In the second semi-final the celebrities were woken up at 5.30am and presented with chefs whites by George and Gary. There was no MasterChef kitchen in this week’s challenge, instead the celebrities had to cook lunch for 80 paying customers at Altitude Restaurant in Sydney. It was Chef de Cuisine’s Steven Krasicki’s reputation on the line.

Following the service, the contestants had to present their dish to the judges for tasting and the judges would decide which celebrity is out of the competition.

Michelle Bridges and Kirk Pengilly were in charge of an entrée each, Eamon Sullivan and Alex Lloyd were on mains and Rachael Finch cooked the dessert.

Kirk cooked the scallop and crab tortellini and Michelle the chilli and basil kingfish. Kirk believed he was responsible for the kitchen running 30 minutes behind schedule and when one of his and one of Michelle’s entrées were sent back to the kitchen, Steven told Kirk and Michelle they needed to work together.

Alex was responsible for the Macleay Valley suckling pig and Eamon made the butter poached Angus beef. One diner sent Eamon’s dish back to the kitchen as there was powder in the sauce and said she would like to take the beef home for her dog!

Rachael’s warm chocolate fondants were popular in the dining room, aside from one that was sent back to the kitchen because it was burnt.

Michelle was the first to present her dish to the judges. Gary said that the kingfish was too thick and there wasn’t enough salad but she presented the dish well. George said the only thing that let down the presentation was a lemon pip on the plate.

The judges told Kirk that he was under the most pressure in the kitchen and he did a fabulous job.

Alex plated up his dish and Matt said that it didn’t have the crunch and crackle that is needed for a suckling pig, but it was a beautiful dish and a credit to him and Steven.

When the judges tasted Eamon’s Angus beef, George said it was a gutsy beef dish, but Matt noted that people in the dining room thought it was quite bland.

Matt loved the "volcanic slow ooze of the filling" of Rachael’s chocolate fondant, but said it was disappointing that some were burnt and sent back to the kitchen during the service.

The judges told Kirk that although he was a disaster in the kitchen, his dish was loved in the dining room and he was safe, along with Rachael. Matt said Alex had the hardest dish, and would have been the chosen celebrity to stay and do dinner service. It came down to Michelle and Eamon and the competition ended for Michelle. Michelle said she was devastated, but proud of what she’d achieved.

Tune in next week when the croquembouche makes a comeback!