Masterchef Reviews

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Masterchef is the best reality-style program on TV. Two top notch chefs have to choose one winner from a range of aspiring chefs from all ages and backgrounds. Some have been cooking for their families for years, some are retirees who have gotten into cuisine, some are students just learning and some just want to change direction. The quality of cooking though from these untrained contestants is remarkable and the judges put them through their paces both praising their qualities and being critical of faults. They do try to look for positives from each one even if they are very very tough. As the weeks go by and the semi-finals begin, the contestants receive added training in restaurants and have to go through real-world challenges to see if they can cope in a real kitchen. Plus they have to show they are learning by preparing more dishes on their own in short-time for the judges. It's amazing to watch as they learn and hone their craft over the weeks and weeks of competition especially as the quality is so high and the contestants really put their hearts into it.

My only real gripe was the winner last year seemed by far the least interesting and weakest chef of the lot. His food was overly fussy and unappealing, he was nearing retirement and just wanted a feather in his cap - the others wanted to go into it as a career - and was useless in pressure situations in a real kitchen. The Asian housewife curry chef was amazing, her curries looked phenomenal and she seemed so naturally gifted that when she started making complex European dishes she picked them up straightaway and was creative enough to incorporate these flavours into her cooking. We were rooting for her. I'm sure any of the three finalists can probably walk into a job though and I hope they manage to open restaurants because for a change, with a reality TV show, these are more than competent folk who you'd love to have come cook for you.