Celebrity MasterChef judges John Torode and Gregg Wallace witnessed Edith Bowman, Craig Doyle and Ian “H” Watkins storm their way through the kitchen – with their final challenge being their toughest one this week.
After two intense episodes – which saw Snoochie Shy and Charlotte Crosby fall flat and sadly say goodbye to the kitchen – the remaining three were challenged to prepare a two-course meal for some of their peers, who have all been there, done that and worn the apron.
The diners included 2020 champion Riyadh Khalaf, 2021 finalist Joe Swash and 2022 finalist Kitty Scott-Claus, who were all raring to see what the stars could pull off in the kitchen.
Bowman decided that she would make a seared beef served with ginger, radish, jalapeno and an Asian-inspired sauce for her starter, alongside an aubergine parmigiana for the main.
“I am excited for this!” Scott-Claus exclaimed before Khalaf added: “Ginger, Radish, tangy sauce! Is that going to be overwhelming? Are we even going to know if the beef is there in terms of flavour? I am sure it is going to be delicious because it smells good!”
Taking a bite of the dish, the 2020 champion noted: “That seared beef is so succulent and tender and perfectly cooked. You see it go from brown to cooked, it is beautiful!”
Edith Bowman served beef with ginger, radish, jalapeno and an Asian-inspired sauce for her starter
BBC
However, Scott-Claus and Swash were left underwhelmed by the lack of sauce and ingredients which they felt was needed to complete the starter.
“I think there could be more of the Asian sauce, looking at it there isn’t really much sauce on it! I don’t really see a sauce?” Scott-Claus noted before the former EastEnders star said: “The jalapenos didn’t need to be so big.
“I really enjoyed the flavours but it needed something with it! Maybe something with a crunch! Some sort of vegetable that would give you a bit of a different texture.”
Outside, Wallace and Torode were keen to see how Bowman had done, with the latter noting: “I think there could be more of the salad, more of that veg going through it, it could be very delicious. It is tasty and it is quite simple.”
She made a aubergine parmigiana for her main
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Wallace added: “It is a well-cooked piece of beef but so much more could have been done to that!”
For her main, the guest judges were unsure as to whether they would consider the aubergine parmigiana a main, wondering if there was going to be anything to accompany it.
Giving it a go, Swash was first to comment and said: “Sometimes you can do basic really well, there is something beautiful about that but she has to be so confident in her cooking and her flavours.”
“As flavours go, I think they are all there, the cheesy, the tomatoes, but for me, it is more of a side than it is a main.”
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Riyadh Khalaf, Joe Swash and Kitty Scott-Claus were the guest judges
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Scott-Claus noted how the dish was a bit overdone and “chewy”, whilst Khalaf said: “It is what it says on the tin, it is Aubergine Parmigiana, but it is just a bit samey all the way through, lovely dinner at home, is it MasterChef though?”
Speaking about the dish, Torode praised: “It may not be the most ambitious dish in the room but actually it tastes delicious. It tastes really really good.”
Discussing how the round made her feel, Bowman explained: “I tried to think of a last-minute garnish for the plate, it looked a bit bare but my parmesan biscuits didn’t work out so I ditched that.
“But I feel good, I had a really nice time doing it so, it is in the Gods.”