MasterChef Episode 4

After three rounds of auditions, it was officially time for the MasterChef competition to begin! Much like with all the other blog posts I have done for the show, I will be focusing on memorable moments in the episode, what the contestants in the top three made and who won, and what the contestants in the bottom three made and who got eliminated.

For their first challenge, the teams had to make elevated dinner party dishes. There were a lot of great sounding dishes, including several pasta dishes. During the cook time, they showed the judges talking about which teams they were worried about, and if there is anything I have learned from watching this show for many years, it’s that every time the judges are concerned about a dish that a contestant is making, that contestant will land in the bottom, and since they were concerned about exactly three teams, I predicted that they would also make up the bottom three, and I would later find out that I was right.

After 60 minutes were up, it was time for the judges to have one final look at each of the teams dishes, and from there, decide which teams were in the top three and which teams were in the bottom three. 

The first team that landed in the top three was aunt and niece Tina and Aivan, who made an Asian dish called Bun Thit Nu’o’Ng, which consists of Vermicelli Noodles, Lemongrass Pork, Pickled Daikon and Carrots, and Garlic Vinaigrette, which is a dish that I might consider giving a try. The judges really liked the dish, saying that it was authentic and the rice noodles had perfect texture, but Gordon Ramsay said that he wished there was more pork, as it was flooded with noodles.

The second team in the top three was married couple Zach and Michelle, who made Moules-Frites with Mussels, Green Curry Broth, and Nori and Lime Dusted Fries, which is another dish that I would be willing to give a try. The judges really liked the dish, saying that the mussels were well cooked and everything about it was perfect. 

The last team in the top three was Adam and Joel, who made Skirt Steak Tacos with Corn Tortillas, Green Tomato Salsa, Peach & Habanero Hot Sauce and Charro Beans, which is a dish that I would definitely be willing to try. The judges loved the dish, saying that the flavors were great, the steak was cooked perfectly, and the tortillas were perfect. 

After that, it was time for the judges to announce who had won the challenge, and the winners were revealed to be Zach and Michelle, which did not surprise me. The judges then told Zach and Michelle that they would receive a huge advantage in the next challenge. 

After that, it was time for the judges to call out the bottom three dishes.

The first team that landed in the bottom was Kevin and Trey, who made Cajun Seafood Pasta with Shrimp, Scallops, and Mussels. I was not surprised to see them in the bottom, as they showed Trey struggling with the pasta the entire time, and the judges also said that the mussels were not open and the scallops were overcooked, and the finished plates for all three judges were also inconsistent.

The second team that landed in the bottom was Darce and Courtney, who made Corn Pasta with Corn Sauce, Corn Ribs, and Corn Breadcrumbs. I was not surprised to see them in the bottom, as the judges did express their concerns about a dish where essentially the only ingredient was corn, and I will admit that it looked strange and that it was excessive to make a dish that only had corn and nothing else.

The last team that landed in the bottom was Tonna and Cait, who made a Cheeseburger with Bacon & Date Jam, Spicy Mayo, Fries, and Arugula Salad, which if made correctly, is a dish that I would be willing to try. I was not surprised to see them in the bottom three, as while they were making their dish, the judges expressed to each other that the dish was way too simple for what they were looking for. When the judges cut into the burger, they saw that it was overcooked, and they also thought it was way too sweet, as the dates overpowered everything.

After that, it was time for the judges to announce which team was going home. After seeing how the judges reacted to all three of their dishes, I wouldn’t have been surprised with any of the teams going home. In the end, the first team to get eliminated was Kevin and Trey. 

Overall, this was another great episode of Season 15 of MasterChef, and I’ll see you all next week when the teams have to make dishes using sweet and spicy ingredients!