Summary of episodes 12 and 13 of MasterChef Season 14
Tonight on MasterChef, the 12 remaining chefs work in pairs and take turns cooking during the infamous tag team challenge. Later, contestants have just 45 minutes to prepare a restaurant-quality dish that includes coffee, and Chef Gordon Ramsay kicks off the challenge by demonstrating his own espresso dish on the all-new two-part episode, “Tag Team / Storm’s a Brewin’,” of “MasterChef: Generations,” airing Wednesday, August 28 (8:00-10:00 p.m. ET/PT) on FOX.
Season 14 of MasterChef brings together amateur chefs from four generations – Millennials, Baby Boomers, Generation Z and Generation X – to prove that age doesn’t matter in the kitchen. The judges Gordon Ramsay, Aaron Sanchez, Joe Bastianich Each week, contestants are eliminated until a winner is crowned with the title of “MasterChef” and the grand prize of $250,000.
REGARD “MasterChef: Generations” juror Joe Bastianich: “It’s an interesting social documentary that we brought to life”
20:00 — Previously on “MasterChef”! In episodes 10 and 11, the reigning MasterChef champion Thomas Gillon was a guest judge as the chefs incorporated the iconic beer Blue Moon into their dishes, ensuring the bright flavors were at the forefront of their creations. Later, the chefs faced another on-site challenge where they had to cook a hearty lunch for over 100 workers. After the beer challenge, the Gen Z contestant Fatima sent home. After the field challenge, Gen Xer Arthur was also kicked out. Who will go home tonight?
20:05 — The remaining 12 chefs enter the MasterChef kitchen for the classic tag team challenge. Not only that, Gordon reveals that from now on, it’s everyone on their own. They’re no longer cooking alongside their generation! In this tag team challenge, the pairs will prepare four different dishes. It’s the toughest tag team challenge ever. For an appetizer, they’ll prepare Gen-Z king trumpet “scallops,” followed by a Millennial sesame-crusted ahi tuna, a Gen-X pancake filet mignon, and a Baby Boomer crepes suzette with whipped cream. As last week’s winning team captain, Rebecka selects the teams as follows:
labyrinth and Hallie
Daniela and Horacio
Murt and Kamay
Jeet and Adam
Michael and Kimberly
Rebekah and Becca
The two home cooks who prepare the best dishes of the night will receive BOTH immunity pins. One chef from the worst team will be eliminated. The chefs have 75 minutes to prepare a feast for the ages. The clock is now ticking!
8:30 Clock — This challenge starts off cordial, but you know someone is about to freak out. The more time passes, the more stressed everyone gets as the challenge progresses. The first personalities to clash are Murt and Kamay. Kamay has a strong voice and is a bit of a control addict. Murt is constantly on his toes and hates being told what to do. Rebecka was smart to pair the two together. Gordon says Horacio “has no idea what’s going on,” and it seems like the judges are just waiting for the first opportunity to take him out. Later, Gordon scolds Jeet and Adam for being the only team that hasn’t cooked any of their proteins. He’s baffled that they haven’t started their filet yet, thinking it should already be resting. There’s only 20 minutes left! Meanwhile, Kamay is frustrated because she’s forced to remake all the sauces Murt started. They’re a disaster. Rebecka admits that her partnership with Becca is not the “dream team” she imagined, and complains that Becca “barks orders.” Rebecka admits, “I’m used to being the one barking orders.” Maybe she shouldn’t have chosen the girl who reminds her of her younger self. With 10 minutes to go, Horacio screams for a doctor. Apparently he cut himself. Thankfully, the final changeover takes place and he’s finished cooking. The final chefs put the finishing touches on each dish as time runs out.
20:34 — Tonight, all the dishes are tried, starting with Hallie & Warren. Their trumpet mushrooms are nicely seared and taste delicious. Joe calls them “on point.” Their crusted tuna is overcooked and not evenly crusted, but tastes delicious. The filet mignon is nicely seared and nice medium rare, but the sauce is a little too reduced. The crepes look good, but they lack the whipped cream. Overall, these two were a success.
20:38 — Next up are Horacio and Daniela. The trumpet mushrooms are missing the vinaigrette, so they are a little dry. The Brussels sprouts are next to the tuna, but they should be with the fillet. At least the tuna tastes delicious. The fillet is also perfectly cooked, although it has the wrong garnish. The crepes are missing the sauce and also the whipped cream. Nevertheless, the crepes taste delicious and Horacio cries with pride. Although they taste good, Joe is extremely upset that they got the garnishes wrong.
20:40 — Next up are Kamay & Murt. Murt admits they have different cooking styles and had problems. They forgot to dress the kale and they didn’t even cook Brussels sprouts. Yuck! Visually, everything is a mess. The mushrooms lack the vinaigrette and taste woody. The tuna and puree are well cooked, but the kale is missing. The tuna is bland. The fillet is overcooked and not seasoned enough. The crepes look rushed and there is no whipped cream. These two are a complete disaster. Aarón says the crepes look like his kids’ socks.
20:45 — Jeet and Adam sit next to the judges’ table. The trumpet mushrooms are undercooked and underseasoned. The tuna is so overcooked it looks like “canned tuna.” Aaron calls the sauce a disgrace. The filet mignon looks “hammered” and lacks sauce. Gordon says it looks like a hockey puck. The crepes are too thick and soak up all the sauce. Joe says it’s like “eating a kitchen sponge.”
20:47 — Next up are Michael and Kimberly. Gordon praises them for their four dishes that are perfectly balanced with each ingredient. The trumpet mushrooms look “stunning” and are wonderfully seasoned. The tuna is perfectly cooked and the mashed potatoes are creamy and rich. The fillet looks delicious and is beautifully medium rare. Aarón calls the sauce “convincing” and “delicious.” The crepes are the first to be served with whipped cream and taste great. Simply the best team of the night.
20:54 — The last duo to judge are Rebecka and Becca. The mushrooms are undercooked and the tuna is uneven. The purée lacks wasabi. The fillet is unevenly seared but well seasoned. The crepes are a touch too thick but all the elements are there.
21:00 — The judges deliberate and have made their decisions. The winning team is Michael and Kimberly, who both walk away with an immunity pin and a huge advantage in the next challenge. The losing team is Adam and Jeet, but the amateur chef leaving the competition is Jeet.
21:05 — The top 11 home cooks return to the MasterChef kitchen for their next challenge. They must prepare a restaurant-quality dish using coffee. The winner of this challenge will receive the final immunity pin of the competition. Remember, both Michael and Kimberly are safe, so only nine chefs will be taking part in this challenge. Before everyone begins, Gordon gives a quick demo. Now that’s a masterclass!
21:10 — After Gordon’s performance, Joe tells the contestants they have 45 minutes to prepare their dish and that the judges want to use coffee in at least two different ways. And now comes the surprise! As the winners of the final challenge, Michael and Kimberly will select three home cooks who must prepare a dessert using coffee tonight. They’re taking on Adam, Rebecka and Becca. Their 45 minutes start now! The one most excited about this challenge is Daniela, who says coffee is an integral part of her Mexican heritage. She’s ready to prepare a top dish for the first time this season.
21:25 — For religious reasons, Becca has never had coffee and never will. And now she has to make a dessert out of it. Luckily, she won the last baking competition, so hopefully she can come up with something amazing. For the first time in this competition, Rebecka is having a hard time and has to start her pastry over with only 22 minutes left. She yells up to the balcony, “You’re sending me home tonight!”
21:45 — Time is up and the judges go through the kitchen to review the best and worst dishes. First, they call out the best of the night, starting with Kamay’s coffee-marinated lamb chop, couscous, coffee-spiced carrots, and a port-wine coffee reduction sauce. Gordon praises her presentation, and the preparation of the lamb is beautiful. Joe says the coffee is perfectly integrated. Next up is Murt’s deconstructed stuffed peppers with coffee-infused hanger steak, coffee corn, avocado cream, and cilantro rice. Gordon says the steak is “on point” and calls the idea of this dish “clever.” Aarón praises the depth of flavor, while Joe says it’s not “refined,” but “a crowd favorite.” The third top dish is Warren’s coffee-crusted veal chop with parsnip puree, coffee-roasted cabbage, and red wine coffee reduction sauce. The veal is a little too medium rare, but delicious. Aarón compliments the mushrooms and Joe says the cabbage is “a little tough” but overall it turned out well. After a short deliberation, the judges decide that Kamay is the winner of this challenge! She will enjoy immunity in the next challenge.
21:55 — The first dish in danger of being eliminated is Rebecka’s coffee custard crinkle cake with chocolate coffee sauce. Joe says Rebecka’s ambition won out, but the flavor is good. Aarón says the fact that the coffee came through so often prevented many mishaps. Joe says, “It’s just not that good.” Next up is Adam’s coffee panna cotta with coffee liqueur-poached pear, mascarpone cream, and coffee liqueur syrup. He’s in tears as he presents his dessert. The panna cotta isn’t properly set, but the flavors are there. The poached pear is beautifully done, but the cream is sloppy. Aarón says it’s difficult to work around so many technical issues. The third chef in last place tonight is Daniela’s coffee-crusted chicken breast with mole-inspired sauce and patty-pan squash. Gordon says, “It looks overwhelmed.” The chicken is undercooked and basically inedible. Aaron says the mole is raw and needs much less chocolate. Joe says the chicken is “gross” and the mole tastes like a milkshake made of “cappuccino and sand.”
10:00 p.m. — The jury deliberates and decides that Daniela is leaving MasterChef. She is heartbroken, but says: “I’ve had the best time of my life.” She thought life would go downhill from here on, but now she realises: “It’s only just beginning.”