{"id":47060,"date":"2013-08-15T00:58:12","date_gmt":"2013-08-14T22:58:12","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.whalecottage.com\/blog\/?p=47060"},"modified":"2013-08-15T01:40:45","modified_gmt":"2013-08-14T23:40:45","slug":"masterchef-sa-season-2-episode-20-amanda-beck-kneaded-out-at-castellis-kamini-pather-and-tiron-eloff-attend-masterclass-in-jemma-valley","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.chrisvonulmenstein.com\/blog\/restaurant-news\/masterchef-sa-season-2-episode-20-amanda-beck-kneaded-out-at-castellis-kamini-pather-and-tiron-eloff-attend-masterclass-in-jemma-valley\/","title":{"rendered":"MasterChef SA Season 2 episode 20: Amanda Beck kneaded out at Castelli’s, Kamini Pather and Tiron Eloff attend MasterClass in Jemma Valley!"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"MasterChef<\/a>Last night’s episode 20 of MasterChef SA was one of two extremes, showing off the leading restaurant Ristorante Castelli in Addis Ababa, to a MasterClass being hosted in the Jemma Valley two hours away, in Ethiopia.<\/p>\n

Leandri van der Wat and Amanda Beck went to the Italian Ristorante Castelli, where the Pressure Test was conducted in their kitchen, much being made of their ‘professional kitchen’<\/em>, the first time that both Finalists had cooked in one. \u00a0It looked old-fashioned, the restaurant being 65 years old, and is run by Rosa Castelli and her brother-in-law Carlo, with \"MasterChef<\/a>her daughter Rossella appearing on TV but not saying a word nor being involved in judging the dishes. \u00a0The restaurant has been described\"MasterChef<\/a> by Sir Bob Geldof as the ‘best Italian restaurant in the world bar none’<\/em>, reported The Telegraph<\/strong><\/span><\/a>, and little has changed in the restaurant over time. It is known as the best restaurant in Addis Ababa. Sir Bob added: ‘You haven’t tasted real pasta until you’ve been there’<\/em>! \u00a0 The reception has many framed photographs of the famous people who have eaten there, including Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, and Bono. \u00a0Chef Pete Goffe-Wood explained that Ethiopia has never been occupied, despite an attempt by the Italians.<\/p>\n

The Pressure Test was to recreate the Castelli’s Lobster Raviolo, \"MasterChef<\/a>filled with ricotta, spinach, and tomato, and served with lobster and a lobster bisque. \u00a0 Chef Andrew Atkinson advised that the pasta should be prepared ‘al dente’<\/em>, being thin but not too soft. \u00a0They had to make their own pasta in the challenge, and Chef Andrew said that making pasta is an art\u00a0form in itself, needing good kneading to release the glutens in the dough. Chef Benny explained how to make the Bisque, with tomato paste, wine, brandy, and cream. \u00a0The two Finalists were given 60 minutes to prepare the dish, with ingredients and the recipe waiting for them in their preparation areas.<\/p>\n

\"MasterChef<\/a>Amanda seemed happy and ‘in her element’<\/em>, and said ‘the peace is in me’<\/em>\u00a0compared to having ‘lost the plot’<\/em> in Tuesday’s episode 19<\/span><\/strong><\/a>, she said at the start to the Pressure Test. \u00a0She had made pasta once before, but it was not perfect, she admitted. \u00a0She knew that the pasta must be soft and shiny, and therefore she added extra water. \u00a0She wasn’t sure about preparing the lobster for the bisque, and chopped it into bigger pieces. \u00a0She started panicking, fearing that she was running out of time. She said that she was ‘living her dream, and that she was fighting for her apron<\/em>‘. \u00a0She struggled to use the pasta machine to make the pasta. \u00a0She was not 100% happy with her effort, saying philosophically ‘it is what it is<\/em>‘. \u00a0An edge of her pasta broke off, and she said ‘just tough I guess’<\/em>. \u00a0She said that she was the most calm she had been in a Pressure Test, and smiled, as she was living her dream. \u00a0She decided to not give up until the end. Chef Pete said that had she given up, she would not have known what she could have done. \u00a0 He could not taste the crayfish, and said that water had entered the raviolo, affecting its flavour. \u00a0 Chef Benny Masekwameng said that her lobster bisque was perfect, but that the raviolo had not cooked enough, as he tasted a thick layer of tomato. \u00a0Chef Andrew said the bisque was balanced, that it was ‘spot on’<\/em>, and he praised her for fighting through.<\/p>\n

Leandri said it was fun and challenging to be cooking in the kitchen at Castelli’s. \u00a0\"MasterChef<\/a> She got her pots of water boiling upfront, to not lose time. \u00a0She said that she is working in an Italian restaurant, and therefore her pasta ‘can’t be off<\/em>‘. \u00a0She put strong pressure into the kneading of her dough. She described her work with the lobster as ‘hacking<\/em>‘, to get it into small pieces. \u00a0She had past experience with a pasta machine, but used a rolling pin in the end. \u00a0Her bisque was strong, having reduced too much, and she added white wine twice, the judges observed. \u00a0In presenting her dish to the judges, she said her dream is to open a Bistro serving coffee, and she wants to help children. \u00a0 Chef Pete told her that she was ‘progressing by leaps and bounds<\/em>‘, and that she is no longer playing it safe. \u00a0Her pasta was spot on, but the sauce was over-reduced. \u00a0Chef Andrew said her pasta and the filling were good, while Chef Benny added that the consistency of the pasta was correct. \u00a0What was most impressive was Leandri’s support of Amanda, when she was losing faith in her pasta preparation, and she encouraged her to keep going.<\/p>\n

\"MasterChef<\/a>Kamini Pather and Tiron Eloff had jointly won a MasterClass in episode 19<\/strong> <\/span><\/a>with Chef Habte Ayehu (no reference found about him on Google) in the impressive Jemma Valley, named after the river below and surrounded by mountains, which has a bridge built over it by the Portuguese in \u00a0the 16th century, said to have been made by mixing egg and lime. \u00a0He demonstrated the making of a traditional ‘Doro wat’\u00a0<\/em>stew, which is served at celebrations and shared with the family. \u00a0Chef Habte made the wat with dry fried onions, cooking in their own juice, added oil, \"MasterChef<\/a>chili powder, berbere spice, feenugreek powder, and chicken pieces, creating layers of flavour Tiron said, and then water, garlic, and ginger. The dish was served with boiled egg, ayib cheese, and injera bread. \u00a0The chef also made a vegetarian stew called ‘Shiro’<\/em>, explaining that Wednesdays and Fridays are vegetarian days in the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, and this means that no eggs, butter or milk are used in the preparation of dishes on these days.<\/p>\n

The judges had a tough time in deciding who they were sending home, as both Leandri\u00a0and Amanda had made the dish of a similar standard. They said that the two had cooked their heart out, that both had seen highs and lows, and that both ‘have got what it takes to work in a professional kitchen’<\/em>. Their decision was to send Amanda home, and she was very positive about the decision, yet she\"MasterChef<\/a> cried. \u00a0Chef Benny said that she belongs in the kitchen, and that everything happens for a reason. Chef Pete congratulated Leandri for no longer playing it safe. \u00a0She was tasked with taking the news to the other Finalists, who could not see the Pressure Test, that ‘we are not yet done with Ethiopia’.<\/em> \u00a0The other four Finalists were delighted to see Leandri survive the Pressure Test, and hugged her. \u00a0 From the preview of next week’s episode 21 it would appear that the Top 7 Finalists will cook at an Ethiopian market for the locals, and have to dish up for a ‘top sports star<\/em>‘.<\/p>\n

For an overview of what is lying ahead for the rest of Season 2\u00a0read here.<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0For behind the scenes information on the filming of Season 2 in January\u00a0read here<\/a><\/strong>. \u00a0For an overview of episode 1 of Season 2\u00a0read here.<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0For an overview of episode 2 of Season 2\u00a0read here<\/a>,<\/strong>\u00a0for episode 3\u00a0read here<\/a>,\u00a0<\/strong>for\u00a0episode 4\u00a0<\/a><\/strong>here, episode 5\u00a0here,<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0 episode\u00a06 here<\/a>,<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0episode 7<\/a>,\u00a0<\/strong>\u00a0episode 8<\/a>,\u00a0episode 9<\/a>,<\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0episode 10<\/strong><\/a>, \u00a0episode 11<\/strong><\/a>, \u00a0episode 12<\/a>,\u00a0<\/strong>\u00a0episode 13,<\/strong>\u00a0<\/a>\u00a0episode 14<\/a>,<\/strong>\u00a0episode 15<\/a>,<\/strong>\u00a0episode 16<\/a>,\u00a0<\/strong>episode 17<\/a>,<\/strong>\u00a0episode 18<\/a>,\u00a0<\/strong>and episode 19<\/strong> <\/span><\/a>read here. \u00a0Enter our competitions, to predict the Finalist who will be\u00a0eliminated in the next\u00a0Pressure Test,\u00a0and which\u00a0Finalist will win MasterChef SA Season 2<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n

MasterChef SA, Season 2. Tuesdays and Wednesdays 19h30 \u2013 20h30. \u00a0www.masterchefsa.dstv.co<\/a>\u00a0 Twitter: @MasterChef_SA.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Chris von Ulmenstein, Whale Cottage Portfolio:\u00a0www.whalecottage.com<\/a>\u00a0Twitter: @WhaleCottage<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Last night’s episode 20 of MasterChef SA was one of two extremes, showing off the leading restaurant Ristorante Castelli in Addis Ababa, to a MasterClass being hosted in the Jemma Valley two hours away, in Ethiopia. Leandri van der Wat and Amanda Beck went to the Italian Ristorante Castelli, where the Pressure Test was conducted […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false},"categories":[124,587,266,14539,20,21],"tags":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t