by Todd Betzold

 

Now we get down to the good stuff on MasterChef...finally!

 

After working there way down and eliminating many home cooks, judges Chef Ramsay, Graham Elliot and Joe Bastianich have a top 18 and we get to our first Mystery Box Challenge.

 

In this challenge, each competitor is given a box of secret ingredients they can use to make their dish in the allotted time of 60 minutes. The judges will only select three dishes to taste, so impeccable presentation is key. The winner of this challenge goes into the elimination round with a huge advantage, which has yet to be announced what that advantage is.

 

After announcing that Ben had the overall worst dish, Chef Ramsay says that the first dish chosen to taste is Suzy's dish, the Trio of Salmon with Pickled, Smoked and Grilled Salmon. Chef Ramsay said the dish had strong, contrasting flavors, but along with all the other judges he found something about it he just didn't enjoy...for him being the strawberries too sweet.

 

The next dish they chose to taste was Christian's dish, Pistachio Crusted Salmon with Strawberry Balsamic Reduction, which Joe said would be the most restaurant-ready dish. All the judges loved the dish, including Chef Ramsay saying the combination was done on the money.

 

The final dish chosen was Jennie's dish, Savory Salmon Tart with Caramelized Fennel and Shaved Asparagus. Good words from the judges, including Joe being impressed that she invented a pizza out of what she had.

 

After some discussion by the judges, they decided that the winner of this challenge was Christian, as he got to be the first contestant to enter the MasterChef pantry and got to chose the ingredient or style of food that everyone gets to cook with in the Elimination Test, but the theme of the test lies in the hands of the judges.

 

The judges let Christian know that the theme will be cuisine of Europe and his choices consist of Spanish, French and British cuisine. Christian joins the other contestants and announces he chose French cuisine, which is then followed up by Chef Ramsay telling him that since he won the first challenge he is safe from elimination and will just get to sit back and watch this challenge.

 

After an hour of cooking, the contestants all get to present their dish to the judges and at least one competitor will be sent home. It starts out good with some excellent dishes from Max, Giuseppe, Derrick and Alejandra and includes bad ones as well, like Angel and Erryn.

 

The judges tasted all the dishes and state two of the dishes left the competition behind, which were Max and Derrick. They will be moving on to the next challenge, in which both will be a team captain.

 

Next, the bottom three dishes are announced: Angel, whose Fruit Tart didn't even make it to the plate; Mark, who broke a cardinal rule when he added raw flour to his runny mashed potatoes and Erryn, who didn't even make a French dish.

 

In the end, Chef Ramsay says that Angel will be going home. After Mark and Erryn think they are safe, Joe speaks up and says they have some bad news...we aren't done there. Having broken that cardinal rule, Mark is also sent home.

 

First night of competition and we have already seen two competitors go home. What will happen tomorrow night when they get broken up into a team challenge?

 

 

Watch MasterChef on Tuesday at 8/7c on FOX to find out.

 

(Image courtesy of FOX)

 

 

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