MasterChef Australia: Heston week

This week Heston Blumenthal steps into the MasterChef kitchen, for a week of science and cuisine, culminating in a 2 hr Elimination / Masterclass on Thursday.

Sunday:
For the first challenge, each contestant must create a dish using only ingredients and equipment found in the contestants’ kitchen. The contestant with the most impressive dish gets to travel with Heston to the MasterChef Australia kitchen and receive first-hand information about the invention test, while the other contestants travel separately.

In tonight’s invention test, Heston asks the contestants to create a dish based on three criteria: use Australian produce and native ingredients, think about family eating habits and use their creativity. With 90 minutes and an open pantry, the contestant with the most impressive dish wins an advantage while the worst performing contestant will cook in an elimination challenge at the end of the week.

Monday:
In the ultimate cooking class, the contestants must re-create one of Heston’s dishes: beetroot risotto. With no recipe, they must keep up with Heston as he cooks the dish in front of them, but they must finish cooking at the same time.
The contestant whose dish most resembles Heston’s wins an advantage in the next challenge. The contestant with the least impressive dish will cook in an elimination challenge at the end of the week.

Tuesday:
In tonight’s off-site challenge, Heston sets the task for the five contestants cooking. They must “pimp” the menu of a local Melbourne pub and run the service for 120 customers, with Heston at the helm.
The winner of last night’s challenge gets first choice of five standard pub dishes: parmigiana, catch of the day, pasta of the day, surf and turf, and roast of the day. The contestant who performs best wins an advantage in the next challenge while the least successful contestant will cook in an elimination challenge at the end of the week.

Wednesday:
The four contestants cooking must make a dish inspired by the five senses: taste, sight, smell, sound or touch. While each contestant must highlight taste in their dish, each cook is allocated one of the other four senses to showcase in their cooking.
The winner of yesterday’s service challenge gets to choose their sense first.
With two hours on the clock, the contestants must plan and cook a dish. The three contestants with the most impressive dishes will go straight through to the finals week, while the contestant with the least impressive dish will cook off in tomorrow’s elimination challenge.

Thursday:
The four worst performing contestants across the week face off in an elimination challenge. Surviving this challenge will secure a spot in finals week but for one contestant, it will be their last cook in the MasterChef Australia kitchen.
The contestants must make a dish that is delicious yet deceptive in some way, where something on the plate is not as it seems. With two hours on the clock to plan and cook the dish, the contestant with the least impressive dish will be eliminated from the competition.
The week with Heston concludes in the picturesque Yarra Valley at one of the region’s premiere food and wine destinations, Stones, for a very special MasterClass.

7:30pm Sunday – Thursday on TEN.