An unusual Taste Test, which sounded easier than it was, was the start to episode 17 of MasterChef SA last night, when the nine Finalists were each given a bowl of fruit and some juices to taste and identify. This led to a Challenge using a fruit, with a winner of the Challenge potentially winning an Immunity Pin, and three Finalists going into the Elimination Test tonight.
We have seen Taste Tests on MasterChef SA before, but never with the Finalists blindfolded. Once they had identified the fruits on the basis of taste, smell, and touch, they had to hold up the whole fruit from the bowl for the judges to see. An avocado, plum, strawberry juice, grape juice, and red currant were the correct fruits tasted. Ozzie Osman won the taste test, being the last remaining Finalist, having correctly 
identified all five fruits. The prize was that he was allowed to choose one of three fruits as the core ingredient for the Invention Test, going into the Pantry with Chef Benny Masekwameng to choose between coconuts (whole, desiccated, milk, cream), peaches (fresh, dried, preserved), and figs (dried, fresh, preserved). He chose coconuts, saying they are part of his culture. The winner of the Invention Test would go into a cook-off against one of South Africa’s top chefs and should he/she win, an Immunity Pin would be won which would offer immunity against a future Elimination Test. The bottom three dishes would go into the Pressure Test, and one Finalist will go home tonight. The Finalists were given 60 minutes to prepare their dishes, which included 5 minutes in the Pantry to get their ingredients.
Amanda Beck made pan seared duck breast with a Thai green curry paste, which was praised by Chef Pete Goffe-Wood for its perfectly cooked duck, but he was disappointed in the broth, which had no seasoning. Chef Andrew Atkinson said that the coconut taste had got lost in her dish. 
Karen Els said that she is used to cooking with coconut, but kicked herself for forgetting to take tomatoes from the Pantry for her prawn curry dish, which she made with onion and coconut badji (spiced Indian vegetables). Chef Andrew liked the presentation of her dish inside the coconut shell, but she had overspiced her dish, and it lost the taste of the coconut. Kamini Pather’s dish did not receive much airtime, being a soft Indian prawn curry with pea and coconut pilaf. Feedback was short and sweet, and only from Chef Pete, saying that the sauce was too salty, and overpowered the coconut, the first negative feedback Kamini has received on the show.
Joani Mitchell made coconut milk doughnuts, but her doughnut did not cook equally on both sides. Baking has been her strength in the past, but last night things did not go well for her, Chef Pete saying that her dish was not well cooked, and that it was therefore difficult to eat. He could not pick up the taste of the coconut. She had stretched herself too far to impress the judges, he said. Chef Andrew said that she had played it safe in her dish design, and should have made it the best. Seline van der Wat made coconut sponge cake lamingtons with lemongrass, mint jelly and vanilla. Her feedback was also short and sweet, Chef Benny saying that it was a great take on lamingtons. Leandri van der Wat said that is hard to choose the ingredients for a dish, in also planning 
its elements, within 5 minutes. She made a coconut tart and ice cream with lemon grass, fresh chili, and ginger. She was worried about the ice cream not setting, but all went well, and she was proud of how it turned out. Chef Andrew said her tart was ‘wow’, the flavours had come together, her tart was moist, his tastebuds had lit up, and he could taste the coconut. Chef Benny added that her ice cream was smooth and creamy, and that her dish was ‘well done‘.
Jason Steel made a coconut panna cotta and granita, and also received feedback that was short and sweet, Chef Pete saying that his dish had perfect balance, and was ‘magnificent‘. Tiron Eloff was the first to be eliminated in the fruit taste test, mistaking the
feel of a lemon for an avocado. He prepared a chocolate ganache tart with lime crème anglaise and sugared coconut candy, receiving compliments all round. Chef Benny said that his confidence is at a good level, and that he is cooking from the heart. Chef Pete added that the dish had a lovely consistency and crunchy base, properly cooked through, with a gorgeous chocolate filling, making it a ‘magnificent dessert’. Chef Andrew said that the flavours are ‘superb’, and that he could taste the coconut, coming straight to the top. Ozzy had a tough time, and was worried that his dish was too simplistic, especially as he had the advantage of planning his dish before the other Finalists, having made the coconut choice. He made coconut crumbed prawns with coconut glazed vegetables, and a coconut and coriander cream. Chef Pete was harsh in his feedback, saying that he had chosen the most difficult fruit, and that he had a headstart over the other Finalists, but that he had no plan with the dish. Chef Andrew said that he had played it safe with his dish, that it was not complex, and that the coconut was killed with too much garlic. Chef Benny added that there was not enough crumb coating of the prawns and that most of it probably was at the bottom of the fryer, and that there was too much sweetness.
The best three dishes were those by Tiron, Leandre, and Jason, but it was Tiron who made 
the Dish of the Day, and who will go up against the top chef to fight for the Immunity Pin tonight. Karen, Joani, and Ozzy will go into the Pressure Test tonight, their dishes having been rated as the bottom three.
For an overview of what is lying ahead for the rest of Season 2 read here. For behind the scenes information on the filming of Season 2 in January read here. For an overview of episode 1 of Season 2 read here. For an overview of episode 2 of Season 2 read here, for episode 3 read here, for episode 4 here, episode 5 here, episode 6 here, episode 7, episode 8, episode 9, and episode 10, episode 11, episode 12, episode 13, episode 14, episode 15, and episode 16 read here. Enter our competitions, to predict the Finalist who will be eliminated in the next Pressure Test, and which Finalist will win MasterChef SA Season 2.
MasterChef SA Season 2. Tuesdays and Wednesdays 19h30 – 20h30. www.masterchefsa.dstv.co Twitter: @MasterChef_SA.
Chris von Ulmenstein, Whale Cottage Portfolio: www.whalecottage.com Twitter: @WhaleCottage
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