Everything about Masterchef Canada, eh?

Set visit: MasterChef Canada cooks up Season 3

A cardinal rule in a reality is never, ever come off as cocky or over-confident in front of someone who is judging you. Two MasterChef Canada contestants learned the hard way when they received a dressing down from Michael Bonacini, Alvin Leung and Claudio Aprile during the first day of production on Season 3.

CTV’s culinary competition—set to return in early 2016—started rolling on two months of production with plenty of drama. Myself, along with longtime film and television critic Chris Jancelewicz, spent several hours in the series’ super-secret set hidden just west of Toronto and it was a pretty impressive sight. One corner of the expansive building is devoted to shelves piled with pots and pans, another area is set up for confessional one-on-ones and a conga line of fridges are labelled with daily ingredients. Once a warehouse, Proper Television transformed it, putting in the water, power and gas lines needed to create stations for each of the finalists to prepare their dishes for judging.

Bell Media

It’s one thing to watch the finished product on television; it’s quite another to witness the raw emotion in-person. One after another, competitors hoping to move past the auction round had an hour to prep their signature dish in front of their fellow contestants and show producers before rolling their cart in front of the judges for a final five minutes of finishing touches and plating. Devoid of a music track, those minutes with Claudio, Alvin and Michael were a study in stress. Peppered by the trio’s questions about who they were and what the heck they were doing, sweat beaded on foreheads and stammering began. I squirmed as the chefs stepped forward for tasting, delivered their remarks and abruptly turned their backs on the contestants and walking away. Claudio was especially good at this; he’s developed quite the withering stare for Season 3.

Were aprons awarded while I watched? Yes, though fewer than I imagined. I can’t tell you who advanced and who didn’t yet, but I can say that Season 3 of MasterChef Canada promises to be the most challenging yet.

MasterChef Canada returns in 2016 on CTV.

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MasterChef Canada heads to Toronto for auditions

From a media release:

Kitchens are heating up this summer as talented and passionate Canadian home cooks have the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to follow their culinary dreams during the MASTERCHEF CANADA Season 3 Open Casting Call July 18 and 19 in Toronto. Taking place at the InterContinental Toronto Centre Hotel, hopefuls can also apply online at CTV.ca/MasterChefCanada until Sunday, July 19.

Home cooks are encouraged to arrive at the MASTERCHEF CANADA Season 3 Open Casting Call for 7 a.m. ET on either Saturday, July 18 or Sunday, July 19 at the InterContinental Toronto Centre Hotel (225 Front St. W). MASTERCHEF CANADA hopefuls are asked to bring one prepared dish, which they will be given three minutes to plate before presenting to professional tasters. There will not be any kitchen facilities or supplies available, all dishes will be tasted at room temperature, and applicants must be able to carry everything they need into the audition room.

Prospective competitors will be judged on how their dishes taste, as well as plating, creativity, skill, and food knowledge. Home cooks are encouraged to visit CTV.ca/MasterChefCanada to complete the online application in advance of their in-person audition, and to read the FAQs carefully. All applicants must be amateurs, and cannot have worked professionally in a culinary environment as a cook, chef, or in food preparation.

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Saving Hope returns to CTV this fall

This morning, CTV was the last of the major Canadian networks to announce a 2015/16 schedule after the annual Hollywood buying spree.

CBC this fall has a predominantly Canadian lineup with some UK and Australian acquisitions, City has more Sunnyside plus CBC’s Mr. D crossing networks, and Global has … nothing. While  boasting “17 hours of simulcast, more than any other Canadian network,” CTV has made room in their fall schedule for a new season of Saving Hope in a plum Thursday 9 pm timeslot, as well as their Saturday stalwart newsmagazine W5 celebrating 50 years on air.

Continuing Canadian daytime shows include The Marilyn Denis Show and The Social, and CTV will host The 2016 Juno Awards as well.

MasterChef Canada and Motive will return midseason in 2016, making CTV the home to the most Cancon of the major private networks this coming year (thanks at least in part to their required benefits spending after the Astral acquisition).

Saturday on baby sister network CTV TWO is repurposed Cancon night, with reruns of The Listener, Flashpoint, Motive and W5.

Look for the full 2015/16 schedule announcement here.

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MasterChef Canada winner David Jorge cooks up his next move

David Jorge may have won the MasterChef Canada title, trophy and $100,000 windfall, but his two sons, JJ and Nuno, didn’t do too badly either for keeping Dad’s win a secret for months.

“My children did an amazing job,” the Surrey B.C. native said the day after he beat out Line Pelletier for the culinary win. “Even their kindergarten teacher complimented them on keeping the secret. The deal was that if they kept it quiet we’d take them to Disneyland. So we’re doing that.”

Many thought Season 2 of the reality competition was Jorge’s to lose. After all, despite one or two minor flubs along the way he’d been near or at the top of the pack, winning Mystery Box Challenges and keeping himself up in the gallery—and safe—from elimination. His domination was pre-planned in advance back home before Jorge flew east to compete, though he did have to tweak his season finale three-course meal a little bit and swap in the tomato appetizer because fellow competitor Cody Karey made a similar pasta plate earlier on.

Not only did Jorge win consistently, but he was a good guy about it. The result? Rather than turn on him and try to take him out, the MasterChef Canada finalists could only cheer him on from the sidelines. Jorge admits that wasn’t part of his plan, but who he is.

“Unfortunately, or fortunately, I’m one of those people who wants to be everybody’s friend,” Jorge said with a laugh. “I didn’t get to cook in the first episode, so I made a huge meal for everyone. I bought a lamb and roasted that—I tried to do it in an hour—so by the time they had settled in I had this huge meal ready for them. When you feed somebody, they become immediate friends.”

Jorge may have won a crucial $100,000 to put towards a restaurant in Surrey or Vancouver, but he’s not rushing anything yet. The concrete business is still putting bread on the table for his family, so there are no plans to quit that in the near future. Jorge’s immediate plot? Seek out investors to help get his eatery off the ground.

“I’ve been waiting for this news to come out before I started to talk to anyone about partnerships,” he said. “I’m hoping to do something within the next year, but I don’t want to jump into anything just because.”

Season 3 of MasterChef Canada is casting now. Head to the show’s website for details on how to apply.

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Review: And the MasterChef Canada winner is …

After weeks of competition, countless dishes, tough challenges and buckets of tears, MasterChef Canada crowned a Season 2 winner: concrete worker David Jorge edged out Line Pelletier to take the title, trophy and $100,000 grand prize.

“I am the best home cook in Canada and no one can take that away from me,” David said moments after he was named winner, sharing the good news (and more than a few tears) with his wife, mother and two sons. He plans to use his windfall to start his own restaurant.

Master_David

“I’m not going to give up because there is always another road to the finish line,” Line said after her close defeat. The finale was incredibly tight and I have to admit it did look like Line was going to snag the crown. Not only do cooking competitions tend to reward competitors who evolve week to week like she did, but her underdog story certainly made her one of the show’s sweethearts.

But nothing could stop David, whose culinary skills led him to numerous weekly wins and a spot at the top of the show almost every week.

In an interesting twist to what the pair did week to week, David opted for more rustic adaptations for his appetizer, main and dessert while Line went more high-class, proving she could compete with her counterpart. David’s early gaffe, leaving membrane on his sweetbreads, was erased by a stellar pork and seafood entree and layered lemon dessert. Line started off strong with a surf and turf app followed by an elk and potato main that landed a little left of the mark with judges Claudio Aprile, Alvin Leung and Michael Bonacini. I thought her dessert of a cheese plate was a little simplistic, though its multiple ingredients wowed the judging trio.

Unlike some cooking shows where one or more undeserving competitors squeak into the finale, I was pleased David and Line made it. Both definitely earned the right to be there and came off as giving, caring people who were respected by their fellow competitors.

Notes and quotes

  • Guys, is the making a heart with your fingers still a thing?
  • I really wish the editing for this episode had allowed us to see Line make those cool curled crackers for her appetizer.
  • When Claudio is freaking out over time, like he was with David during the dessert round, you know you’re in trouble.

What did you think of this season of MasterChef Canada? Comment below or on Twitter via @tv_eh.

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