayden’s great sponge is let down by sugary toffee.  Peter’s “sticky wet sponge, ugly custard” has George lost for words - “wow, I’m speechless.” Billy’s effort is judged “decent.”

Sun approaches with trepidation.  George builds the tension noting “it hangs on this dish and this moment.” Asked to explain her toffee technique we hear about sugar sprinkled onto foil and blasted with a brûlée torch.  George sadly shakes his head “that is so wrong.”  The judges taste and are left wondering. “How can something that was so wrong turn out to be so right?”

Andrew is hoping his “shiny glossy ganache gets him through” and if Kumar survives he will need to spend more time on his deserts.

Soon Cleo is up. After many thoughtful looks the judges decide her penalty.  They will only taste the dishes completed up until her multi-tasking faux pas. This leaves only the sponge and custard. Cleo bravely accepts the consequences of her actions.

Time to decide.  Having not seen Adam, Craig or Dani’s dishes we assume they must be safe. One by one Kumar, Peter, Cleo and Sun are asked to step forward.  Sun is granted a reprieve. She’s made a miracle escape with her glorious toffee.  Everything else was disastrous.

Who has cooked their last dish in the Masterchef Kitchen?  It’s Cleo.

The survivors return to the Masterchef House. As the Red Team learn of highly rated Cleo’s fate the cameras capture looks of shock and devastation.  Craig sums it up “Everyone in the competition will feel the loss of Cleo.”

The Secret Weapon Is....Budgie Smugglers!

Masterchef Recap – 25 May 2011

We begin as is customary in the Masterchef House.  Hayden after swimming laps in his boardies appears to be eating his toast and vegemite in the pool.  The other contestants are lazing around eating and reading the paper except for Dani who is mopping the floor in her pink slippers.

The contestants quickly realise something is up when they discover nothing is set up in the Masterchef Kitchen.  Danielle observes it’s “like the quiet before the storm.” Sure enough we quickly learn tomorrow will bring a team challenge cooking a sausage sizzle with gelato on the side for 500 hungry little nippers at Cronulla beach. The team that makes the most money by 11.30 will win.  Jay clearly doesn’t get about much – he’s “never seen 500 kids in one spot before, let alone cooked for them!”

These nippers must be keen.  Even though the competition isn’t until tomorrow in the cut away shot they already appear to be at the beach!  Craig volunteers to be one captain and selects the blue apron.  He is asked to pick his opponent and chooses Michael whom he considers a worthy adversary. The captains then take turns to select their teams.  First chosen is Professional Lifesaver Hayden.  Craig rationalises that if Hayden takes his shirt off they’ll sell more sausages.  We suspect we’ll be hearing more about this.

Menu’s are designed.  Shopping with the $1,000 allocated to each team is done and two members of each team head off to make gelato overnight.

The camera crew also appears to be working all night capturing the moment when Hayden’s alarm goes off at 5.14 am.  The convoy of SUV’s whisk the contestants to the beach and as the sun rises they set up.

The Red Team (trading as Li’l Red Sharks) has a surprise up its sleeve with a sausage patty and egg sandwich targeted at the early punter. Jay utilising his Used Car Salesman skills is soon spruiking these at $4.50, without much luck, complaining – “mate this is a struggle.”  He resorts to discounting, offering the first five for $2 each and soon has $8 in the till.

We cut back to the teams making gelato to discover they are still stabilising the mix, the first step in the process.  Hang on a minute, didn’t they start this about 8 hours ago?  Ellie and Kate discover they have mixed their ingredients in pounds not kg’s and just bung the extra in right at the end wondering whether “this could cost them the challenge?”

Back at the beach prepping continues.  The Red Team has a sausage machine snafu with the mixture not coming out quickly enough.  With only one sausage produced in 15 minutes Danielle realises it’s “just not good enough, if we keep going at this pace no way will we win this challenge.”  This seems a sound conclusion - with a target of 700 sausages they would be about 7 days late.

The Blue Team (trading as Blue Wave) has a 600 sausage target. Peter is revelling as he “pumps out the sausages” noting how rewarding it is “to turn out something that looks like a sausage.”

Hungry nippers are soon gathering but as yet no snags.  Sun correctly observes “we just need the sausages if we’re ever going to make any money.”  Both teams start selling at about 8.30 as two Pure Gelato delivery vans arrive with their precious cargo.

The Red Team in another initiative quickly has two mobile selling trays doing the rounds of the beach.

Gelato sales are also underway.  Each team with the same offerings – chocolate, vanilla and lemon sorbet.  The Blue Team offers an innovation of its own with a “Blue Wave Special” topped with lollies.  Dani calculates that one point they were selling 30 scoops a minute – that’s one scoop every 2 seconds! - pretty good going for a team of two.

The judges take some time out to sample the fare.  The Red Team sausages are a little dry, but the Blue Teams “Big Ozzie Dog” with onion jam, bacon and cheese gets the big thumbs up.  Onto  ice-cream with the natural flavourings of the Red Team giving it the edge.

Time for Hayden to step it up and launch his plan.  Calling in a favour he is soon on the PA in the surf club extolling the virtues of the Blue Team over the airwaves.  This has a pretty dramatic effect with Peter looking over and seeing “Mat’s head blow off!”  The playing field is soon levelled with Kate negotiating equal loudspeaker time.

But Hayden isn’t finished.  A lady has kindly given him a new pair of Cronulla emblazoned Speedo’s and he’s soon stepped into these, whipped off his apron and shirt and is off chasing kids back to the blue ice-cream cart.  This has some members of the Red Team worried, but Jay maintains his cool noting that he’s “never bought a sausage sandwich because of a dude in his swimmers.”  The last we see of Hayden is him diving into the surf and swimming out to sea.

Time is running out.  It won’t be long until the money is counted and “one team will sizzle and one will burn.” The last fifteen minutes fly past with frenetic discounting continuing right up to the last second with the challenge ending right on 11.30.

The teams assemble for the decision.  They must have called in the auditors to count the money because it now appears to be late afternoon and the beach is almost deserted. Rachel reminds us that “no one wants to be in an elimination - no one wants to go home.”

Matt Moran recaps and we learn that “the Blue Team had the secret weapon – Hayden.”  Craig’s biggest mistake was not deploying him until 9.45.  Will this cost them the win?  The money has been tallied with a total of $4,547 raised for the surf club.  It only remains to announce the winner with $2,434.  It’s the Red Team.  

3 Against 1 Triple Tasting Plate Challenge

Masterchef Recap – 24 May 2011

Another immunity challenge, spiced up with a Masterchef first – three against one!  We know we should be excited because at stake is three immunity pins – “the ultimate lifeline.”

Entering the Masterchef Kitchen to a tumultuous reception is Adam Da Silva, executive chef at Coda.  Immediately raising the stakes Adam tells Peter, Sun and Craig that he’s “come all the way from Melbourne to kick their arses!”

Tonight an Asian influenced “taste of Coda” with a tasting plate trio from Adam’s restaurant:

-          Crisped sweet pork, pomelo, mint and fried wai wai noodle salad;

-          Coffin Bay scallops with pearl tapioca and Yarra Valley salmon caviar;

-          Black pepper ocean trout with green mango and spanner crab salad.

Sun thinks “we could be in real trouble.”  Peter is “filled with dread” at the sight of the ocean trout which he’s never filleted before.  As usual the other contestants are gathered above to observe.  In a strategising session the Masterchef challengers decide to each cook one of the dishes in the 65 minutes allowed.  Unlike earlier challenges however, they will get no head start.

As prepping gets underway, Jay is in awe of Adam who is “going at a 100 miles an hour – he’s a machine!” Jay follows with another insightful observation that he appears to be “using a different technique for each of the elements.”

Meanwhile Dive Shop Owner Adam undertakes a covert mission to spy on Executive Chef Adam’s crispy noodle technique, reporting his findings back to Sun.

Adam comfortably finishes plating up with plenty of time to spare and in what is becoming a visiting celebrity chef trend, magnanimously assists his challengers as they just manage to get their dishes up.

Time for the blind tasting.  

Dish 1 prepared by the challengers is up first.  George is wowed by the presentation, but the scallop is overcooked.  Matt is somewhat disdainful of the “big slab of raw pink fish” but Sun’s pork impresses. The scoring cards are flashed.  7’s all round for a total of 21.     

    

Dish 2 follows, which the viewer knows is Adam’s.  The beautiful presentation is commented on with Gary noting the ocean trout is “just gleaming with sauce.” In a surprising criticism Matt finds the pork a “little bit of a disappointment” No surprises though when Adam scores straight 9’s to romp away with the win 27 to 21.

No need for false enthusiasm from several observing contestants as they express their relief that no immunity pins were gained.

Peter, despite appearing the weakest link in his team, is not discouraged thinking that he couldn’t have had “a more positive experience short of winning.”

We leave with a teaser for tomorrow - yet another shot of Hayden’s butt in his budgie smugglers.

Will It Be A Sweet Victory or Sour Final Note?

Masterchef Recap – 23 May 2011

We begin this elimination challenge in the Masterchef House as Rachel, Ellie and Chelsea each in turn stop their packing to gaze at photo’s of their loved ones.  After a big group hug it’s into the black SUV’s and off to the Masterchef Kitchen.  Must be a slow news morning as the Channel 10 chopper has time to swoop low and follow them over the harbour bridge.

We are met by judges as usual waiting at the front of the work benches.  Matt Preston towering over his colleagues is resplendent in a lime shirt with delicate floral cravat. Gary reminds us that “the very special Masterchef experience will be over for one of you.” The challenge Matt tells us is “the two most scary words in the Masterchef lexicon – a pressure test!”  As we wait to discover the twist we are informed it will be “a pressure test on steroids” – no recipes or ingredients will be provided.  Rachel’s “stomach just drops and she thinks – what?” 

As the tension building music reaches its muted crescendo the cloche is lifted to reveal - Sweet and Sour with Fried Rice!

The biggest dangers we are told is not knowing what the protein is and not having a recipe. Fortunately the contestants have an opportunity to taste.  Rachel starts by licking the batter after which she is “100% confident it’s pork.”  Chelsea observes there is both bacon and Chinese sausage in the rice, whilst Ellie thinks there might be tomato sauce in the sweet and sour.  The girls will have 75 minutes to cook with an open pantry.

Gary then provides the inevitable bad pun asking “will it be a sweet victory or a sour final note?” Meanwhile the other contestants have gathered in the gallery above.  We hear from Danielle who helpfully reiterates for the viewers at home that there will be 75 minutes to cook with an open pantry.

As prepping gets underway Dani observes from above that Chelsea has chosen a basmati rice.  Spoiling the viewers feelings of schadenfreude, regrettably she informs Chelsea of her error.  We then see Ellie boiling up a huge pot of water, eschewing the more traditional absorption method of rice cooking.  To add to the risk of disaster she then washes the cooked rice.

Time for the judges to wander around for a chat.  George asks Chelsea how much she wants to stay in the competition?   She responds passionately “I want it so much, I want it this much!” as she violently stabs her chef’s knife deep into the chopping block (no doubt sending a scare into the OHS observers).  With 30 minutes to go Gary informs us that his “money’s on Ellie.”

Next a tender moment as George brushes flour from Chelsea’s face and counsels that  “you need to trust yourself now,” before posing the rhetorical question to one and all – “how hard would you fight to stay in this competition? The next 15 minutes will tell us!”

Observing keenly from the gallery Danielle thinks Ellie has “gone into meltdown”, whilst Peter thinks Rachel “has lost it.” As plate up time approaches there is time for another inevitable bad pun as George asks – “how is this challenge to end? Will it be sweet or sour?” As the final countdown starts Ellie splashes soy sauce into her rice. In what could prove a prescient observation she wonders “what was I thinking...I think I’ve blown it.”

Time to present to the judges table.  Rachel is up first. Matt studies the dish – “just looking at it, it is a fabulous replica” Tasting the sauce he confirms it is “a note perfect replica.”  Sadly the pork lets the dish down.  Clearly browning before battering and frying was not the way to go.

Ellie is not happy with her fried rice.  Matt admires the “crunchy batter” Gary concurs pronouncing it “crispy gorgeous.”  The sauce is also good.

Finally up is Chelsea who puts up a colourful fried rice but we are wondering where is the rest of the sauce? George manfully hacks through the pork, noting "it is really really tough.”

As we go to a break Gary tells us “it’s a big decision, a tough decision, but one we are here to make.”  Not for the first (nor we suspect the last) time each of the contestants has been let down by a different element of the dish – Rachel’s pork, Ellie’s rice and Chelsea’s sauce. 

Judgement time as the three girls assemble for the decision.  Just time for a final round of teary sound-bites as Rachel and Ellie talk about their families and we learn about the lots of hurdles Chelsea has been getting over. 

Rachel is pronounced safe.  The final word goes to Gary – “Chelsea, I’m sorry you’re out.”

Smoked Octopus With Lemon Cheesecake Anyone?

Masterchef Recap 22 May 2011

It’s been 71 hours since the Masterchef Dream ended for Seamus, so it is with much anticipation we await the start of a new week of Masterchef Australia.

Not much happening in the Masterchef House this morning, apart for Kumar reading the paper, so without further ado we find ourselves in the Masterchef Kitchen. 

Matt Preston welcomes the contestants hoping that everyone has “a fresh head and a full tank” and announces it will be a team challenge.  Cut to looks of shock on the contestants faces which is confirmed by Ellie “that’s a bit of a shock I definitely didn’t see that coming.”

60 seconds are granted to form seven teams of three, then it’s over to George to explain the challenge – “a cooking lucky dip” in the form of a pressure test combining a single ingredient mystery box and a specified cooking technique.  Nervous laughter as we realise this could throw up some shocking combinations.

Time to see what’s in store.

First up is Sun, Peter & Craig who to much relief draw pork and to gasps of surprise a technique of en papillote – goodness “pork in a bag!”

Next we have Arena, Alana & Kate – who get lamb and frying. Adam, Billy and Kumar select another classic combination of roast venison.

Surely this lucky run can’t continue and sure enough Chelsea, Ellie and Rachel get a shocker – smoked octopus!  After a stunned silence Ellie turns up her nose and observes that this “seems absolutely ridiculous!”  Quickly following this is another unusual combination of scallops and braising to be cooked by Mat, Shannon and Andrew.

With only two combinations left Michael, Hayden and Jay are next up.  Lifting the mystery box lid we discover a beautiful snapper.  Asked what technique he is hoping for Jay thinks perhaps poaching.  He could be in luck.  Matt confirms this is one of the remaining techniques.  The cloche is lifted and we have en croute Jay has absolutely no idea what this means but guesses that “it sounds French.”

We know that Cleo, Dani and Danielle will be poaching it only remains to discover it is the little known squab.

With 75 minutes on the clock and only a 15 minute open pantry there is furious activity as it appears the objective is to transfer all that beautiful produce and quality ingredients to the workbenches.  Ellie sums this up “we all just grabbed anything we could see.”  All too soon that big grey pantry door with the Masterchef motif is sliding closed and locking resolutely.

Next is a blur as the cooking is underway.  Matt Moran offers a demonstration of en papillote effortlessly creating a delicate bundle. Peter suggests an alternate approach which has George muttering “I know what I’d do,” sowing some seeds of doubt.

Onto the tricky octopus challenge.  George confirms that smoking following by braising will work, but doesn’t think a tomato sauce is the way to go for preserving the smoked flavour, so wisely the girls get busy on a red wine braising liquid.  Meanwhile the smoking is underway with Rachel poking away at some giant tentacle chunks.  Time is running out.  Need to get it into the pressure cooker. 

Time for a glimpse of Mat working delicately with some zucchini flowers which he plans to stuff with a black pudding and scallop mousse.      

The lambs fry girls are planning a stuffed lamb cutlet.  Both George and Matt Moran think this is interesting...neither of them have had a stuffed cutlet before.

Dani is working on a sauce for the squab.  Cleo thinks it’s too oily and Dani agrees that it is disgusting. 

With five minutes to go George reminds everyone what’s at stake and issues the instruction to plate up “three perfect portions of your perfect dish.”

Time to find out how they fared.

First up we have the en papillote team who serve up delicate paper parcels of minced pork balls and pork belly.  As Matt Preston opens the bag we know he likes it “wow, what a beautiful and pleasant surprise” noting that it is ”already a contender for dish of the day” – I guess it helps being the only dish sampled thus far!

Onto the lamb.  We learn from Ellie walking up to the judges with a pan fried stuffed lamb cutlet and deep fried brain that her “heart is pounding so hard.”  Sadly Matt Moran “didn’t get the overcooked lamb chop” fortunately George thinks the lamb’s brain is better than his mum’s.

Michael is “sweating bullets” as the en croute pastry enclosed snapper with boudin blanc (white pork sausage made without blood) is put up.  The boys look glum as the fish in pronounced as being a little overcooked, and “missing the grandeur from the central combination.”

Next we have poached squab on a bed of lentils with a squab sausage.  It looks a little pink.  Whilst Matt Preston notes that chef’s just love cooking squab “very, very, very rare” for him it was just too raw.

Four tasted and three to go, as the braised scallops with black pudding and scallop mousse in zucchini flowers is presented.  A “brilliant idea” opines Matt Preston.

Adam is supremely confident “It has to be something pretty special to beat us today” as the roast venison with celeriac puree is tasted.  George doesn’t like the “vegemite sauce” and “raw red wine” but fortunately the venison was “beautifully cooked.”

Finally the dish we are all waiting for – smoked octopus with lemon and ricotta served on pasta. Chelsea “hopes it tastes good, because it sure as hell doesn’t look good!”  The smokiness comes through but Matt Moran thinks there are three elements which “just don’t talk to each other.”

Time for judging.  Best dish of the day goes to one of the hardest combinations with Sun, Peter and Craig triumphing with their pork parcels. They can look forward to a triple immunity challenge.

The final word before judging of the worst dish goes to Ellie who firmly states “I’m not going home, I’m just not!” before the screen bursts into flames for the final time.  Well tomorrow morning she will be packing her bag for the elimination challenge together with Rachel and Chelsea. The biggest problem wasn’t the octopus but the choices. Hard Man Matt Moran is scathing in his criticism noting “the lemon and ricotta flavours could have been mistaken for a cheesecake!”

Ellie’s “confidence is on the floor” and Chelsea has a few tears before some consoling words from George as the girls leave arm in arm.

Just enough time remaining for a teaser for the coming week – looks like we’re going to see lifeguard Hayden in his budgie smugglers!

It’s every man for himself – and one of them will be going home!

Masterchef Recap – 19 May 2011

It’s morning in the Masterchef house and today we see Hayden enjoying a smoothie.  After hours waiting in the wardrobe the film crew are rewarded bycapturing vision of Jay waking up. 

Soon the sponsors black SUV’s pull up at the Masterchef kitchen and the Boys exit already wearing their black elimination challenge aprons.

The challenge – 3 rounds of cooking with an open pantry.  As Gary explains “It’s time to cook your way back into the competition.”  So far it all seems pretty straightforward, surely there must be a twist?  There is...only 10 minutes allowed – the shortest time ever!

It appears the hyperbole baton has been passed to Account Manager Peter who is “looking around the room for bins in case I have to throw up!”  Fortunately he recovers quickly as they “hit the fruit and veg cabinet like a football scrum.”

All too soon it’s time to “step away from the benches.”  Billy and Peter have served up raw prawns.  Michael masters the gooey yolk on his salmon tartare, but IT Tech Support Mat’s meat disasters continue with a split yolk on his steak tartare which judge Matt Moran pronounces as inedible.  Five are safe, but for Peter, Mat, Seamus, Kumar, Billy and Andrew the second pressure test (in which the time limit has generously been increased to 15 minutes) awaits.

Seamus switches from Japanese to Chinese “looking for a dish to tick all the boxes” but after overcooking we see his “flavour base” consigned to the bin.  Andrew thinks he needs “to lift his game” and we get a heart wrenching back story about how six years ago he suffered a major workplace accident “which crushed his soul” – in a week light on for back stories is this a hint that Andrew’s Masterchef dream could almost be over?

Billy’s prawns this time are cooked.  Seamus is missing the required elements and Kumar has used too much ginger.  Andrew’s dish is the last tasted.  Sardines wrapped in prosciutto.  Matt Moran is up to taste, grimacing we seem him quickly turn and spit it out.  Oh no! He didn’t scale the fish!  As Film Projectionist Michael astutely points out “He wasn’t expecting that... imagine scales on the roof of your mouth.  Yuk!”

It’s no surprise then that Andrew’s dish is one of the worst two.  Joining him in the third and final pressure test is Seamus.  As Gary explains “You have only 20 minutes to take charge of your Masterchef dream!”   And we are underway with Gary shouting “We’ll keep our eyes on the clock.  You keep your eyes on the prize.”  Seamus is redoing his stir fried snapper, whilst Andrew is keeping it simple with a steak.  As we watch them go at it (“high pressure cooking at it’s best" according to Matt) we can only wonder at Andrew’s choice of cut....a sad skinny looking piece of meat.  Suddenly a surprise Seamus back story where we learn he has given up his graphic design business for the competition – a little less dramatic than Andrew’s crushed soul.

The finale approaches as the dishes are presented to the judges.  Andrew claims he has cooked the steak “medium well” to bring out the marbling.  Hmmm says Gary, thinking this is just an excuse.  As it turns out some of the steak is well done whilst other parts are medium rare.  The aoli is however “beautiful” allowing Andrew a glimmer of hope.  We don’t hear much about Seamus’s snapper except that it is lacking some soy.

Judgement time and a shock decision.  Seamus is out.  The aoli was the hero of the day.

Everything's On Fire!

Masterchef Recap – 18 May 2011

After Jay’s leaky steak and kidney pie last night scuttled his chance at immunity, tonight we are back to serious business.

First to the Masterchef house, where we watch Hayden brush his teeth before everyone gathers in the kitchen, whilst Kate checks the mail.  Opening the envelope she breathlessly announces that they have to be at the Mean Fiddler pub in an hour.

A team challenge is announced -Boys vs Girls. The teams are tasked with designing and cooking a 7 item short order menu.  Jay thinks “this is going to be mental...a massive task.”  A thought shared by Dani who surprises no one by announcing “the last thing I want to be facing is elimination.”

Before long we are underway and prepping.  Journalist Alana shows her inexperience by causing a huge fire when she loads the fatty steak offcuts for her stock onto the charcoal grill.  Just when we think this fire can’t get any worse the entire TV screen erupts into flames! 

After we return from the ad break we hear from Cellist Craig who “sees a huge fire and thinks great, I’m going to die in the Mean Fiddler.”  We don’t get to hear what Dive Shop Owner Adam thinks – we can only hope he hasn’t had another heart attack!

George solemnly announces that “one of you is at the beginning of the end” encouraging everyone to “cook to survive.”  Then the bell rings and service is underway, soon descending into chaos which Ellie tells us is “absolutely mental.”  George tries to bring some order after observing that it’s “the noisiest kitchen in my life – it’s like a circus!”  Dani is clearly worried, reiterating “we don’t want to be in an elimination, it’s a disaster – I think we’re in a bit of strife.”  Crikey, things are starting to get intense.

Onto the judges table for tasting.  George doesn’t like the Boys salad which was mainly “bits of flaccid carrot” but he saves his most scathing criticism for the Girls onion jus – “that is a disgrace, they should have listened to me.”  Gary also thinks the steak is a disaster.

So what was good?  Favourable comments were made about Jay’s pork belly and scallops, Dani’s salt and pepper prawns and Kumar’s smashed pav.  Kate’s burger was also a ripper.

All too soon it’s time for the decision.  We know this one is going to be mighty close.  And the win goes to the GIRLS! 

So one of the Boys will be the next one to leave the Masterchef kitchen.  The final words of the evening go to Matt announcing that tomorrow night will see the “most intense rapid fire challenge ever.”  Should be awesome.      

Breaking News: Alex's New Dream!

It has been reported that machinist Alex's next challenge is to design an "automated cooking machine" which based on his blue print will be the "ultimate cooking aid" in "the kitchen of the future".  As patents don't come cheap Alex has put his house on the market to finance his new dream.

Why hasn't anyone thought of this before?  An automated cooking machine!  Who could imagine.  Could this spell the end of the open fire?

 

Bombes Away!

Masterchef Recap 16 May 2011

This elimination challenge is announced as a pressure test.  The cloche is lifted and it’s to be a Cherry and Coconut Bombe Alaska.  After back story’s for all, Ellie observes that “it’s going to be a tricky challenge” Alex concurs “it’s definitely going to be a challenge.”  We are left wondering what Billy thinks.  

As we await the time clock starting its 2 hour countdown Matt observes “it’s the day every contestant dreads when the future hangs by a thread.”  We just know someone is about to have their “dreams shattered.”

As the cooking gets underway, the other contestants offer support and advice from the mezannine gallery.  Alex scrambles the eggs in his ice-cream and Billy forgets the flour for his sponge.  Meanwhile Ellie is so under control she has time to lick the meringue off the beaters. 

As Alex battles against the odds to put up his dish, Dive Shop Owner Adam watching from the gallery announces he’s “going to need a heart transplant” obviously after missing a soundbite yesterday despite his impressive work station inferno he’s feeling the need to “lift it to another level.”

First up to the judges table is Ellie.  George thinks it "looks too good to eat", with “every element being spot on.”

Alex approaches “carrying his fate on a plate.”  Having failed to remember that “time management is everything” he is now “paying the price.”  The judges astutely observe that he has failed to achieve sponge / sorbet separation, however the silky smooth glossy meringue could yet save the day.

Billy arrives after “expressing himself with some quirky twists” (also known as failing to follow the recipe).  George doesn’t like the sponge and disturbingly sponge can be sighted through Billy’s off recipe expressive meringue twirls.  All judges are impressed by his smooth ice-cream. 

As we build up to the finale, our expectations are confirmed.  Ellie is safe!  Leaving the Masterchef kitchen today will be either Alex or Billy.  Gary drops a bombshell announcing “it all comes down to the dish you cooked today.”   Will Alex’s silky meringue with the beautiful sheen see him through or will Billy’s smooth ice-cream prevail?  All too soon the suspense is over.  Being an ice-cream desert Billy prevails and Alex is out!

As he departs we are reassured (despite the fact he has consistently demonstrated an inability to cook) that “he’s not going to let it stand in the way of his dreams.”

Off screen the production crew dash for the chopper to ensure we don’t miss that final ariel shot of Alex crossing the harbour bridge in the sponsors black SUV. Cut to the Masterchef house where we find the remaining contestants expectantly awaiting the return of the elimination survivors. Hang on a minute, didn’t we just see them up in the gallery watching the elimination?  I guess they must have been in the chopper!