by Todd Betzold

 

This is where it gets scary for me on MasterChef. I like all the homecooks that are left and I don't want to see any of them go, even though we have seen Josh leave us already. Tonight, it is time for the Mystery Box Challenge and Elimination Test and another homecook will be sent home, but who will it be?

 

The homecooks are back in the MasterChef Kitchen and it is time for another Mystery Box Challenge. They open the box and it is empty! The challenge tonight is up to them. They are to take the box and go into the pantry and grab 15 ingredients to create a dish that signifies who they are. Show the judges their signature dish. Of course it couldn't be that easy, because as Chef Ramsay tells them they must give their ingredients to the homecook in front of them. They now have to create a dish using another homecook's ingredients. Josh has Frank's ingredients, Becky has Josh, Christine has Becky, Monti has Christine and Frank has Monti.

 

As the challenge starts, Joe Bastianich said he thinks that Monti will struggle with Christine's ingredients and she will fail. As the time runs out, Becky notices that her crispy chicken skin is on a tray in the oven! She is not happy with herself and it may hurt her in the end of the night. The judges take one final look to determine the three standout dishes.

 

The first dish is from Josh who made Savory Bread Pudding with Pork, Onion Rings and Mozzarella. Graham said it is so flavorful and great use of what he had. Chef Ramsay said it is delicious, authentic and spicy and definite confirmation he deserves to be in this competition. Joe said it doesn't seem he was thrown a curve ball at all and good job. The second dish is from Monti and she made Tom Kha Gai Chicken, Coconut Milk and Lemongrass. Graham said it is delicious and extremely flavorful. Chef Ramsay said it is delicious and he loves it and it is wholesome. The last dish is from Christine (yay) and she made Pan-Seared Chicken with beet and Goat Cheese Salad. Joe said if your palette leads you to results like this, you are in a very good place. Chef Ramsay said everything on that plate is like a symphony.

 

The judges discuss the three dishes and the winner of the Mystery Box Challenge is Josh (his first Mystery Box Challenge). For winning, he joins the judges in the MasterChef Pantry to decide what the homecooks will be cooking tonight for the Elimination Test. He will have to choose between three dishes that Graham Elliot prepared in his Chicago restaurant for three of the most important people on the planet. The first dish was made for Oprah, the second was made for Jay-Z and the third was made for President Barack Obama. Josh will be cooking one of the dishes and he chooses the dish eaten by President Obama, which is White Tuna Sashimi. For winning, he gets a basket of all the ingredients Graham used to create that dish. He can go in the pantry and get any ingredients he wants that he thinks might make the dish better.

 

They all head back out into MasterChef Kitchen and show the other four homecooks the dish and they get a chance to check it out. Christine is worried about recreating the dish, but she normally does awesome at this. They only have 30 minutes to make this dish though...the pressure it on! Josh has decided to add some mango to the dish and change the ingredients he was given. A bad mistake or a ballsy move that will pay off?

 

The homecooks are struggling to cut the fish that thin, as Monti and Josh are hacking away at the tuna and the judges are cringing watching them. With the advantage, Josh was the only homecook that tried to improve Graham's dish.

 

Up first is Christine and Graham said it is cut beautifully and all the components together are harmonized and taste great. Joe said you continue to impress and amaze us and that is a great dish. Chef Ramsay asked if he was being punked? (too funny). He said for the first time in this competition he is lost for words, great job! Up next is Monti and Graham said visually it is lacking and said the cream washes away the flavor and isn't her best performance. Chef Ramsay said there is no seasoning and watching her prep the tuna was embarrassing and the white tuna is out of her league. Joe said it is pretty far off from the dish we saw up here before and she missed the spirit of the dish.

 

Up next is Frank and Graham said it is awesome and a perfect rendition. Becky is next and Chef Ramsay said it is a poor delivery and she is heading downward in this competition. The last dish tonight is from Josh, who had the advantage tonight. Graham said it doesn't need sweetness and the five pieces are inconsistent and way beneath what he expects from him. Joe said with the advantage he had he would expect a perfect rendition from him and this is misfired on all elements. Chef Ramsay said he is so pissed off and he must learn to walk before he runs and Graham's dish was perfectly balanced and he tried to change it.

 

The judges go back and discuss the dishes. The standout dish tonight is from Christine (yay) and Graham said it could have been easily able to serve to President Obama. The bottom three dishes tonight are from Monti, Becky and Josh. They ask Becky to step forward and tell her she has let them down the last few challenges, but she is safe tonight. That leaves us with Monti and Josh. Monti is heading home and Josh is still in the competition for another week.

 

MasterChef airs on Tuesdays at 9/8c on FOX.

 

(Image courtesy of FOX)

 

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