Masterchef 2020

[kopenhagen5]

Anyone watching it ?

Great to see some earlier faces and good memories.

I always liked Jess, Callum, and Reynold.

Very smart to have Gordon Ramsay kick it off seeing as the old judges are no longer with the show.

Looks like some interesting recipes to start off with.

[davewil1964]

Not an unacceptable outcome.

I was reading something the other day, written by a so-called journalist. It was after the sacking of George, Gary and Matt, but before the current judges had been announced.

He lamented that the (previous) judges were middle-aged white men and that reflected a lack of diversity. He didn't mention the number of non-white, non-middle-aged or non-male contestants who had won the show, but he did not expect a woman or an Asian to be in the replacement panel. 

He also stated that Poh was robbed in season 1 because she was clearly a better cook, an opinion not supported by the evidence that Poh can't meet the brief as often as not. Like in season 1 and tonight.

[springyzone]

I was sorry to see Poh go as I love her style. She is quite wry and able to make fun of herself. I think she is just a bit of a perfectionist so these timed challenges are just not 'her'.

But for sure, she deserved to go last night as hers was the weakest dish.

I think the judging has been very fair this year, they are doing their best and I have warmed to the new judges. I hope Melis there next year, have read conflicting reports, one said she had signed, another that she wouldn't return for 2021..

I suspect Reynold will be in the final. He seems to try a lot of technical stuff & his dishes often look amazing. Small, but amazing. Not 100% sure he always nails flavour but he is a skilled cook.

While I am commenting, is there anyone out there who is ever surprised at the (small) size of the plates of food served up? Maybe I need to diet more. I see them slave away at full speed for maybe 90 minutes and  quite often at the end is this tiny plate of whatever where each judge is lucky to get about one bite. I'm sure it is all amazing but I am not used to fine dining, obviously, as most of them look entree size to me.

[imastawka]

Apparently the plate of food has to look pretty, so an entree size is what they go for.

They only need one spoonful to get a taste for balance, otherwise they shouldn't be judges.

Poh's dish of potato dumplings with burnt butter sauce is something that I could have done.            So, hardly a top 5 dish was it?

She was getting less Masterchef-worthy as the weeks went on IMO.

I still see the final between Callum and Emelia.

I saw an article on Mel, and she will be back next year.  But also, she has been signed to be the judge for Junior Masterchef.

Another one to look forward to, although when it will be filmed in these isolated times, is yet to be seen.

[springyzone]

Callum & Emilia have to be up there in consideration. The trouble is, they are all good cooks now so it is hard to know who will go. I do enjoy sitting back and watching this, looking forward to the finals.

[springyzone]

I think it will come down to  Reynold & Callum.

We'll soon know, I guess!

[kopenhagen5]

Reynold does some very impressive dishes when he sets his mind to it.

The Snitch - That is something a Michelin star chef would make. 

[davewil1964]

He has a strange mind.

Make a dessert - "Oh, I know. Alice in Wonderland or Harry Potter".

[springyzone]

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@davewil1964 wrote:

He has a strange mind.

Make a dessert - "Oh, I know. Alice in Wonderland or Harry Potter".

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I'm betting the contestants have a few ideas they read up on before they even enter the competition. I'd be pretty sure the snitch was not a spur of the moment creation, in fact I think he did say he had been saving it.

They probably have some creative ideas and then adapt them to different challenges.

[imastawka]

Maybe it's just me, but Reynold said he wanted to give The Snitch the impression of floating.

So, wouldn't it have given a better impression if it had been plated up on a white bowl / plate?

[hannahmallory]

If it was in a white bowl then the cloud (or snow?) wouldn't have been so noticeable.

I think it was just beautiful.