Masterchef Recap – 2 June 2011
Dawn breaks over the Masterchef House on the day of another Elimination Challenge. Andrew gazes at the Masterchef symbol for what we know could be the last time. In a brief backstory we learn more about the work place incident that “crushed his soul” - apparently a bus was involved.
Meanwhile Kumar who is entering his fourth Elimination Challenge remains calm, practising tai chi by the waterfront. In a nice piece of juxtaposition the cameraman captures the alignment of Kumars head with a sacred Buddha image. We don’t yet know it, but this is a link to a theme.
Hayden is for once sedentary and in a sombre mood. He knows “someone’s not coming home.”
As Andrew and Kumar don their aprons, we see last night’s winners Billy and Shannon about to board a chopper to whisk them off to their reward Private Masterclass. Soon they are flying over Sydney’s northern beaches. We know this because there is a second chopper filming their flight.
Andrew and Kumar enter the Masterchef Kitchen and in step approach the judges. Their fate is to be decided by one dish. It’s “make or break.” A pot is produced. Kumar is bending over it sniffing at the lid. Soon even the other contestants viewing from the gallery above are sniffing the air. We can only imagine what it will be like when the lid is whipped off, which soon occurs to astonished gasps….it’s a Massaman Curry! But we learn it’s not a great one. In fact it’s a bad one. It’s a “Fix That Dish” challenge.
Each will have eight steps to add a single ingredient and ten minutes each time to progress the dish. Once used an ingredient cannot be used again. They will undertake each step sequentially. Before starting its time to taste. It’s a soupy horrible mess – one of the worst things Andrew has tasted in his life. Kumar thinks the meat is as tough as old boots.
Who will have the edge? It should be Kumar with his Sri Lankan background and love of curries, but he’s never cooked a Massaman before. Andrew, looking smug boasts he makes it all the time - even making his paste from scratch. He sums up the challenge – “I just have to beat Kumar.”
The Massaman style of curry arrived in Siam with the first Persian envoy to the Court of Ayuthyia, Sheik Amed, in the 16th century. It is the most complex and time consuming Thai curry to make – but we digress.
Let’s see how it unfolds as the mind games begin. Kumar wins the toss and elects to start.
Kumar #1 – blitzes some cashew nuts which he reserves
We hear from Peter who recounts that Kumar is known in the Masterchef House as “the Panther” – you never know when he’ll pounce!
Andrew #1 – Adds turmeric to his sauce.
Kumar #2 – Blitzes some shallots to a paste. Tactically he’s telling Andrew nothing.
Andrew #2 – Selects some ginger, preferring this over galangal, which has some heads shaking.
Kumar #3 – Galangal
Andrew #3 – Shallots
Kumar #4 – Coriander root
Andrew #4 – Shallots – for sweetness
Four steps down, four to go. Andrew finally puts his meat back into the sauce. Matt likes Andrew’s sauce. Gary likes Kumar’s sauce.
Upstairs the others have realised there’s a couple of core elements that are yet to appear.
The boys are soon matching each other every step of the way.
Kumar #5 – Lime for acidity, but could it be too early?
Andrew #5 – Palm sugar
Kumar #6– Palm sugar
Andrew #6 – Fish sauce
Kumar #7 – Fish sauce
Andrew #7 – Limes. At this point Andrew is supremely confident. Doesn’t think he’ll bother with an eighth step.
Kumar #8– With only one step remaining, Kumar’s in turmoil. Really doesn’t know what he should do. He doesn’t want to put a foot wrong. Finally he opts for coconut cream playing safe.
Andrew #8 – Decides to add another ingredient after all - coconut cream.
As the dishes are brought forward to the judges, Andrew realises he’s forgotten the potato (hasn’t yet remembered that he also forgot the peanuts). But didn’t he tell us he makes this all the time? He remains positive commenting that Kumar’s dish looks “pale and porridgy.”
What will Matt and George think?
Andrew’s meat is dry but the sauce nicely reduced. There are “big vibrant gutsy flavours.”
For Kumar his ground cashews add creaminess but also an unexpected texture. The meat is tender but the real issue is that “squeaky texture.”
It’s going to be a close one. The curry that Matt would most like to eat is Kumar’s, whilst Gary would rather eat Andrew’s. But they need to decide who has done the best job. It’s Kumar – he’s captured the creaminess and oiliness and cooked his meat right.
Right now Andrew is feeling “a real sense of loss but no regrets.”
As Kumar once again walks back into the Masterchef House, Shannon is “mortified that Andrew’s not back.” Kate can’t help but feel disappointed for Andrew because “he especially wanted to be in the competition.”
The last we see of Andrew he’s stroking his cat as he ponders a search for a job in a commercial kitchen.
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