by Todd Betzold

 

What's underneath that huge box for the Mystery Box Challenge on MasterChef?

 

For this week's challenge, it is lobster. The competitors have 60 minutes to create an amazing lobster dish, with the judges tasting the top three dishes.

 

We see some more of that cockiness from Christian, as lobster is his specialty, but towards the end his food processor breaks and plastic falls into it and he loses his temper from there, as his dish is falling apart. He pulls it together in the end and plates a decent dish.

 

The first dish they choose to taste is Derrick's dish, Butter Poached Lobster with Potato Puree and Tomato Mango Salad. This was the dish all the judges said they could see being served in a restaurant and Joe told him if he keeps looking like this, he'll be here for a while.

 

Next up is Alejandra's dish, Thai Style Grilled Lobster with Red Curry and Mango Salsa. Chef Ramsay said to grill a lobster and taste that sensuous is amazing. It was her best dish of the competition.

 

The last dish chosen was Jennifer's Baked Lobster with Roasted Fennel and Mashed Potatoes. Graham said the fennel looks wonderful and it all works beautifully together. Chef Ramsay said another big hit from her.

 

The judges announce the winner of the Mystery Box Challenge to be Jennifer, winning her second challenge in a row. She heads to the pantry with the judges to decide on the ingredient everyone will be cooking with for the Elimination Test. The theme of this challenge is aphrodisiac. The choices Jennifer has are oysters, artichokes or $500 truffles. Not only does it have to taste sensuous, but the plate has to look sexy as well.

 

After returning to the kitchen, the judges announce Jennifer chose truffles. She is then told she does not have to cook for this challenge. However, she is given two options - to take a bottle of champagne and go up to the gallery and watch the other 10 compete in the challenge and be safe from elimination or she can chose to cook with the rest of them and have the chance of being eliminated.

 

After some thought, she chooses to cook her way into the top 10 and not take the easy way out.

 

After some rushing around and tempers flaring during the 60-minute challenge, we finally get to see the plates. Tracy, Christian and Giuseppe start out the challenge with a bang as all three of them are given rave reviews for their plates.

 

You know it had to end somewhere as Adrien brings up his dish. Graham says that it is visually appalling and flavor-wise it doesn't work. Chef Ramsay went as far as to say it looked like his grandpa's colostomy bag on a plate. Not good at all for Adrien.

 

The trend continues as Erryn brings up his dish. During the challenge, Erryn had burnt his steak and his potatoes were a mushy mess. He brings up a plate with a few strips of meat and vegetables. It looks shameful and you can tell he is ashamed of himself for even bringing it up. Chef Ramsay has trouble cutting into the vegetables and then spits them out and declares he is speechless.

 

Alejandra continues the bad plates with her dish. Joe says ewww to the slimy texture of the veal. The dish is not very good. Chef Ramsay says that it does not scream wow.

 

Lastly, we get to see if Jennifer made a wise choice when she decided to cook in this challenge instead of sitting out and watching.

 

None of the judges are impressed, as her dish was a disaster. Joe says she took a big risk and it would be sad for her to leave on this memory.

 

We first get to find out who the top two dishes are: Tracy and Giuseppe, who will be team captains for the next challenge.

 

The judges then announce the bottom three dishes: Erryn (who's plate was a disaster), Adrien (who's dish was not up to par for being sexy) and Jennifer (who's eggs were way underdone and runny). Chef Ramsay tells Jennifer that being bold is one thing, but there is no time to be stupid...but he saves her for another week.

 

Down to Adrien and Erryn, Chef Ramsay states one dish was worse than they've ever seen. He asked the person who felt that dish belonged to them to step forward. Erryn takes a step forward and turns in his apron and heads home. Adrien is safe for another week.

 

 

MasterChef airs on Mondays and Tuesdays at 9/8c on Fox.

 

(Image courtesy of Fox)

 

 

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