Masterchef New Zealand

After surviving a controversial elimination last week, time finally ran out for Vanessa Baxter on MasterChef NZ.

In last night’s show, the Top Four contestants faced the ultimate invention test – cooking whatever they liked, with whatever ingredients they liked.

Performing for not only for the MasterChef judges, they also faced a very hard taskmaster: guest judge Ben Bayly, executive chef of award-winning Auckland restaurant The Grove.

Paula Saengthian-Ngam’s Thai green curry with fish balls and coconut rice was named the best dish of the day. Continue reading »

#MasterChefNZ 2014 will have teams of two!! Apply here tvnz.co.nz/masterchef-new…

— MasterChef NZ (@MasterChefNZ) May 17, 2013

The next season of MasterChef New Zealand will take on more of a My Kitchen Rules feel with teams of two allowed to compete.

The official MasterChef NZ Twitter feed just announced the news.

Apply here if you’re interested in competing in MasterChef NZ 2014.

Ella Krauts was eliminated from MasterChef NZ last night after producing one of the two best crumbles Simon Gault has ever tasted.

In last night’s show, the Top Five contestants had to replicate the ‘Not So Lemon Meringue Pie’, a contemporary twist on the lemon meringue pie created by guest judge Andrew Brown, executive chef of The George Hotel in Christchurch.

Andrew’s five-star dish involved at least six different cooking processes, including lemon crème brûlée, Italian meringue, macadamia crumble and raspberry coulis.

The Top Five had just 90 minutes to attempt it as well as make a cocktail featuring Lindauer sparkling wine. Continue reading »

The MasterChef judges last night removed fan favourite Sushil Ravikumar from the competition.

In last night’s show the Top Six contestants faced a barbeque and wine matching challenge at the Wither Hills vineyard in Marlborough.

Aaron Brunet’s and Ella Krauts’ dishes sizzled, and they won the challenge with cumin rubbed butterfish on clam panzanella, and pan fried butterfish with a saffron and lemon risotto respectively.

Sushil Ravikumar was thrilled to be cooking with Wither Hills pinot noir, which he matched with wild venison, red cabbage, steamed vegetables and a honey vinaigrette. Continue reading »

Splash! is the latest reality competition series to do the rounds internationally, with the UK, USA and Australia all producing their own versions in the past few months.

The idea is very simple: assemble a bunch of D-list celebrities with no high-diving experience and basically get them to hurl themselves off various platforms for our entertainment.

The Dutch came up with the idea last year, with ITV quickly adapting the format for the UK before ABC in the US and Channel 7 in Australia got on board.

The UK version drew 5.19 million for its premiere while 8.8 million Americans watched their first episode. The Aussie version kicked off last night. Continue reading »

MasterChef NZ 2013

MasterChef NZ 2013

MasterChef NZ 2013

Facebook page: Vanessa Baxter

MasterChef NZ 2013

Facebook page: Paula Saengthian-ngam

MasterChef NZ 2013

Facebook page: Sushil Ravikumar