Tonight begins the fight of the finalists with 4 remaining. After tonight’s episode only 2 will still be in the running to win the title of Junior MasterChef Australia. And the final will be decided tomorrow night. This will be intense.
Looking at the finalists, the favorite would definitely have to be Sofia. She has outpaced the rest of the contestants thus far. However given the ages of these kids, anything could happen in the kitchen. I suspect Siena is probably the one that most people would like to win, Jack is the only boy so he may have his backers and Isabella shouldn’t be ruled out at all.
So this episode will be a ripper!
The start of the episode begins with the 4 reminiscing about their journey and their aspirations.
All 4 judges including Matt Preston are present. Can’t wait for the final tests to see who will be in the top 2.
2 challenges have been announced by Anna Gare. Winner of challenge 1 will go straight through to tomorrow night’s final. The remaining 3 will battle it out with the 2nd challenge.
3 famous chefs have been invited to join them. Matt Moran, Donna Hay and Christine Manfield.
Mystery box is of the first challenge. The 3 guest will be bringing the ingredients to determine the mystery box. The theme seems to be fresh items from the garden to which the contestants must serve a brilliant dinner party dish.
Beetroot is the first ingredient brought in by Christine. Donna brings in Roquette. Matt brings in snails! A massive shock to the final 4. I doubt how any of them would be able to cook snails.
George gives them some ideas of what they can do. Full access and unlimited entry to the pantry.
1 hour and 10 minutes is what is allocated for this challenge. So not much time.
Matt and the 3 guest judges will be adjudicating the best dish.
The kids get started.
Jack decides on snail porridge based on Heston Blumenthal’s famous recipe.
Isabella goes for Nonna’s spaghetti, beetroot and roquette salad with freshly made tomato sauce.
Sofia is cooking Snail and roquette fritelle stack. It seems very complicated but seems to be in control of what she’s thinking and doing.
Siena aims to produce Snail and Chorizo risotto with mushroom foam. A bit worried. George classifies risotto as the death dish of MasterChef.
5 minutes to go and I’m not sure who’s going to win this one. However I suspect Sofia will take this one out.
2 minutes to go and Siena hasn’t plated up which is a concern. Siena doesn’t get the dressing on the Roquette in time which will most likely cost her the first place in the final.
Sofia is first. Donna Hay is impressed with the look of the dish. Now for the taste……Donna likes the Roquette and not the snail component. Matt likes the beetroot puree.
Siena comes in next. She gets questioned about her snails and whether she tastes it. Matt doesn’t like the look of the risotto with the mushroom foam as it hasn’t come off. But Donna likes the taste of the risotto. All but Donna got perfect snails. They notice that the dressing is missing from the salad which may have put her in the lead had she got that right.
Isabella with her Nonna’s spaghetti impresses the judges. But her salad has really let her down. Matt indicates that if it was just the snail and spaghetti dish she would be straight through to the final but the salad just isn’t up to it.
Jack brings in his dish. Donna actually likes the look of it. Now the taste……Matt is blown away by the taste. It looks like Jack is the first one to go through. The comments are overwhelmingly positive.
First person through to tomorrow’s grand finale is….Jack!!! He didn’t expect it and has come a long way since the start of the series.
Now the girls will be fighting it out for the final spot in “the round”.
Second challenge is a pressure test with a twist. A spinning wheel will determine the ingredients and the recipe they will be cooking.
They will be cooking Mussel Spanikopika. Siena is a little disappointed as it just misses the dessert.
This dish looks extraordinarily difficult. The girls taste and are impressed.
Only one hour is allocated for this pressure test.
It looks like Sophia is struggling and not on top of her game today. From the snippets it appears that Isabella will make it through. But we’ll have to wait and see.
Isabella is up first. It looks good. Matt is very complimentary of the dish. I think she’ll take this out.
Siena comes up next. She hasn’t got all the elements of the plate which will cost her.
Sophia comes in last. She’s feeling confident but really it doesn’t look that great.
The winner of the second challenge is Isabella and goes through to face Jack in the final. Massive hugs from the other 2. Tears start to flow. Even Anna Gare is crying. George has tears in his eyes as well.
See you back tomorrow night as the final is decided!
