Masterchef South Africa!

[Zurie]

Well, I'm probably a bit bonkers, but I don't get tired of the various Masterchef competitions!

Our local one starts tonight, and I can't wait!

If it shows anywhere else in the world, I'd love to know. Not sure if it's only showing in S A.

[I'mPat]

As you know Zurie there is one here in Australia with spin offs of Celebrity Masterchef and Childrens Masterchef. I believe it originated in Britain and there is a similar programme in the States but goes by a different name and is not part of the Masterchef franchise so to speak. Also in the States is a programme I believe Curtis Stone has become involved in which is run along the lines of Masterchef but the contestants are qualified chefs (sort of a cross between Masterchef and Iron Chef - I have only read about it never seen it but they were looking at one point of trying it here in Australia but it fell through as they couldn't get the backing and finance).

O'kay just did a quick google search and came up with the following

Masterchef UK
Masterchef Ireland
Masterchef US
Masterchef New Zealand and
Masterchef - The Professionals - BBC Lifestyle (sounds like the American one I mentioned above)


Pat

[Zurie]

Good grief, Pat, that's a lot, hey??

I am not so fond of the Celebrity Masterchef series.

I like it where ordinary people like you and me compete!

However ... ohmig ... I am soooo glad I do not have to take part!! What a hard slog that is!

[Zurie]

Oh gee -- I missed a program and watched the repeat today @ 13.00h.

Sorry if I tell a brief story: many years ago when I was young we were living in Johannesburg. A newspaper put on an annual "best dish" competition. You had to cook your dish in a very public place (people wandered in and out and kept you from cooking by asking lots of questions!).

I took part -- more fool me -- in 2 of these competitions. In each I came 2nd. Not a great thing -- in those days I was game for anything!!

The local South African Masterchef has the same kind of format as the Australian series. So today 5 "losers" had to do a cook-out to weed out 2, and 3 would go through.

Good grief, I was just SO happy that I wasn't young enough to take part (I would have tried!!)

These poor cooks (one a black girl from Namibia) had to cook both very trad Afrikaans "koeksisters" as well as very trad Cape Malay "koesisters".

Both are sweet snacks, both require dunking deep-fried batter in syrups of different temperatures. I assure you, that kind of finicky baking is hell!!

(One contestant forgot to put in baking powder : the hapless girl from Namibia, who didn't even know what koeksisters were, were one of the losers. Shame.)

Oh wow, girls, I am so happy I am not one of even the best contestants!! My nerves would not be able to stand the pace any more!

[I'mPat]

Always hate to see someone elimanated but at the end of the day it is a competition (just not one I would enter - just not that brave ) but when they do the clip of what they have achieved it is amazing how far some of them have come especially in their plating skills.


Pat

[I'mPat]

What brought you to the forum and in particular this topic - Zurie and I are both Masterchef fans (just finished watching the 4th series here in Australia where they had a cook off, of one of the contestants against a masterchef for an immunity pin - the masterchef had 2 of his assistants and the contestant got to choose 2 chefs from the other 23 finsalists as his; there was 2 core ingredients which the masterchef got the choice of to be the core ingredients over 3 courses (they were honey and lemons), the masterchef chose lemons and the contestants had 90 minutes to produce their 3 courses and the masterchef and his team (who had 27 years professional experience between them) had 60 minutes.. Was a great watch.

Here is the website were you can watch the episode

http://www.masterchef.com.au/home.htm (you may have to join to do so but there is no charge)

The is the link for Masterchef South Africa

http://www.masterchef-southafrica.co.za/


Pat

[I'mPat]

Have put the link of South Africa Mastechef in the Celebrity Chefs and Famous Cooks list.


Pat

[I'mPat]

Zurie - how is your series of Masterchef going, here in Australia we are on our 4th and have already had 4 eliminations out of the top 24, so far in the challenges the judges have either been the regular 3 judges and sometimes a guest one or the public vote or who gets the most cash into the till (taking over a restaurant for a service). There has been some really wow cooking and I think glad I'm not there, just couldn't handle all that pressure. There was a leak that they will be going to Italy in this series (seems the judges and some of contestants came down really sick so shooting was delayed which put things out of kilter for them, so looking forward to seeing that. We have it on from Sunday to Friday and the DH hates it he refers to it as Mastercrap so he goes and watches whatever on the other tv (usually motor racing, which I have no interest in or fishing, which I do enjoy or he puts on a DVD or plays on the computer.


Pat

[Chocolatl]

Season 3 of the American version starts on Monday.

[Zurie]

Oh my goodness!!

Thanks for keeping me up to date.

I think we only see the overseas series quite a long time after they happened, due to costs.

Ours is now at the nail-biting stage ...

In fact, bank people are coming to talk to my DH on Tuesday, and invited us out to dinner afterwards -- and I said NO WAY, it's Masterchef night! So the DH used ME as an excuse (he does not want to eat out either!!) to email them, to let them know we are declining their kind invitation, as his wife wants to watch SA Masterchef that night ...

(Makes me think of the Tuesday nights long ago when "Dallas" was showing, and most restaurants shut up shop!!!! )

In real fact, I'd hate to go out (in our small area) to an indifferent meal with total strangers ... Give me Masterchef, a hot bath, and a book right now -- it's deepest midwinter here.

[I'mPat]

I missed the grand finale of series 2 as it showed on Mother's day and the DH had already booked a restaurant and arranged with the DD and her partner to be there - I watched a replay on the computer the next day.


Pat

[Chocolatl]

One of the contestants on the American version is blind. She made a very delicious-looking version of Vietnamese clay pot catfish. I'm hoping for great things.

[I'mPat]

That would certainly be a challenge for her. In our last series there was a man who was deaf and he lip read and could speak.


Pat

[Chocolatl]

It was kind of scary to watch her slice the lemon, but she seems very competent and confident.

I expect that the biggest challenge for her is going to be presentation, but perhaps they'll let her husband assist with that.

[I'mPat]

Oh Chocolate do they have family present, in our series they don't they reside in this huge house (it starts with 24 finalists), at the moment there are 19. It starts out in the house in Sydney and at a separate property they have the kitchen/wharehouse facility. At the moment they are shooting in Tasmania, our island state, also known as the apple isle and it has been very exciting to watch.


Pat