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Masterchef Canada

MasterChef Canada Season 5 finalists revealed in advance of April 3 premiere on CTV

From a media release:

CTV unveiled today the Top 21 MASTERCHEF CANADA finalists competing for a chance to capture the life-changing title of Canada’s next MasterChef. In a MASTERCHEF CANADA first, this season the esteemed judges pay a surprise personal visit to 21 of the best home cooks across the country, who in turn set off to the MASTERCHEF CANADA Kitchen in Toronto to prepare a dish for the judges. The networks hit series fires up Season 5 on Tuesday, April 3 at 9 p.m. ET / 8 p.m. MT on CTV and CTV GO.

Distinguished Canadian judges Michael Bonacini (O&B restaurant empire), Alvin Leung (Bo Innovation in Hong Kong), and Claudio Aprile (Copetin Restaurant & Bar) mark their joyous return to the MASTERCHEF CANADA Kitchen anticipating tastes of the tantalizing dishes prepared by the Top 21. The home cooks set out to wow the judges in a chance to prove they have the culinary chops to earn a coveted white apron, and a chance to compete for the MASTERCHEF CANADA title and $100,000 cash prize.

Season 5’s Top 21 home cooks vying for the MASTERCHEF CANADA title are:

  • Reem Ahmed, Biomedical Engineer from Toronto, Ont.
  • Oyakhire Airende, Operations Analyst from Calgary, Alta.
  • Eugene Cheng, Financial Advisor and Rowing Coach from Vancouver, B.C.
  • Kaegan Donnelly, Software Sales from Vancouver, B.C.
  • Claudia Escudero, Customer Service Representative from Dollard-des-Ormeaux, Qué.
  • Felix Fudge, Sanitization Specialist from Halifax, N.S.
  • Michael Griffiths, Mathematician from Richmond Hill, Ont.
  • Andy Hay, Small Business Owner from Dartmouth, N.S.
  • Jen Jenkins, Stay-at-Home Mom from Dawson Creek, B.C.
  • Nikita Kaisar, Human Resources Management Graduate from Toronto, Ont.
  • Layla Kelly, Musician from Halifax, N.S.
  • Marissa Leon-John, Tech Support Manager from Dollard–des–Ormeaux, Qué.
  • Peter Maltais, Truck Driver from Kitchener, Ont.
  • Dawn O’Hara, Stay-at-Home Mom from Calgary, Alta.
  • Sienna Potter, Customer Service Representative from Yarmouth, N.S.
  • Jonathan Rahim, Real Estate Agent from Winnipeg, Man.
  • Nadia Rehman, Account Executive from Markham, Ont.
  • Mike Schroeder, Autism Support Worker from Kentville, N.S.
  • Melissa Skowron, Facilities Coordinator from Calgary, Alta.
  • Beccy Stables, Tile Setter Assistant from Sherwood Park, Alta.
  • Michael Varga, Firefighter from Vancouver, B.C.

In each episode, the home cooks are pushed to the limit in a series of Mystery Box Challenges, Team Challenges, and Pressure Tests, with the three judges providing direction and feedback throughout the process. Each task is designed to test and hone the home cooks’ skill, knowledge, passion, and creativity. At the conclusion of each episode at least one person is eliminated until there are only two home cooks left vying for the life-changing MASTERCHEF CANADA title.

Fans are invited to visit CTV.ca/MasterChefCanada throughout the season for exclusive content, including background on this season’s finalists and the MASTERCHEF CANADA judges, as well as interviews, recipes, and more. CTV.ca also offers viewers behind-the-scenes glimpses of this season’s challenges, culinary creations, triumphs, and upsets.

Leading up to the Season 5 premiere, viewers across the country can satisfy their MASTERCHEF CANADA cravings by tuning to the series’ previous seasons, now streaming on CraveTV™.

Following the finale of Season 5 on CTV, the current season of MASTERCHEF CANADA will be available in its entirety on CraveTV, and is also slated to air on Gusto this summer (check local listings).

The MASTERCHEF format and finished programmes are represented internationally by Endemol Shine Group, and is based on a format originally created by Franc Roddam.

MASTERCHEF CANADA is produced by Proper Television in association with CTV. Proper’s Co-President Cathie James is the Executive Producer and Showrunner and Co-President Lesia Capone is Executive Producer.

 

 

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Featured, Masterchef Canada

Review: Birthday cakes and backfired plots on MasterChef Canada

4 Comments

Kudos to Christopher and David for having their hearts in the right place when they tried to give some people easier Elimination Challenge ingredients in order to carry them further into the competition. But as we’ve seen countless times on MasterChef Canada, currying favour to anyone usually results in disaster.

That was certainly the case with “No Piece of Cake” on Sunday, when Jon and Tammy found themselves in the bottom three next Kristen, who was sent home. Meanwhile, moves like giving Andrew and Michael difficult ingredients to cook with backfired, with both scoring the top plates of the night. Those two will head up the team challenges next week.

The episode had started so promisingly. The Top 11 were tasked with making a birthday cake that showed a side of themselves in it. Pastry expert Christopher was beaming the entire time, creating a four-later opera cake that was head and shoulders above everyone else, who could only hope for second place. That went to David; he bounced back from a bad week to nail his peanut butter and chocolate birthday cake. In fact, all of the cakes looked so delicious that Michael, Alvin and Claudio chose to taste four slices instead of three. (I’m thinking they did that because they love cake.)

David and Christopher headed into the pantry with control and safety for the week and plotted to put tough oddball pairings with chefs they wanted out and easier choices with less-talented cooks. Though their thinking was sound, Jon ran out of time and missed putting licorice sauce on his salmon and Tammy’s bacon and chocolate tarts were undercooked. Only Kristen out-did them with chicken and chorizo tacos that failed to showcase any grape jelly in her fruit salsa.

The MasterChef Canada Top 10 are:

  1. Michael
  2. Jon
  3. David
  4. Line
  5. Jennifer
  6. Tammy
  7. Sabrina
  8. Andrew
  9. Cody
  10. Christopher

Notes and quotes

  • Michael was wearing blue suede shoes when he met his girlfriend. Just throwing that out there.
  • I might be wrong, but this group of home cooks seems to be sharing ingredients pretty willingly with each other.
  • “Nothing is bluer than my hair.” Chef Alvin is right, Michael’s cake just didn’t stand up to the Dragon Chef’s ‘do.
  • I keep forgetting that I need to put a base layer of icing on my cake before the final coating.
  • The fact that Line and Jennifer’s Elimination Challenge plates weren’t even shown proved they were safe for another week.

MasterChef Canada airs Sundays at 7 p.m. ET on CTV.

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