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MasterChef Australia 2025: Back To Win Thread

 
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Last Post by Mikey 3 months ago
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Mikey
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Topic starter 15/03/2025 8:13 pm  

The contestants for MasterChef: Back To Win 2025 have been announced. Sadly, Juan De La Cruz isn't among them, but one of my previous favourite contestants, the lovely and talented Depinder Chhibber is back (I was so sad when she was eliminated back in her year) and a few of my other favourites are coming back as well. So once again Depinder is my favourite this year and this time I hope she wins. I do have other favourites in the list as well.💖

Here is the full list of contestants:

Alana Lowes (ELIMINATED)
Andre Ursini (ELIMINATED)
Audra Morrice (ELIMINATED)
Beau Cook (ELIMINATED)
Ben MacDonald (ELIMINATED)
Callum Hann (2ND PLACE WINNER - $40,000)
Cath Collins (ELIMINATED)
Darrsh Clarke (ELIMINATED)
Declan Cleary (ELIMINATED)                                                                                                                                                                          Depinder Chhibber (ELIMINATED) 
Jamie Fleming (ELIMINATED - 3RD PLACE WINNER $10,000)
Jimmy Wong (ELIMINATED)
Laura Sharrad (1ST PLACE WINNER - CHAMPIONSHIP, TROPHY & $250,000)
Matt Hopcraft (ELIMINATED)
Pete Campbell (WITHDRAWN - ILLNESS)
Rhiannon Anderson (ELIMINATED)
Rue Mupedzi (ELIMINATED)
Samira El Khafir (ELIMINATED)
Sarah Todd (ELIMINATED)
Savindri Perera (ELIMINATED)
Snezana Calic (ELIMINATED)
Steph De Sousa (ELIMINATED)
Theo Loizou (ELIMINATED)
Tim Bone (ELIMINATED)

 


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Topic starter 15/03/2025 8:15 pm  

Lovely and talented Depinder Chhibber returns to MasterChef: Back To Win. I hope she wins this time!❤️

 

 


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Topic starter 15/03/2025 8:16 pm  

I am sad that the fabulous Juan De La Cruz is not returning to MasterChef: Back To Win, but I wish him well for his culinary journey, board game designing and especially his magical music.❤️


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Topic starter 12/04/2025 8:15 pm  
MasterChef Australia: Back To Win starts Monday April 28! I am so excited for this season! I can't wait to see the lovely and talented Depinder Chhibber again and other favourite contestants.
 
Here are our esteemed regular judges Andy Allen, Sofia Levin, Poh Ling Yeow & Jean-Christophe Novelli. 
 
Gordon Ramsay is just one of the guest judges this season.
 
 

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Topic starter 28/04/2025 8:35 am  

Tonight was an epic starter for the new season of MasterChef: Back To Win! 

 
Guest judge Gordon Ramsay joined regular judges Poh Ling Yeow, Sofia Levin, Andy Allen & Jean-Christopher Novelli to create a whizzer of an opening challenge. The 24 contestants were separated into three groups of 8 - The Burgundy Team, The Green Team & The Navy Blue Team.
 
Each team had a designated leader:
 
The Burgundy Team - Laura Sharrad
 
The Green Team - Callum Hann
 
The Navy Blue Team - Sarah Todd
 
The three teams had to make a main dish and a dessert featuring two vegetables as the main feature - corn & carrots!
 
It's going to be a while before I remember exactly who was in each team, I was so focused on the individuals and the dishes.
 
Immediately I found myself cheering for the Navy Blue Team (because along with Sarah, this team also featured the lovely Depinder Chhibber, a long time favourite past contestant of mine).

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Topic starter 28/04/2025 8:37 am  
 I'm only posting the dessert pictures or my email will be overloaded image-wise and might not send properly.
 
The creations were as follows.
 
The Burgundy Team Main - Pork Porchetta, Spinach & Parsley Veloute, Glazed Carrot & Brandy Jus, Slaw, & Pickled Carrot.
 
The Burgundy Team Dessert - Corn Ice-Cream & Buttermilk Granita, Orange Cake, Geraldton Wax Oil & Cornflake Brittle & Brown Milk Powder Crumb
 
Unfortunately, the judges decided there was way too much going on in BOTH dishes, they said the main dish looked and tasted as if it were "bunged together" haphazardly. 
 
As for the dessert, the cornflake component was scorched and had to be discarded. Also the flavours were too acidic and sharply sour with no balance to offset this issue.
 
Also Laura was an abysmal failure as Team Leader (she should NEVER be made one ever again). When she wasn't picking her nails or messing with her hair, she was all too ready to just accept failure rather than try and save the dishes. No wonder her team didn't listen to her. Sadly, old favourites Pete & Declan were in this mismatched team. Too many cooks spoiled these dishes. I doubt Laura will last in this contest.
 
 

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Topic starter 28/04/2025 8:39 am  
The Navy Blue Team Main - Seared Kingfish & Corn Chowder
 
The Navy Blue Team Dessert - Carrot Halwa Parfait
 
 
I really wanted this team to win because it has two of my past favourite contestants - Sarah & Depinder. 
 
However, Jamie cost the team a potential win during the main because he stuffed up the fish and undercooked it. Some portions were saved but not all unfortunately.
 
During the dessert, Depinder really won hearts and tastebuds with her amazing spiced carrot dessert, showing exactly why she is a formidable force to be reckoned with and why I remember her so fondly from last time. Given the right ingredients, she can make magic. However, Theo, who was in charge of the pastry component of the dish, made it too thick and chunky, and slightly burned. They could have served up a disaster, but Sarah stepped in like a TRUE TEAM LEADER and decided to break the pastry into crumbs and serve it around the carrot component, saving the day. Even the charred bits in the right context gave the dish life again. Although Jamie & Theo messed up, it was the Dream Team of Depinder & Sarah who saved their creations from being the bottom dishes. These two ladies deserve to be the Top 2 and I hope it happens for them.
 

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Topic starter 28/04/2025 8:41 am  
The Green Team Main - Wagyu Rump Cap & Carrots
 
The Green Team Dessert - Sweet Corn, Lime & Passionfruit Pavlova Cup
 
 
At first, the team led by Callum (also featuring Darrsh & Rue) undercooked the main dish but they were able to save it, and they wowed the judges with a successful dessert with no flaws. Therefore it is this team who won the challenge of the night and it is this team who will compete tomorrow night for a chance at an important advantage, whatever that might be.
 

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Topic starter 28/04/2025 10:10 pm  

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Topic starter 29/04/2025 7:07 am  

Tonight on MasterChef was guest judge Gordon Ramsay's second and last appearance this season. He had the 8 winning members of last night's show (Audra, Ben, Callum, Cath, Darrsh, Matt, Rhiannon & Rue) create the same main dish and dessert - Buckwheat & Honey Glazed Duck Breast, Parsnip Purée & Sweet & Sour Endives as the main and Sticky Toffee Pudding as the dessert.


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Topic starter 29/04/2025 7:07 am  
The contestants had to follow Gordon closely and keep up with him, anyone found lagging too far behind would be sent out from the challenge (the first time this has ever happened) and the winner would be presented with the only Immunity Pin of the season. This means that this person would have a safety net in a future cook should it go awry. There will be other one-night immunities to be won in the season but this is the only pin that can be kept for a future challenge if needed. Rue & Cath both fell too far behind and were cut from the challenge.
 
There were a few mistakes, some people overcooked or undercooked their duck, messed up the sauces, forgot a key ingredient or burned something. These all had to be taken into account.

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Topic starter 29/04/2025 7:08 am  

Two contestants were top in the challenge - Callum & Ben, but in the end, it was Ben MacDonald who won the Immunity Pin because Callum's praline for the dessert was more of a powder than a desired crumb and Ben's elements were flawless.

Gordon did leave behind a farewell gift, the key to tomorrow night's challenge (we'll have to wait until tomorrow to see what this is). All we know is that it is the Late Night Snack Challenge.
 
Tomorrow, everyone will be participating but only Ben has a safety net. I'm guessing next Sunday will be the first Elimination Challenge and the series will be on Monday - Wednesday and then on Sunday again. Therefore there will be no updates from Thursday - Saturday.
 

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Topic starter 30/04/2025 7:32 am  

First the sad news -  sadly one of our beloved MasterChef contestants, Pete Campbell (seen here with his lovely family) has had to withdraw from the contest after being diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma. We wish you much love Pete and wish you all the best for a speedy recovery. 😍 


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Topic starter 30/04/2025 7:33 am  
Tonight, the rest of the contestants had to choose their favourite Late Night Snack (remember Gordon Ramsay left behind the clue last night which was this message), the winning dish would not only win Immunity from Sunday night's Elimination, but their dish would be placed on Ramsay's London restaurant menu! Many dishes were favourites among the judges, although Declan Cleary's kebabs were undercooked and Tim Bone's dish still had bones in it.
 
Normally I would do a more thorough briefing, but Pete's illness left me reeling. So I will just share the memorable dishes that were in the Top 5, they are the ones created by Depinder Chhibber, Darrsh Clarke, Audra Morrice, Savindri Perera & Laura Sharrad.
 
 
Laura may not have shown herself a capable Team Leader on Monday night, but in the first solo cook of the season, she acquitted herself well. Doing a Service Challenge on the first night and under Gordon Ramsay yet would have been daunting, so I will give her a chance after all. She made a combination of Vegemite Ice Cream, Burnt Butter Ice Cream & Bread Crumble. I personally can't stand Vegemite, but the judges seemed to like it.

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Topic starter 30/04/2025 7:34 am  

Darrsh made an Australian version of S'Mores with Native Australian ingredients, including locally sourced Cocoa, Honey and Wattle.


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Topic starter 30/04/2025 7:35 am  

Savindri made what she called a Slosh & Smash, with Pastried Potato Patties, Spicy Tomato Sauce, Green Sauce, Green Apple & Cucumber Salsa & Spiced Yoghurt.


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Topic starter 30/04/2025 7:36 am  
My lovely Depinder made Aslam's Butter Chicken with Charcoal Chicken, Green Chutney, Ghee Sauce, Onion Salad & Roti.
 

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Topic starter 30/04/2025 7:37 am  

Audra made a dish she called Indian Spiced Prawn Takoyaki with Mustard Seed & Curry Leaf Topping, Tamarind Sauce & Cucumber Raita. 


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Topic starter 30/04/2025 7:38 am  
It was Audra's dish that wowed the judges the most and she won Immunity from Sunday's Elimination, plus her dish will win a place in Gordon Ramsay's London restaurant.
 
Here is Audra bringing tonight's best dish to the judges.
 
 
Ben MacDonald still has his Immunity Pin as well.
 
Everyone else is still vulnerable though!

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Topic starter 04/05/2025 8:54 am  

Tonight on MasterChef, the contestants had to relive the moments when they were previously eliminated in their earlier years and then had to create a dish that showed how much they have grown as chefs in the years leading from then to now.

 
As you'll remember from my last update, Ben MacDonald had won the Immunity Pin (but he didn't need to cash it in tonight so he is still under its protection), and Audra Morrice had won Immunity from tonight's Elimination Challenge.
 
Also, you'll remember that Pete Campbell has withdrawn from the season to focus on his cancer treatments.
 
On a less sad or severe note, Sarah Todd was away ill so couldn't compete tonight, but this means that she will immediately have to compete in the next Pressure Test Elimination as per the contest's rules.
 
Quite a few contestants had successes, including my lovely friend Depinder Chhibber and her three curries. She has always been a strong contender with her native Indian ingredients.
 
Declan Cleary's dish would have been more successful if he had added just a little more seasoning in his seafood bisque and not played it so safe.
 
Rue Mupedzi also had problems with her Yule Log dessert seasoned with black sesame and coconut, it didn't freeze properly, so she had to resort to a back-up using some of the elements in a different dessert and served up smaller logs. Luckily, her flavours saved her.

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Topic starter 04/05/2025 8:58 am  

Laura's Lobster & Leek Ravioli & Seafood, Finger Lime & Watercress Sauce


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Topic starter 04/05/2025 9:00 am  
However, three dishes were completely unsuccessful, leaving Samira El Khafir, Tim Bone & Cath Collins in the Bottom 3.
 
Samira tried to serve a spicy Syrian dish, but unlike the more confident Depinder, Samira played it too safe (even more than Declan did) and scaled back on the garlic, thinking she was doing the right thing by the judges and not overloading her dish with garlic. This was the wrong call as she could have served a smashing dish instead of a lukewarm one.
 
Tim made a bonkers dish with a Dr Pepper infused beef stew served with parmesan cheese in a toastie and it was too sweet when a more savoury approach might have fared better. Toasties and Dr Pepper? Seriously?!
 
Cath tried to make a fancy mushroom dish which looked wonderful, but she sadly burned the mushrooms and the judges were left with a very bitter taste which could not be overlooked, leading to Cath being the first contestant to be officially eliminated this season. Farewell Cath!

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Topic starter 05/05/2025 7:15 am  

Tonight on MasterChef, guest judge Peter Gilmore arrived with a Mystery Box full of assorted savoury and sweet ingredients which the contestants were limited to (along with the under the bench staples) meaning the pantry and garden were closed. The ingredients included leeks, chicken, eggplant, squid, lemon, vanilla, chocolate, gochujang (a red pepper paste), prunes & cherries.

 
Sarah Todd was away because of illness still, but she will still have to compete in tomorrow night's Pressure Test Elimination set by the Chocolate Queen herself, Kirsten Tibballs. The three least successful dishes will join Sarah in this challenge tomorrow.
 
The highlights included four very successful dishes: those created by Depinder Chhibber, Audra Morrice, Rue Mupedzi & Theo Loizou.

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Topic starter 05/05/2025 7:16 am  

Depinder's Choux Buns, Gochujang Ice Cream, Gochujang Caramel & Lemon Curd


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Topic starter 05/05/2025 7:16 am  

Audra's Marbled Chiffon Swiss Roll, Olorosso Sherry & Vanilla Stewed Prunes


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