FTA-TV Masterchef Australia

[Kahuna]

Poh is lucky she didn't end up in the bottom 3, didn't she put raw lamb on her plate?. Aaron must go tonight no matter how good is food is, he is just no good.

I also am getting sick of red meat being used for the invention challenge, get some ingredients that they aren't familiar with.

 

[Equus]

Those cupcakes looks DELICIOUS!

 

[matty p]

Yeah I think Chris will win, with Poh coming in 2nd. They are clearly the standouts.

 

[Exhale You]

Why the hell would they include sausages? Judges would have been tasting numerous versions of bangers and mash.

As opposed to the 7-8 rolled lamb dishes they tried?

I doubt many of the contestants would have been overly familiar with old-fashioned English pork sausages or black pudding, which can only be a good thing when it comes to an 'invention test', surely.

The core ingredients need to be diverse and must fit in with the theme of the challenge. The fish, strawberries and lamb offered were very different, very British, and allow a decent cook to go in virtually any direction if they have half a clue.

Yet we only saw 2-3 'outside the square' dishes cooked.

The core ingredient choices are not meant to be obscure, they are meant to be symbolic of the theme and allow the contestants to be creative.

They don't need to be obscure, but they also don't need to be something that each and every person there would cook with on a weekly basis.

The whole concept of the mystery box challenge is that the winner gets a strategic advantage going into the invention test, but two weeks in a row there's been no such advantage to have because the options are mainstream foods that every contestant would have had some experience with.

The rabbit option of a few weeks ago was a prime example of how it should work.

Problem was Julie has a very limited range in what she can cook, thus went for the safest option of a leg of lamb. I personally would have chosen the seafood and done a very English fish pie.

And then we'd have seen fish cooked for about the 20th time in the series.

They don't need obscure foods, but they do need unique foods, foods that can breed creativity, foods that force people outside their comfort zone.
Lamb didn't do that.

I also am getting sick of red meat being used for the invention challenge, get some ingredients that they aren't familiar with.

Exactly.

Giving them ingredients like they did last night simply promotes the 'same old, same old' and doesn't challenge them.
Give them something that forces them out of their comfort zone and we'll actually see some genuine creativity.

 

[likka]

What is the point of asking amateur chefs to cook with ingredients they have never seen, never mind never cooked with before?

The invention part of the challenge is to invent dishes given a theme, not experiment with ingredients they have absolutely no clue about.

As opposed to the 7-8 rolled lamb dishes they tried?

Most of those rolled dishes were quite different, because they were stuffed with different ingredients and different flavours.

I doubt many of the contestants would have been overly familiar with old-fashioned English pork sausages or black pudding, which can only be a good thing when it comes to an 'invention test', surely.

WTF? Who is not familiar with sausages? You complain that lamb is too common, but you counter with an even more common ingredient.

They don't need to be obscure, but they also don't need to be something that each and every person there would cook with on a weekly basis.

Need to ensure the ingredient is not a specialty item too, which could be obscure but has a limited number of uses (ie Scottish oysters or black pud).

FFS most of these so called "masterchefs" had no clue how to fillet a fish properly.

The whole concept of the mystery box challenge is that the winner gets a strategic advantage going into the invention test, but two weeks in a row there's been no such advantage to have because the options are mainstream foods that every contestant would have had some experience with.

The rabbit option of a few weeks ago was a prime example of how it should work.

Rabbit and Italian food is a good example, but I guarantee if Julie was choosing that challenge instead of Chris that the rabbit would not have been used.

There were two problems last night. Firstly English food is not that adventurous, and secondly Julie has a limited range of what she feels comfortable cooking with.

There are a huge range of British fish dishes, very many classical English desserts with strawberries, but Julie had no clue so went for the safest option.

TBH the Brits use beef far more than lamb, but that has already been done to death so far this series. Aberdeen Angus beef would have been far more traditional, but given how much beef has been cooked it was not a viable option.

Maybe Stilton cheese could have been an option, but I'm struggling to think of too many other quintessential British core ingredients that would lead to creativity (ie sausage aint one of them).

They don't need obscure foods, but they do need unique foods, foods that can breed creativity, foods that force people outside their comfort zone.

Lamb didn't do that.

But fish or strawberries would have, especially given the British theme.

Blame Julie.

Giving them ingredients like they did last night simply promotes the 'same old, same old' and doesn't challenge them.

Give them something that forces them out of their comfort zone and we'll actually see some genuine creativity.

The challenge is as much to do with the theme as the core ingredient... and even with lamb some of them totally buggered up relatively simple dishes.

 

[WhyAlwaysMe]

Can someone please tell me who gets eliminated I'm at work and I really want to know, and by saying really want to know I mean please let it be that little shitwipe Aaron.

 

[Affidavit]

Can someone please tell me who gets eliminated I'm at work and I really want to know, and by saying really want to know I mean please let it be that little shitwipe Aaron.

Thank god Aaron is gone!!!!!! there is a a god. Praise the lord.

 

[omit]

and i was going to go to the press club later in june

 

[Exhale You]

What is the point of asking amateur chefs to cook with ingredients they have never seen, never mind never cooked with before?

The point is that it challenges them, broadens their horizons and most importantly, allows them to be inventive, which after all, is the intention of the invention test.

The invention part of the challenge is to invent dishes given a theme, not experiment with ingredients they have absolutely no clue about.

Why can't they do both?

They're not going to be well rounded chefs if they're simply using the same core ingredients week after week.

Most of those rolled dishes were quite different, because they were stuffed with different ingredients and different flavours.

Quite different?

Nah, they were basic variations on a theme, nothing more.

WTF? Who is not familiar with sausages? You complain that lamb is too common, but you counter with an even more common ingredient.

Why are you lumping all sausages together?

I very clearly said 'old-fashioned English pork sausages or black pudding', not bog standard bbq sausages you buy from the supermarket.

We both know that there is a massive difference between the two.

For every true, authentic English style pork sausage and black pudding consumed in Australia, there'd be probably 400-500 pieces of lamb consumed, so no, those particular sausages aren't 'more common', or even close to being as common as lamb.

Need to ensure the ingredient is not a specialty item too, which could be obscure but has a limited number of uses (ie Scottish oysters or black pud).

That's a fair call.
I just want to see them challenged, want to see them cook with ingredients they haven't used a thousand times before, simply because i think that is when we'll discover who really are the most talented chefs.

Rabbit and Italian food is a good example, but I guarantee if Julie was choosing that challenge instead of Chris that the rabbit would not have been used.

Of course, but the fact that rabbit was an option is the point.
I don't believe the options over the last two weeks have been nearly adventurous enough.

Now i don't think they should have the option of three unique, somewhat obscure ingredients that very few would be familiar with, but i do think there should be at least one truly 'left field' option so that if the contestant is ballsy enough they can get a true strategic advantage, ala Chris from a few weeks ago.

There were two problems last night. Firstly English food is not that adventurous, and secondly Julie has a limited range of what she feels comfortable cooking with.

Again, that's all fair enough, but my argument is that they should have replaced the lamb with something a little less safe, like a black pudding for instance.

If they'd done that, Julie would have been forced to avoid taking the boring, safe option, which would allow for more creativity and make for a more entertaining show.

There are a huge range of British fish dishes, very many classical English desserts with strawberries, but Julie had no clue so went for the safest option.

I didn't have a massive problem with the strawberries, the lamb was my biggest concern.

Maybe Stilton cheese could have been an option, but I'm struggling to think of too many other quintessential British core ingredients that would lead to creativity (ie sausage aint one of them).

Stilton would have been a solid option, if only to see their reaction to the smell.

I still maintain that black pudding or an authetic English pork sausage would have been a better option than the lamb, both in terms of bringing the contestants out of their comfort zone, and also from an entertainment point of view.
Sure they'd have got some bangers and mash (if they went down the pork sausage route), but it would have been interesting to see how the contestants dealt with a type of sausage that they're not familiar or comfortable with.

The challenge is as much to do with the theme as the core ingredient...

It should be, yes, but i think there have been times throughout the series when they've overlooked obvious straying from the theme, instead purely focusing on the quality of the food itself.

 

[Flawed Genius]

Aaron is absolutely f#cking useless. Total c#nt of a human being.

 

[HBF]

Not that unhappy that Aaron is gone, but a little surprised that George offered him a day at The Press Club, and that now he is working at another one of his restaurants - can't recall the name.

Pretty solid cooks are remaining, and let's not forget how much Julia would be learning away from Masterchef.

 

[WhyAlwaysMe]

Aaron is absolutely f#cking useless. Total c#nt of a human being.

He thinks he's so better than everyone else in the competition when in fact hes a peice of shit. I want to find his facebook and send him abusive messages.

 

[Kahuna]

Glad Aaron is gone, Julie is next to go at the next invention test. She just doesn't have the composure to make it in the kitchen. If she was against someone else apart from Aaron she would have gone.

 

[SunKing]

I agree Julie has the best chance of going next but you never know. Would have gone tonight if Aaron's rice was a tad spicier.

 

[ieasys00]

What an absolute joke - they ask the 3 people to cook paella - knowing that one of the three would have cooked it many times previously.

The show is a farce.

 

[SunKing]

What an absolute joke - they ask the 3 people to cook paella - knowing that one of the three would have cooked it many times previously.

The show is a farce.

Yeah thought the same thing; they are practically making sure Sandra doesn't get evicted.

Thankfully she hadn't cooked that type before.

 

[Exhale You]

Last nights choice of dish was a bit suss, but i feel that Sandra would have gone through regardless of the dish because she's got far more talent than Aaron and doesn't get flustered as easily as Julie.
I doubt she'll go a whole lot further (same goes for Julie), but i was glad she stayed and Aaron left.

I know it's been discussed before, but who do we all think will win?

Chris is the obvious favourite and has been for a while (and i'd love it if he won it), but as a bolter, i'm really liking Andre at the moment.
Whilst he's not been getting a whole lot of attention, he is very consistent, confident and proficient.

Julia is probably the second favourite, with Justine and Poh not far behind.
I wouldn't put it past Sam to go a long way too, both because he does have talent and because he's the 'face' of the show, if you will.

 

[Rocket23]

Last nights choice of dish was a bit suss, but i feel that Sandra would have gone through regardless of the dish because she's got far more talent than Aaron and doesn't get flustered as easily as Julie.
I doubt she'll go a whole lot further (same goes for Julie), but i was glad she stayed and Aaron left.

I know it's been discussed before, but who do we all think will win?

Chris is the obvious favourite and has been for a while (and i'd love it if he won it), but as a bolter, i'm really liking Andre at the moment.
Whilst he's not been getting a whole lot of attention, he is very consistent, confident and proficient.

Julia is probably the second favourite, with Justine and Poh not far behind.
I wouldn't put it past Sam to go a long way too, both because he does have talent and because he's the 'face' of the show, if you will.

My Dark Horse is Lucas. Hasnt really put a step wrong and because he is well liked and has the gift of the gab, has less chance of being eliminated in the Group challenges.

Having said that I reckon Chris is the best cook there and wouldnt mind him winning.

Is it just me or does anyone else think the judges are a little bit easier on Poh? She has made several mistakes (including serving up raw lamb) but always manages to dodge a bullet!

 

[toxic]

Could not agree more - Lucas is the man and Poh is a protected species

 

[Exhale You]

My Dark Horse is Lucas. Hasnt really put a step wrong and because he is well liked and has the gift of the gab, has less chance of being eliminated in the Group challenges.

Good call.
Like Andre, he's sitting back and going about his thing without a whole lot of fuss.
His knowledge of food seems to be excellent, and his food has been very solid.

Like Andre and Justine, he's one of those who is very consistent without ever really being spectacular, so it'll be interesting to see how they fare against the contestants who can actually do the spectacular, but also put in the odd shocker.

Is it just me or does anyone else think the judges are a little bit easier on Poh? She has made several mistakes (including serving up raw lamb) but always manages to dodge a bullet!

They set the stage during the audition phase when she was the only one they gave a second chance to.
Like Sam, the producers (and/or judges) obviously like what they bring to the show so they get a little bit more leeway than others (or in Sam's case, have the rules changed to keep them there).

And after last night, i guess you can add Sandra to the list of people who have been 'aided' in their bid to remain on the show.

 

[Papa G]

Would like to see Poh win it due to the fact my wife bought some of her art work a few years back and if she becomes somewhat famous in another sphere her art work might appreciate in value

Was at the Pub with a mate the other day and an ad for this was on the TV to which he proudly stated - "I poked her when she was 16, back then her name was just Sharon".

 

[Rocket23]

Was at the Pub with a mate the other day and an ad for this was on the TV to which he proudly stated - "I poked her when she was 16, back then her name was just Sharon".

HAHAHAHA That is bloody funny!

 

[toxic]

Would like to see Poh win it due to the fact my wife bought some of her art work a few years back and if she becomes somewhat famous in another sphere her art work might appreciate in value

Was at the Pub with a mate the other day and an ad for this was on the TV to which he proudly stated - "I poked her when she was 16, back then her name was just Sharon".

That is gold!!! but was she any good?

 

[crownie]

Good call.
Like Andre, he's sitting back and going about his thing without a whole lot of fuss.
His knowledge of food seems to be excellent, and his food has been very solid.

Like Andre and Justine, he's one of those who is very consistent without ever really being spectacular, so it'll be interesting to see how they fare against the contestants who can actually do the spectacular, but also put in the odd shocker.



They set the stage during the audition phase when she was the only one they gave a second chance to.
Like Sam, the producers (and/or judges) obviously like what they bring to the show so they get a little bit more leeway than others (or in Sam's case, have the rules changed to keep them there).

And after last night, i guess you can add Sandra to the list of people who have been 'aided' in their bid to remain on the show.

they are all given reciepes to follow and Sandra said she had not made it with those ingrdiants in it before.

there has been other pressure tests where one contestant has made it before and others havn't.

 

[Papa G]

That is gold!!! but was she any good?

A bit of beer did squirt out my nose when he said it.

She is reasonably cute now at the age of 35 so I'd imagine she would have been fine as a tender young 16 year old so eager to please she anglo-cized her name to Sharon. He didn't get any further than a smelly finger though.