SalleeShares: Masterchef Canada

I have never watched Masterchef. Are you horrified, or with me? After watching the two hour, semifinal and final episodes of Masterchef America, I decided to watch the beginning of Masterchef Canada which is airing in the United States after completing the season in Canada.

The first two episodes were typical cooking show-reality TV-select the contestant viewing. However, this morning I watched the DVR recorded third episode that begins with the top sixteen home cooks in Canada.

I found the show to be reminiscent of Chopped, on a larger scale. The Chopped basket is a Mystery Box Challenge on the Masterchef series. Then, you get to listen to some reality TV smack talk and bleeped cursing from the home cook competitors.

The First Mystery Box Challenge - 60 Minutes

The stand out ingredients for the sixteen amateur cooks were:

• pork loin
• creamy and chunky peanut butter
• strawberries
• bananas
• honey
• chorizo
• chili peppers

Each station also contained a "staple pantry box."

Masterchef Canada judges: Michael Bonacini, Alvin Leung, and Claudio Aprile

Judges Michael Bonacini, Alvin Leung and Claudio Aprile (Have you heard of them? I haven't) 
browsed through each station and tasted dishes during the sixty minute challenge. 

Grumpy sounding Alvin Leung, self-styled "The Demon Chef," did his best to intimidate the home cooks. However, it comes off as a bit theatrical. The good judge-bad judge act switches from dish to dish. I say "act" because this is reality TV. 

Top Three in the Mystery Box Challenge

1. Carly - Spicy Peanut Saute Soup
2. Eric - Fruit Tart
3. Marida - Trinidadian flavored Pork Noodle Stir Fry.

As the winner, Marida's advantages were:

• immunity
• pick another finalist to join her in immunity - She picked Brooke.
• pick smelt, venison, or duck for the elimination challenge. 

60 Minute Elimination Main Dish: SMELT

I personally have heard of smelt, but never eaten or prepared it. Apparently some of the home cooks didn't know what to do with it either. The judges discussed how they would prepare the mild flavored fish. Deep fried until crisp was the consensus because other methods would make the fish limp or mealy.

Top Two

Dale and Pino both received compliments from all three judges. 

Bottom Three

Danny - Fish Croquette Danny was only safe because the other two were so bad. 
Meaghan - Fish Quiche Seriously? It doesn't even sound good.
Ben - Fish Cake  Judges were NOT impressed with this choice. Not a chefy choice. 

Meaghan and Ben were told to take their aprons off.

Conclusion

Do I really want to watch a show that has already aired in Canada? I already know who won, it is posted on Wikipedia and CTV.  What do you think? My thought is that I will just wait for Season 6 to air.

#masterchefcanada