Luke - "Gin & Tonic" (Basil Gin Granita, Blackberry & Juniper Berry Sorbet, Raspberry Sherbert, Basil Tuile & Fresh Cucumber Cubes)

As I knew (because of the misplaced spoiler a few days ago), the person who went home was Emily. Bye Emily!

Tomorrow night is the Ice Cream Immunity Challenge, and Wednesday is the Complex Crab Elimination Pressure Test with guest chef Sam Aisbett.

Pat - Mango Coconut - Dish: Toasted Coconut White Chocolate Cremeux, Mango Passionfruit Rum Veil & Coconut Feuilletine    

Petro - Macadamia Salted Caramel - Dish: Macadamia Salted Caramel Eclairs & Wattleseed Vanilla Creme Patisserie, Chocolate Ganache & Toasted Macadamias  

Vinnie - Almond Biscotti - Dish: Almond Biscotti Tart, Almond Praline, Vanilla Creme Diplomat & Chocolate Orange Ganache, Toasted Almonds & Orange Syrup 

Annabel - Honey & Honeycomb - Dish: Burnt Honey Ice Cream Bombe, Rosemary Sponge Cake & Vanilla Fig Jam. Unfortunately, as you can see, the bombe did indeed BOMB and bombed HARD. It was a melted puddle with figs on top. The ice cream got stuck in the mould and she tried to get it out using....a blow torch. Yes you read that right. Who uses a blow torch on ice cream, a meringue yes, but here...no. 

Casper - Mint Cookie - Dish: Rivermint Ice Cream Sandwiches, Chocolate Caramel & Chocolate Macadamia Cookies. Unfortunately, the clumsy construction led to the collapse of the sandwich.  

Luke - Pistachio - Dish: Pistachio Frangipane Tart, Burnt Fig Lemon Caramel, White Chocolate Mousse & White Chocolate Dome. Unfortunately, the chocolate dome was too thick, the mousse was too thin and did not set, and the ice cream melted.

*As always, after tomorrow's Pressure Test Elimination Challenge we must wait until Sunday for more MasterChef.

Tonight on MasterChef, guest Sam Aisbett brought in his very technical Crab Salad dish for last night's bottom contestants Alyona, Annabel, Casper & Luke to recreate in a Pressure Test Elimination. 

Sam Aisbett's Crab Salad

Elements included the crab itself obviously, plus apple dashi caviar, fennel milk jelly, pickled palm heart, seaweed vinegar jelly, macadamia shavings and edible flowers.

Monday - 60 Minutes Hot Chilli Dish Challenge

Tuesday - Hibachi Challenge

Wednesday - Head To Head Elimination Challenge

*We now have 7 contestants left.

*Sunday, Monday & Tuesday will see the creator of each night's Best Dish win Immunity from the sole Elimination this week - on Wednesday night.

*There will be 3 Immunities won this week, one on each night, and the other 4 contestants will have to play the Elimination on Wednesday to see who goes home and leaves us with 6 contestants at the end of the week.

*I can't believe how close we are to the Semi-Final & Grand Finale for 2026.

*Someone will win the instant 3RD Prize ($10,000) on Semi-Final night while the other two score the top two prizes: the 2ND place prize of $40,000; and the 1ST place package of having their name etched on the trophy for all time, the title of MasterChef 2026 and $250,000!

*As for me, I think I would like to see Luke & Pat take the Top 2 places, but that would mean losing Aaron, Annabel, Casper, Petro & Vinnie (one of whom would take the instant third prize though).

I just thought I would let my friends know MasterChef is over for another week, and while (due to recent painful family circumstances) I've not been able to be as in-depth in my updates, I am hoping I will feel better about getting back into all that next week or so.

Next week on MasterChef features a challenge set by one of the judges (Andy Allen, Sofia Levin, Poh Ling Yeow & Jean-Christophe Novelli) with two Eliminations leaving 4 contestants at the end of the week leading up to the Semi-Finals & Grand Finale.

Sunday - Sofia's Single Ingredient Challenge

Monday - Jean-Christophe's Saucy Evening

Tuesday - Keeping Up With Andy