Episode 15 of MasterChef SA went down in Paternoster where 2 teams fought it out on the white sandy beach.
Team blue: Manisha, Sue-Ann and LungileTeam red: Deena, Khaya and Sarel
Challenge: to cook a seafood platter for 15 in 90 minutes, for guests of Suzy Holtzhausen, the owner of the famed Gaaitjie, a charming seafood restaurant right on the beach.
The biggest challenge was that the wind was blowing the gas flames out and the pots wouldn’t heat up. Clever shields made with foil saved the day.
The girls aced it with an 8/3 win over the boys and Khaya.
The pressure test: to emulate a dish that won Silver in the Culinary Olympics by Andrew A.
The dish – Brioche encrusted springbok with an asparagus tower filled with mushroom and leek ragout, a duo of tomato and charcoal pasta, peppadew salsa and a rooibos béarnaise sauce.
AA told them it took the Olympic team 4 years to perfect. They had to cook it in 2 ½ hours! Hectic for the most seasoned of cooks.
Oh my garlic, it is a seri-ass dish with major skill and plenty of room for stuff-ups.
They all struggled with Deena losing the plot at one point. The béarnaise sauce really stumped them all and the asparagus towers were leaning in all directions!
Finally after a tense few hours, it was time to present.
Not ONE person got the béarnaise right, they were all split to smithereens. Khaya’s pasta was too thick and Deena’s meat a little overcooked. Sarel however came out tops with most things correct except a lump of curdled sauce.
So Khaya or Deena?Awww, it was preggers Khaya, I love Deena too, but I really got quite choked up when I saw Khaya go. She is a fabulous woman with a great talent and passion for food.
I also love her spirit, her last quote was, “It’s (Masterchef) has taught me patience, something my man will be happy about, and no one can take that away from me.”
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