Three minutes flashes by in a blink of an eye. That’s what home cooks found out during MasterChef Canada‘s Season 3 open casting call in Toronto this past weekend. Those hoping to snag a spot in CTV’s culinary competition had only three minutes to plate the food they’d prepared before the show’s producers and judges made the rounds to poke, prod, taste and talk about their selections.
TV, Eh? shadowed Mary Berg through the process. The self-professed “vegetarian who loves to cook meat and drink gravy” was prompted to try out for Season 2 but never got around to it. This time she was ready, and brought a bright pink lemon meringue pie for MasterChef Canada‘s producers and tasting judges Jonathan Cheung and Melanie Stuparyk to try out. Celebrity chef Claudio Aprile swung by too, and was concerned by Berg’s admission she didn’t eat meat.
Look for a full story on Berg as Season 3 gets underway; in the meantime, enjoy these exclusive behind-the-scenes pictures and videos to give you a taste of what the process is like.
MasterChef Canada Season 3 auditions
Hundreds of hopefuls arrived to audition for Season 3 of MasterChef Canada
MasterChef Canada Season 3 auditions
Home cooks lined up outside a Toronto hotel, hoping to audition
MasterChef Canada Season 3 auditions
The first group of 48 home cooks we welcomed by MasterChef Canada's producers
MasterChef Canada Season 3 auditions
The home cooks took the time to record their 15 minutes of auction fame
MasterChef Canada Season 3 auditions
Coolers kept the prepared dishes away from prying eyes
MasterChef Canada Season 3 auditions
And ... GO! The home cooks had just three minutes to plate their finished creations before being judged
MasterChef Canada Season 3 auditions
Several judges made the rounds, asking about ingredients, recipe back stories and tasting
MasterChef Canada Season 3 auditions
Some brave media participated in the audition process
MasterChef Canada Season 3 auditions
It was hard NOT to sample any of the food offered up for judging
MasterChef Canada Season 3 auditions
A salmon appetizer
MasterChef Canada Season 3 auditions
Fish and coconut cake
MasterChef Canada Season 3 auditions
TV, Eh? shadowed Mary Berg through the audition process. Here's her take on lemon meringue pie
MasterChef Canada Season 3 auditions
Mary Berg explains the story behind her pie
MasterChef Canada Season 3 auditions
Mary Berg presents the plate that won her a spot in the next round!