Previous Episode: MasterChef Australia: All Stars – Sausage Sizzle Challenge
It’s not like they haven’t done one of these before- MasterChef’s most beloved challenges. The humble mystery box is back- but who will win those glorious dollars for their charity?
The contestants head back to that kitchen to participate, and it isn’t long before they realise what they’re going to be doing.
Mystery Box Ingredients: Inside are ingredients from past MasterChef favourites (in terms of guest chefs). Rick Stein (Crab), Heston Blumenthal (Dry Ice), Jamie Oliver (Chillies), Nigella Lawson (Lemon), Rene Redzepi (Asparagus), Anthony Bourdain (Sea Urchin), John Torode (Beef) and Michel Roux (Chocolate).
So we have a return of spirit of many past memorable challenges. After winning an advantage yesterday, Team 2010 reveal that they already knew what was under the mystery box. Today, they just have to invent a dish with the ingredients at their disposal. The winning dish will earn their maker $10,000.
Conditions: 60 Minutes cooking time. Staples will be provided.
Progress: The contestants grab their cooking utensils and get into it. Justine wants to show the judges her creative side by creating a crab boudin blanc and a mayonnaise with sea urchin. Dani wants to make a lemon meringue, inspired by Nigella. Jonathan is going to make chocolate ice cream sandwiches. He seems to have a bit of a problem with the ice cream maker. He’s made a right mess.
Poh will be making a lemon stuffed crepe with some crab custard. Hmm, sounds quite interesting. Poh’s custards don’t go to plan and she has to make another batch. Not good, but she seems composed. Meanwhile, Kumar is doing a modern seafood cocktail! He wants to think out of the box.
Kate is making a chocolate and chilli terrine. Watch out, Kate. Remember what happened last time your year had to make a terrine? Hmm.
Marion is doing a crab soufflé while Hayden is doing a whacky take on surf n turf including sea urchin ice cream! Meanwhile, Julie is nervous as she makes her tortellini. Having not watched the show in 2009, I’m surprised to see that John Torode actually made an appearance back then. Gary and George are a little concerned for her, but she seems happy enough.
With 30 minutes to go, Kumar is going along nicely with his ice cream. He’s never used dry ice, so this should be interesting. Meanwhile, when Marion takes her soufflé out, she has Gary watching over her as she attempts to remove them from their bowls. She manages to successfully do so.
Soon, time is up and the contestants take their dishes to the judges for tasting.
Tasting & Results
Marion
Cooking: Crab & Sea Urchin Soufflé
Comments: Gary loves the way it looks and he calls it brilliant. George calls it amazing cooking.
Poh
Cooking: Lemon Crepes & Savoury Egg Custard
Comments: Matt calls the lemon crepes wonderful and calls the egg custard delicious; complimenting the asparagus.
Jonathan
Cooking: Chocolate Ice Cream Sandwiches.
Comments: Gary likes the dish, but doesn’t get the fruity taste from the ice cream. Jonathan doesn’t like how they didn’t comment on his techniques. Puh-lease.
Hayden
Cooking: Surf And Turf
Comments: Matt pretty much calls the dish unbalanced.
Aaron
Cooking: Spanner Crab Ravioli
Comments: Matt calls the pasta rushed.
Chris
Cooking: Beef Carpaccio
Comments: George calls it jam packed full of flavour and loves the textures.
Kumar
Cooking: Crab Salad with Asparagus and Sea Urchin Ice Cream.
Comments: Matt calls it a great dish and loves how he has united the textures.
Julie
Cooking: Crab Tortellini
Comments: The judges criticise her restaurant-y presentation and Julie exclaims ‘I can’t win’. Ahh, well, you did! Anyway, the judges don’t think the dish is spectacular and Gary runs through the small flaws.
Dani
Cooking: Lemon Meringue Cupcakes
Comments: The judges call the cupcakes dense.
Callum
Cooking: Crab Custard
Comments: George can taste the blowtorch he used!
Justine
Cooking: Crab Boudin Blanc
Comments: Matt would love the dish floating in a broth.
Kate
Cooking: Chocolate Terrine
Comments: The terrine has sunk a little. Gary calls the cake perfect and loves the skill she has used.
Result: The three best dishes belong to Marion, Kate & Kumar. The winner of the $10,000 for their charity is… Marion.
MasterChef: All Stars next airs Aug 1 at 7PM on TEN.
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