As Poh had won the pie challenge, she was allowed to pick the theme for the invention test challenge. Poh designated Malaysian as the theme and picked coconut cream and ling fish for the core ingredients.
The contestants had 90 minutes to make two courses. Matt Moran, head chef and co-owner of ARIA restaurant, returned to MasterChef as a guest judge to taste the contestants’ Malaysian creations.
With minutes to go, Justine’s spring rolls weren’t frying as she liked because the oil wasn’t hot enough. Justine cried after she plated up because she wasn’t confident about her dishes. Julia also wasn’t happy with the dishes she was presenting to the judges.
The judges tasted Chris’ dishes. Chris had made ling fried rice with fried egg and coconut pannacotta with lychees. Matt told Chris he has been following him during the competition and thought some of his dishes have been brilliant. Matt said at this stage, however, he’d expect Chris’ food to be better and the ling fried rice dish didn’t appeal to him whatsoever. George said Chris’ pannacotta was too hard.
Gary said Poh’s petai with sambal and fish custard was a fresh and vibrant dish. George thought it was interesting and tasty. Matt said her dessert of glutenous rice dumpling with coconut pandan leaf stuffing didn’t look appealing but its flavour packed a punch.
After tasting Julia’s eggplant in coconut sauce, Matt said the eggplant fingers were quite "squeaky" because she’d steamed and not deep fried them and they weren’t quite cooked enough. Gary told an upset Julia that the fish in her Malaysian broth was raw. Matt said the broth was too intense with no connection to Malaysian food and the fish wasn’t cooked enough.
Matt said he had been worried about the use of zucchini and udon noodles in Julie’s vegetable coconut curry because it wasn’t Malay but in the event he could taste some nice Malaysian flavours in the dish. Gary told Julie the ling which she had served with peanut sauce wasn’t cooked properly.
Justine served Malaysian style ling with ling spring rolls and a lychee and coconut rice pudding. Gary said the sauce of her fish dish was good, with a nice depth of flavour. George told Justine her sauce was zippy, gutsy and he loved the colour. Matt thought Justine’s rice pudding was delicious.
The judges told the contestants Justine and Poh had made the best meals, with Poh the winner of the challenge. Matt told Poh her dessert was the “killer” dish of the day.
Chris, Julia and Julie had made the worst dishes. Chris was told he was safe and then Julia was eliminated. Gary told a teary Julia that she didn’t carry the Malaysian theme through her meal as well as she could have and the flavours weren’t true enough.
After Julia left the MasterChef kitchen, the other contestants did as well, leaving Poh to find out what advantage she’d have ahead of the next challenge. Poh will see and taste the pressure test dish the contestants will cook in the next challenge and will be given the recipe to study overnight.
Stay tuned for the pressure test challenge.
The contestants had 90 minutes to make two courses. Matt Moran, head chef and co-owner of ARIA restaurant, returned to MasterChef as a guest judge to taste the contestants’ Malaysian creations.
With minutes to go, Justine’s spring rolls weren’t frying as she liked because the oil wasn’t hot enough. Justine cried after she plated up because she wasn’t confident about her dishes. Julia also wasn’t happy with the dishes she was presenting to the judges.
The judges tasted Chris’ dishes. Chris had made ling fried rice with fried egg and coconut pannacotta with lychees. Matt told Chris he has been following him during the competition and thought some of his dishes have been brilliant. Matt said at this stage, however, he’d expect Chris’ food to be better and the ling fried rice dish didn’t appeal to him whatsoever. George said Chris’ pannacotta was too hard.
Gary said Poh’s petai with sambal and fish custard was a fresh and vibrant dish. George thought it was interesting and tasty. Matt said her dessert of glutenous rice dumpling with coconut pandan leaf stuffing didn’t look appealing but its flavour packed a punch.
After tasting Julia’s eggplant in coconut sauce, Matt said the eggplant fingers were quite "squeaky" because she’d steamed and not deep fried them and they weren’t quite cooked enough. Gary told an upset Julia that the fish in her Malaysian broth was raw. Matt said the broth was too intense with no connection to Malaysian food and the fish wasn’t cooked enough.
Matt said he had been worried about the use of zucchini and udon noodles in Julie’s vegetable coconut curry because it wasn’t Malay but in the event he could taste some nice Malaysian flavours in the dish. Gary told Julie the ling which she had served with peanut sauce wasn’t cooked properly.
Justine served Malaysian style ling with ling spring rolls and a lychee and coconut rice pudding. Gary said the sauce of her fish dish was good, with a nice depth of flavour. George told Justine her sauce was zippy, gutsy and he loved the colour. Matt thought Justine’s rice pudding was delicious.
The judges told the contestants Justine and Poh had made the best meals, with Poh the winner of the challenge. Matt told Poh her dessert was the “killer” dish of the day.
Chris, Julia and Julie had made the worst dishes. Chris was told he was safe and then Julia was eliminated. Gary told a teary Julia that she didn’t carry the Malaysian theme through her meal as well as she could have and the flavours weren’t true enough.
After Julia left the MasterChef kitchen, the other contestants did as well, leaving Poh to find out what advantage she’d have ahead of the next challenge. Poh will see and taste the pressure test dish the contestants will cook in the next challenge and will be given the recipe to study overnight.
Stay tuned for the pressure test challenge.
