Masterchef Round of 16

In the first team challenge, the chefs are driven out to the middle of desert-like training base where they had 2 hours to prep and cook for 201 hungry Marines who have been flying helicopter training missions all day. Because they were the strongest in the Round of 18, Frank and David were chosen captains..

Team David (Red team): Kansas City-style Pork Chops with Cheesy Potatoes

1. Becky
2. Helene
3. Mike
4. Josh
5. Ryan
6. Monti

Team Frank (Blue team): Grilled Chicken Breast with Pasta Salad

1. Stacy
2. Felix
3. Scott
4. Tanya
5. Tali
6. Christine
7. Michael

Seconds before the Marines arrived, Gordon noticed that the pork was raw, sending the Red team scrambling the save their dish. Then, during service, the Red team quickly ran out of food which led to Marines having to stand around waiting to eat. The service took a big turn for the worse when Joe noticed a Marine about to take a bite out of a raw pork chop. Unable to cook the chops all the way through quickly enough, the backup grew by the minute. Monti and Becky stepped up to speed the process while captain David stood back helplessly.

Frank got a little generous with his pasta servings and they too began to run low on food. Though the portions were a bit tight, they did not get into as sticky a situation as the Red team did. The one thing the Blue team had going for it was the fact they were able to cook their food properly. However, the menu did not seem to resonate with the Marines which didn’t do the Blue team any favors.

After service, the Marines were asked to step behind the team that they felt was the strongest. It was a pretty even split so the judges had to count the two sides. In the end, the winners of the first team challenge was the…Red team. Winning by just 16 votes, this win can be credited to the girls on the team who really stepped up when the odds were stacked against them.

Having lost the team challenge, the Blue team is faced with its first pressure test. One teammate gets to sit out the test, decided by Frank. His decision, and the chef sent to watch with the Red team: Felix. Surprisingly, she turns down the free pass. Next choice: Scotty. Also declined. Third choice: Stacy. Though she is “going to feel like such an a******” if she goes up, she does. Smart choice.

Now to the pressure test – an apple pie. The chefs are tasked with the challenge of creating one amazing apple pie. The chefs are judged on the filling, crust and overall baking technique of their pie. Christine immediately feels like she is at a disadvantage because there is so much to the appearance of the dish. Valid point. Frank is going to add a little nutmeg and cinnamon in an effort to separate his pie from the field. Michael Chen is going to sprinkle cheddar cheese on top of his crust to add a salty flavor.

Scotty made a mess of his dough and is forced to start over, cutting it close on time. He’s probably regretting passing on his waiver at this point.

Time runs out and the pies are judged:

Frank: The crust held wonderfully and the taste, according to Ramsay, was “absolutely delicious.” The other judges echoed his sentiments.

Tanya: Play on caramel apple; apples are a bit firm and overcooked, with an abundance of walnuts. “A soggy mess” says Ramsay and the “worst dish” she’s cooked.

Tali: Light on apples on the inside; didn’t get much of a reaction from the judges

Felix: Visually beautiful, but the inside isn’t as sweet as Elliot would’ve thought.

Michael: Covered his pie in cheese; all judges disliked the pie as it was a watery mess on the inside

Scott: “I don’t even know where to start…what in the f*** is that?!” asked Gordon. The apples on the inside are delicious but the pastry is a mess

Christine: Fairly certain that she would be sent home, saying Christine lacked confidence as she presented to the judges is an understatement. Though she wouldn’t know it, “visually it looks stunning” Ramsay said. The pastry was cooked well, and the flavor was amazing. Tears all around the kitchen.

There were several great pies, and several terrible ones. Frank, Christine, Felix and Tali are all sent to the balcony as they cooked the best pies. The person leaving Masterchef: Michael Chen

At nineteen years of age, Michael has a great future in food but I expected more out of him. What did you think about the judges’ choice? Who will leave the Masterchef kitchen next week? Too early to pick a favorite to win it all?