Previous Episode: MasterChef Australia Season Four – Italian MasterClass (or is it…?)
One word: Italy. Let’s begin!
The contestants document their travel to Italy and they look like they’ll have more fun on their way there than actually being there. We viewers are treated to brilliant sweeping shots of Roma. The judges are waiting for them at Piazza Navona to tell them about today’s challenge. Before that, George confirms that by the end of the week, someone WILL hold another immunity pin and another WILL be eliminated.
Italian Sunday Challenge: They want a Roman story on a plate. They have to dig their fingers and their palate into Roma to create this dish. They will be broken down into teams of two for this. The two teams who win will go into a challenge tomorrow which will get them closer to immunity.
Conditions: 4 hours to do EVERYTHING except cook. Meet at Villa Aurelia for 90 minutes to cook the dish.
Teams
Red: Beau & Audra
Blue: Ben & Debra
Green: Alice & Wade
Yellow: Kylie & Andy
Orange: Julia & Mindy
Progress: The teams go off to look around the different landmarks. Alice doesn’t find it hard to get inspired. She and Wade want to cook something that isn’t stereotypically Italian. They find a man who is baking squid ink bread. Andy & Kylie go to the Pantheon and the restaurants lining the outside forum for inspiration. They find some restaurant that specialises in lamb offal.
Mindy & Julia are near the Colosseum when they find a very famous fish shop and they decide there and then they must do a seafood dish. Debra & Ben find some ‘surprising’ ideas while Audra & Beau head towards the Spanish Steps. They find a passer byer who gives them an idea to do a veal based meal.
The contestants then seem to find it hard to find other ingredients, so they have to go with things they wouldn’t normally use.
When they get to the Villa, they are greeted by guest chef, Massimo Bottura. Alice is overwhelmed.
Alice and Wade decide to go for a Squid Ink Gnocchi, a twist on their inspired idea. Mindy is cooking brodetto alla Lazio which is a fish meal with pagello.
Debra’s team are doing two things- a sauce, Amatriciana, and some meatballs. Ben is working on the sauce while Debra is doing the surprising meatballs.
Audra & Beau are doing a saltimbocca. Earlier, Beau & Audra were trying to find nice mushrooms, but they couldn’t. They finally realise mushrooms are not in season, hence why there are no good ones!
All seems calm however Mindy and Julia think they won’t have enough time to prep their seafood dish. Ben begins to get annoyed by Deb’s slow pace. Alice’s gnocchi begins to break and now everyone is panicking!!
Where did la calm go?!
Andy and Kylie have a small biff sesh before they find out there’s only two minutes to go!
Plating up is a bitch, but they all get it done on time. But how many will do well?
Tasting & Results
Julia & Mindy (Orange)
Cooking: Roman Seafood Stew.
Comments: Gary loves the olive oil over the bowl. Massimo says they’ve cooked the fish the proper way. They think it’s very good and Gary loves the fish. Massimo loves their tomato and George loves the preparation of the individual elements.
Ben & Debra (Blue)
Cooking: Pork Suppli
Comments: George doesn’t like the fact there are two meatballs and not three. Matt loves the smell. They love the fig in the middle of the meatballs. Massimo says the meatballs have been cooked well. Gary loves it, especially the sauce by the sounds of things.
Beau & Audra (Red)
Cooking: Veal Saltimbocca.
Comments: The team admits the dish didn’t go to plan, but the judges will be the judge of that. Matt doesn’t get it and Massimo likens it to Tapas. Matt says there are too many ideas on the plate. George doesn’t like the tomatoes.
Andy & Kylie (Yellow)
Cooking: Coratella.
Comments: This is actually the first time Massimo has tried Coratella. Gary likes the textures but thinks it is overcooked. Massimo feels the palate of the plate is really bland. He says it is not touching his soul.
Alice & Wade (Green)
Cooking: Squid Ink Gnocchi.
Comments: George is excited about the dish, calling it modern. Matt’s facial expressions here are hilarious. Massimo wants to finish the plate. Gary calls it inspired and delicate and loves the artichokes. Well done, Wade! George loves the combination and Massimo call it balanced.
Result: The two teams heading into tomorrow’s challenge are… Alice & Wade and Julia & Mindy.
The episode ends with Massimo’s inspiring story.
MasterChef Australia next airs Jul 9 at 7PM on TEN.
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