Masterchef (2010) s06e12 Episode Script
Family Reunion
(Male announcer) Last time on MasterChef Bring it on, cowboys! (Announcer) The home cooks saddled up to feed a horde of hungry cowboys.
- Hurry up, hurry up! - You're killing it with - these steaks.
- That's good.
- Katrina's blue team - [Cheers.]
(Announcer) Galloped to victory, while in the pressure test - Agh! - He is agitated.
(Announcer) Stephen and Christopher rode their luck.
It's too close to call.
You're both going up the balcony.
- Holy [Bleep.]
.
- We're both saved! What a day! Tonight You are gonna be serving dinner, in the MasterChef restaurant.
(Announcer) The top ten team up to cook family style.
What if we feeding Gordon ramsay's children? Stress! (Announcer) Relationships will be put to the test.
Chris, that's our dessert.
- Get 'em in! - Get the chickens in! There's no way that we're gonna get anything from the red team.
This is ridiculous, man.
(Announcer) All ending in the biggest shock of the season.
This is one family - Whoo! - you do not want - to let down.
- Holy [Bleep.]
.
[Dramatic music.]
Welcome, guys, come on down.
(Christopher) You know, this is a tough thing.
To be top ten's very important to me.
My girlfriend really inspired me to take the plunge, and leave everything behind, and here I am.
But, being here, I'm gonna miss our seven-year anniversary.
So it's tough for me, you know? Tonight, you ten home cooks will be split into two teams of five.
Each team's gonna be responsible for making a delicious family dinner an entrÄÅ¡e, two sides, and a dessert all served family style in one of america's best restaurants.
This one right here! That's right, you are gonna be serving dinner tonight In the MasterChef restaurant.
Tonight's meal is gonna be very special.
You will be creating treasured memories for a family that I have invited here tonight.
This is one family that you do not want to let down.
(Olivia) It could be Gordon Ramsey's family.
It could be previous MasterChef contestants.
But for all I know, it could be the kardashians.
Is it prince william and kate middleton? Are you all ready to find out your teams? (All) Yes, chef! Some of you haven't been team captains yet.
And tonight, we are going to decide who those two team captains will be.
The first team captain will be captain of the blue team.
Derrick.
Second team captain of the red team is Claudia.
All right, Derrick, Claudia, please come up here, and put on your captain's aprons.
- Good job.
- Thank you, chef.
This is gonna sound cocky, but it's about time I'm team captain.
I've been listening and watching over this entire competition.
I know everyone's strengths.
Right.
Derrick, you've got the first pick.
First pick? Nick.
Come pick up your blue apron.
Good.
(Derrick) This is family style.
I have an italian family background, and so does Nick.
- Simple pick.
- Claudia! My first pick is somebody that has amazing flavor profiles.
And I have seen their tenacious attitude.
I pick Katrina.
Katrina, well.
Katrina, please.
Derrick, add second pick.
- My next pick is Olivia.
- Thank you.
I actually would prefer to be on Claudia's team, 'cause we don't butt heads.
Derrick and I definitely butt heads.
- My second pick is Hetal.
- Yeah.
Interesting.
Next pick.
All differences aside My next pick is Chris.
Wow.
Claudia, third pick.
There's no one that I know that understands vegetables more than Stephen.
Wow.
Stephen, come on up.
Derrick, you're picking for both teams now.
(Derrick) This person is overlooked a lot.
- Tommy.
- Wow, Tommy.
Good job, brother.
(Claudia) Welcome to the red team, baby.
[Laughs.]
I haven't been overconfident, like perhaps Derrick has.
But the truth is, I am a methodical, strategic, and delegate a lot in my regular job as an event manager.
So I think that we will have no problem getting this one.
Each team will have just 90 minutes to prep and cook an entrÄÅ¡e, two sides, and an incredible dessert.
In the pantry, you will find everything you could possibly imagine to make your family dinner.
Remember what's at stake.
The winning team will be safe from elimination, and the losing team will face another challenge, after which at least one of you might be seeing your own families quicker than you had hoped.
Your time starts Now.
- Go! - Go.
Whaa! Everybody take a book.
I'm thinking, honestly, family dinners, I mean, what better than chicken? - Yes, perfect.
- How're you feeling on chicken? - Yeah, yeah, roasted chicken.
- Perfect.
So what are we thinking about sides? Mashed potatoes or potato au gratin? - Mashed potatoes? - I think are real genius, yeah.
And then if you could do broccolini with asiago cheese shavings on top? Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Now, I'm not sure what you're thinking for a dessert.
Strawberry shortcake? - Oh, that sounds delicious.
- With whipped cream.
(All) Red team! I'm italian root, you're italian root, let's go we're gonna go italian.
So we're gonna do a lamb rack.
- Hell yeah.
- I wanna do a caprese salad.
And, Nick, you're baked ziti, with that amazing grandmother sauce.
- You got it, dude.
- Does that do well with the caprese? I think it does, yeah.
- I think it goes amazing.
- Yeah, absolutely.
And then we're going with a chocolate mousse pie.
You do a great crust, super simple, it's gonna be beautiful.
(All) Blue team! - I got tons of garlic! - I need these Do it, guys.
(Gordon) Let's go.
[Claps.]
One stunning family style entrÄÅ¡e, followed by a delicious family style dessert.
Let's go! - Wow, family style cooking.
- So excited.
We learn to fall in love with food first and foremost at home at the dinner table, and then it's how you learn how to cook, right? Really curious to see what dishes they put together.
- How you doing there, Stephen? - Great.
Let's just communicate, guys, okay? - Yep.
- Yep.
I trust you all.
- Eye on the prize? - You got it, pal.
- Yeah, chef! - Backin' you up, Derrick.
Thanks, Tommy.
We've seen great, great home cooks with great potential completely crumble under the pressure of being team captain.
- Yeah.
- Do you know how to truss? Yeah, you're gonna help me truss.
Perfect, I'll truss for you.
(Derrick) I need crusts rolled out.
Can I have three minutes? Three to five? - I can give you five.
- Okay, awesome.
[Dramatic music.]
Can you move a little faster, babe? Yep! - Right, Claudia! - Yes, chef? - Describe the menu, please.
- Yes, chef.
We're making a herb roasted whole chicken today with a garlic mashed potato and sautÄÅ¡ed broccolini, with a strawberry shortcake for dessert.
- Cool, done.
- Now, uh, whole chickens, averaging 22, 23 minutes per pound, That's a minimum of an hour, and you haven't roasted.
How are you gonna cook them in time? We're gonna get them right in the oven right away, chef.
I just want to make sure that your chicken, for a very important family that's dear to my heart - Yeah, chef.
- Doesn't go out under-cooked.
I think we should split 'em.
We're gonna split the chickens right now.
We're gonna split 'em in half.
Is that your decision or the captain's decision? It's going to be the captain's decision.
Captain, do you think we should split the chickens in half? Lay 'em flat like this, they're gonna cook in half the time.
- I think that's smart.
- Sure, by all means.
- Yeah, let's do it.
- Let's do it.
- We can still keep 'em juicy.
- Sure, let's do it.
Okay, captain's decision, let's do it.
- Uh, red team, get organized, please? - Yes, chef.
Understood, chef.
- Okay, thank you.
Of course.
We've gotta get these in in the next five minutes, guys.
- All right! Derrick! - Yes, chef? What are you making for dinner? So we're doing italian family style.
I'm playing to the strong suits that everyone has.
I'm going with lamb, because I nailed it in my white apron battle.
Olivia's gonna be doing the caprese salad.
Nick's strong suit is italian, so we're doing a baked ziti.
And a chocolate mousse pie.
Simple.
- Good luck.
- Thank you.
We are halfway there.
Just under 45 minutes to go.
Chris, how are those pies doing, dude? Going, going, going.
Chris, I need that in the oven so fast.
I know, I know.
Rhys, blue team.
How are we doing? Blue team, Derrick's doing good, he seems in control.
But the menu doesn't sound as cohesive as I thought is was gonna be.
- Really? What are they doing? - They have a caprese salad, but then they also have a baked ziti and then they have a lamb rack.
Why would you put two cheeses on the sides? I think in their minds, these are the dishes that they feel the most comfortable with, cooking and finessing from an italian standpoint.
Right, so it's two pieces of tomato per piece of cheese.
Is anybody looking at it on a family table? - No.
- I mean, this is crazy.
- Yeah.
- Mm-hmm.
No one's stepped back and seen the big picture.
Ooh, yum-may! - How are we doing? - We need to get these in the oven.
I've got even more disturbing news.
The red team, the chickens are now being halved, but they're still not in the oven.
- What are they waiting for? - Why won't they just they should have cooked half an hour ago.
Can we get these chickens in? Can we at least - no! Not yet.
- Why can't we get them in? Because they're not dry.
Claudia, I've done this millions of times.
So have I, babe.
There's no way that those chickens are gonna get cooked in time.
We need to get the chickens in now.
Red team! You've got to get your chickens in the oven! - Get the chickens in! - Get 'em in! - I'm putting the chicken in.
- No! - How do you want to do it? - What do you guys need me to do with the chicken.
Let me - nothing, nothing, you stay.
- Nothing! - Wow.
- There's no way that we're gonna get anything from the red team.
- This is ridiculous, man.
- [Bleep.]
.
We are halfway there, just under 45 minutes to go.
We need to get the chickens in now.
Red team! You've got to get your chickens in the oven! - Get the chickens in! - Get 'em in! I'm putting the chicken in.
These clucking chickens have to get in the oven right now, or we're gonna see raw meat! There's no way that those chickens are gonna get cooked in time.
I got it, I'll put it in.
It doesn't take all of us to set an oven.
You serve a bloody raw bird to anybody's family, you goin' home, or they'll kick you out your own house! Done.
All I know is, Claudia need to pull this ship together.
'Cause we will all go down.
What if we feeding Gordon Ramsey's children? My goodness.
Stress! - Blue team! - Yes, chef.
Yes, chef! Have you thought about this menu, Derrick? - Collectively sat on the table? - Yes.
We've got two cheese and tomato sides.
- Yes.
- Baked ziti with cheese, and a tomato mozzarella salad.
I think that the marriage of the tomatoes is the - okay.
But - is the combining Fine, I get that, but I'm just trying to point out a fact - to help you - Yes.
Not serve the same dish twice.
I've got a very important family, Derrick.
- Yes, I understand.
- And it means that they've travelled, Derrick, they've travelled thousands of miles to be here.
- Yes, yes, chef.
- And you can change, and you can alter now.
I'm just trying to get you successful.
- I understand.
- Good.
Let's go.
- Are the chickens in? - Yes, chef, they're in.
- Thank goodness for that.
- All of them.
Okay, solution time! I think we should do a strawberry and tomato and arugula salad.
Basically it's like bright and sweet, and then this is like heavy and cheap.
- Yeah.
I what you - I know you I know you got - tomato and strawberry.
- Okay.
- Do you feel that? - Yeah.
Okay, we gotta change the salad.
X the mozzarella, we got cheese in the baked ziti.
I'm gonna have to trust Olivia that she can make it happen.
Oh, this is gonna be good.
Olivia, come take a quick look.
It's gonna need to lie and bake a little more 'cause it's so big.
- Oh, [Bleep.]
.
- What happened? - What's wrong with it? - No, nothing, it just needs a little more time baking, that's all, we're good.
Just under 20 minutes to go, guys, come on! Speed up, please! - [Bleep.]
Killing me.
- No, it's fine, I swear.
If it's fine, then why are we opening it? Chris, you know what, man? I need you to make pie crust.
Chris, you have one job.
Pie crust.
That is it! Pie crust.
- How is it? - It's fine.
Let me just deflate this, and I'll throw it no it's not, nope, put it back in.
Ah, I'm like, I just need a pie crust.
Go go go, we're losing heat in that oven.
I know, give me a second.
Please don't try to micro-manage me.
It just makes it worse.
I shut down.
Yummy yummy in my tummy.
I need to taste those mashed potatoes.
These need more these need more cream.
They're not creamy enough.
Don't take 'em out, please.
Okay.
I'm sorry.
I need they need to have just a bit more butter.
Can you take care of it while I yes, I can, absolutely.
This is looking so amazing.
I wish you could see it.
You would die.
Five minutes to go, come on! You wanna see something beautiful? Oh, pretty girl.
- Here it is.
- Yeah.
I have to say the blue team's baked ziti - looks fantastic.
- It looks awesome.
- On your left, careful.
- That's our dessert? - Yeah.
- You know what looks terrible? - Their chocolate mousse pie! - Oh dear, oh dear.
Oh, the cream, the cream, the cream, the cream.
Two minutes to go! Just put 'em on there with whipped cream.
Captains, get your teams to victory! Let's take the internal temperature.
- Yeah, yeah.
- It's 169.
- Okay.
- It's technically done.
The chickens are not out of the tray yet.
- Oh, my god.
- How do you want this chicken? It's coming, it's coming.
The family are seated! We are less than 60 seconds to go for the ultimate family dinner.
Hurry up! Let's go, close it up, close it up! - Oh, my goodness me.
- Watch out, watch out.
- Chris, watch out! - Move! - Out, out, out, out, out.
- I'm moving, I'm moving! Yep, stop yellin', get the [Bleep.]
out of the way.
Yes, hurry up, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry.
Last 30 seconds! - I need your help here! - What can I do? Hey, look out, look out, let me wipe off this Nick, help me organize this.
It's falling on me.
Pour the gravy, guys, pour the gravy.
Get that gravy on.
Now, bring it to me now! Come on! Start wiping this plate.
Ten! Nine! Eight! Seven! Six! Five! Give me a towel, give me a towel.
(Gordon) Four! Three! Two! One and stop! Hands in the air! Walk away from your plating station, please.
Thank you, servers.
(Derrick) As a team, we went above and beyond a typical family meal.
The lamb is cooked perfectly.
The baked ziti is cooked perfectly, but I'm looking at the pie and I hate it.
And that's the last thing they're gonna think about when they vote! This could sink our ship.
We could go down on dessert.
Red team, blue team.
Once the family have eaten, they will then decide on which dinner they preferred.
The winning team will be safe, and the losing team, will of course, as always, face the dreaded pressure test.
Thank you.
Get out of here.
I'm really hoping that the love that we put into this meal, really shines through for this family.
Whoever the family is.
- Welcome! - Thank you.
Seriously, thank you so much for coming.
Trust me, we are honored to have you all here.
And they, out there, have no idea That you are the family that we have invited.
So they are in for a shock, let me tell you.
Right now, out there, are the ten best home cooks in all of america, and luckily for you, they are your loved ones! [Applause.]
Derrick's mom, stacey.
You had no clue that Derrick was even auditioning for MasterChef.
When did you last see Derrick? About a year ago.
The last time I did see him he he surprised me, so this is gonna be a real twist.
Star, gorgeous princess, on a scale of one to ten, how much are you missing mom? Can I go above ten? - Of course you can.
- Like 100.
- Stephen's son, Stephen jr.
- Hi.
Did you know that dad was that much of a cook? No, I mean, his food was good, but I liked hanging out with him.
He's a cool dad, and it's been hard for me - not to have him around.
- Aww.
And does he shout at you a lot the way he shouts at me? He He has those short spasms of energy, yes.
- Uh-oh.
- Oh wow.
Here we go! Your dinner tonight has been prepared by two teams of five.
You guys are each going to receive an entrÄÅ¡e and a dessert from each of the teams.
After that, without knowing who cooked what, or what team your loved one was on, you're going to judge on which meal overall that you preferred.
- Painful.
- Whoo! The blue team have done an amazing roasted rack of lamb served with some olives, tomatoes, and a baked ziti.
And on the side is a strawberry rocket salad, finished with a chocolate mousse pie.
- Wow.
- And the red team? Yeah, the red team has done a roasted chicken, rustic garlic mashed potato, and then we also have some broccolini with asiago cheese, and then we also have strawberry shortcake.
- Boy, this is gonna be tough.
- I know.
Bon appÄÅ¡tit, please.
Enjoy.
- Oh, boy.
- Yay, here we go, yay! [Silverware clattering.]
That lamb had a perfect crust on it.
Yeah, it looked good.
The cheese was perfectly crisp on the ziti.
Boy, that lamb turned out great.
- So tender.
- Uh-huh, I love lamb.
I think that the lamb is lacking like a lot of, um - Seasoning? - Season? Yeah.
I thought so too, under seasoned.
Although the pasta from the blue table is very good.
- Yeah.
- The salad dressing is amazing.
The blue team, I think their ziti is misplaced.
I do too, that's what I'm having trouble with.
Although I like it, but it's not, it doesn't I just don't think that the ziti it's not right with the the whole thing.
- Let me try this one.
- Okay, time for the chicken.
Here we go.
That was an awesome job, Stephen.
Best idea today was to split those chickens down the middle and get them opened up like that that's what I'm talking about, brother.
Yes.
- So good.
- (Man) Is that good? Stephen jr.
, so far what's been your favorite? - Red.
- (Gordon) Red team? - Alex? - Yeah? - Katrina's boyfriend.
- Mm-hmm.
Where are you leaning, entrÄÅ¡e-wise? Oh, boy, it's it's tough.
I can put everything together into, like, a perfect bite with the red plate.
I can't necessarily do that with the blue plate, but I will say that I love everything that's on the blue plate.
So I guess I'm leaning towards the blue.
(Graham) Interesting.
- All right, uh, ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, are we ready to tuck into those delicious desserts from the red team and the blue team? - Absolutely.
- Yes! - Oh, my god.
- I know, right? The only thing I'm concerned about and, Chris, you know it, is 90 minutes on getting that crust.
Almost 90 minutes.
Barbara, Nick's mom, where you leaning? You know, I am leaning towards the red plate.
I think the pound cake is really very good.
It's a nice balance.
The problem with me with the blue plate, I think the crust is not quite right.
My son probably made it and he's gonna kill me, - but - [All laugh.]
I-I'm sorry.
Jenni, Christopher's girlfriend.
I actually preferred the blue plate.
I felt like the red plate was a little heavy, a little denser than I would like, and the blue plate was lighter and I actually like the bitterness - of the dark chocolate.
- (Christina) Hmm.
Thank you all for that incredible feedback.
We would like to invite you to make your vote.
If you like the red team's food best, you'll keep the red card in the checkbook.
If you like the blue team's dinner the best, you'll leave the blue card.
I love the suspense.
Let's go see who it is? (Gordon) Please welcome the best ten home cooks in all of america.
- Oh, [Bleep.]
.
- [Laughs.]
[Laughs.]
[Sniffles.]
[Crying.]
(Derrick) My mom gave up a lot to raise me and she didn't get to fulfill her dreams.
She taught me that I could and, so, I'm here to make a dream come true and win MasterChef.
- You had no idea, did you? - No.
- I'm so, so proud of you.
- Oh.
[Soft music.]
[Laughs.]
[Crying.]
Uh, I'm not crying.
Her tears came onto my face.
- [All laugh.]
- Come on, I'm crying, too.
(Gordon) Stephen, someone very special here to see you.
- Aah! - [Laughter.]
Come on.
Look at me.
Ah, I love you.
[Sighs.]
[Crying.]
I love you so much.
- You look so good, babe.
- [Laughs.]
Oh, man.
I miss you so much, mommy.
For a long time it was just me and my mom.
Literally, exactly how it is with me and my daughter right now.
She is someone that has taught me everything that I know about food.
This is one of the most important families.
This is the top ten's family.
I can't believe I just cooked for my mom.
(Gordon) Red team, blue team, well done.
Hi, mommy.
- You okay, bud? - I'm all right.
- You sure? - Oh, yeah.
Tomorrow we'll cook for your family, okay? - [Laughter.]
- (Gordon) It's just mom and dad.
I get sad.
You know I'm sensitive.
- I'm a sensitive man.
- [Laughter.]
Take a deep breath.
You can do it.
Come on.
- All right.
- (Gordon) Excellent.
Now you really need to understand tonight that your loved ones had no idea who cooked what.
And all of their votes have been cast.
- I love you.
- I love you, too.
(Gordon) We're gonna start with Claudia's mom julia.
Will you reveal which dinner you preferred? Was it from the red team or the blue team? [Dramatic music.]
- Whoo! [Laughs.]
- (Gordon) Red team.
- Aah! - Claudia, you relieved? Oh, yeah, chef.
Now, young lady, no pressure.
Please reveal red or blue team? - [Cheering.]
- That's what I'm talk about.
Up top, baby.
Up top.
Up top.
Up top.
Yeah! Roger, open your checkbook and reveal which dinner you preferred.
- [Sighs.]
- Blue team.
- All good, all good.
- Blue, blue, blue! - Jenni - [Groans.]
What's in your checkbook? - Whoo! Yeah! That's my girl! - [Cheering.]
- I'm okay with that.
- Root.
[Laughs, cheering.]
- I love you.
- Eileen.
(Nick) Chocolate got her.
The chocolate got her! - Yeah! - Yeah, baby.
Love you.
- Oh, my goodness.
- This is insane.
There is three to the red, three to the blue team.
Alex.
(Nick) Come on, alex.
Love you, buddy.
- Ooh.
- I'm so sorry, babe.
- [Laughs.]
- Alex, that's the first vote that's gone against their family loved one.
Stephen jr.
, the reveal.
Which dinner did you prefer this evening? Whoo! - You're one lucky boy! - [Laughter.]
- Ha ha, yeah.
- We are even again.
- Barbara.
- Come on, ma.
- [Groans, cheering.]
- I knew it! - I knew it.
- It was chicken.
I know it was chicken.
Right when I saw you I was, like, "damn it!" [Laughter.]
It is now five votes to the red team and four to the blue team.
Stacey.
Reveal red or blue? [Dramatic music.]
It is now five votes the red team and four to the blue team.
Stacey, if you decided blue, then it's a tie.
If it's red, it's over.
Reveal red or blue.
Red team! [Cheering.]
Mom, thank you for coming to MasterChef.
I'm so glad you're here.
I'm just so bummed you picked the wrong dish.
(Gordon) Blue team, unfortunately tomorrow night you will face another challenge where at the end of it at least one of you sadly will leave the competition.
[Groans.]
But, tonight, please, all of you, enjoy the rest of the night together.
If you go further in this competition, clearly it's gonna be sometime before you see each other again.
Yes.
Well done.
Thank you.
Goodnight.
- Thank you guys so much.
- Thank you.
Thank you so much.
- Oh, wow.
- Oh, my god that was tough.
Yes, thank you so much.
Champagne, mom? - Oh, yes.
- Whoo-hoo! - To mommy.
- Here's to you, man.
- I'm so proud of you.
- I miss you.
You look so different.
You hair's so long.
- How'd your theatre go? - Oh, really good.
It was the best play I've ever done.
Did you really? That's awesome.
- So we get to hang out tonight.
- We do? - All night.
- No! [Serene music.]
[Tense music.]
(Gordon) Welcome, guys.
(Derrick) I've got the black apron on and it's really tough going into this pressure test 'cause I feel like I did so well as a captain.
I don't know where this is going.
I'm just not ready to go home.
Now there are five of you standing in front of us, but not all of you are gonna have to face tonight's dreaded pressure test.
- Only four of you are.
- [Sighs.]
And that person who we want to save is Your team captain Derrick.
You were let down in the dessert department, but the lamb dish worked.
It looked stunning.
Thank you.
So take your apron off, head up to the balcony.
Thank you.
(Derrick) I am so glad I'm safe from this one 'cause my parting words to my mom is, "I'll see you when I'm MasterChef winner.
" So if I went home in this pressure test, my mom would never forgive herself.
This dish that you are about to face takes the humble potato and turns it into something elegant, something served at the finest restaurants.
Gnocchi.
Potato-y pillows of perfection.
Yeah, buddy.
Being italian, some people call me Nicky gnocchi.
I mean, I've been rolling gnocchi out with my grandmother since I could see over the counter.
I could make gnocchi in my sleep, baby.
Bring it on.
Let's go.
All of you, it's time to head to your stations.
(Christopher) It's so important for me to survive this pressure test.
Winning MasterChef would allow me to better provide for my girlfriend.
I want to give her the dream wedding that she deserves.
(Christina) On your stations you'll find everything you need to make us this dish.
You have one baked potato, eggs, butter, flour, salt, pepper, and sage.
You will each have 25 minutes.
- [Sighs.]
- [Chuckles.]
That's right.
Just 25 minutes to make us a delicious gnocchi dish finished in a sage brown butter sauce.
(Graham) Your 25 minutes starts Now.
[Frenzied music.]
Come on, guys.
[Sizzling.]
Now, gnocchi, so this is all about - the feel and the texture.
- (Christina) The beautiful part about a perfect gnocchi dish is simplicity, right? But so many things could go wrong.
Where do you think these home cooks will struggle? Uh, lumpy potatoes to begin with.
So, therefore, they haven't riced them properly.
Um, too much flour so it just tastes gummy.
That's what I'm afraid of.
Yeah, it can get too dense.
So the less you roll it, the more fluff it's gonna get.
Liv, that looks great.
Don't work it too much, though.
Just come up to ten minutes, gone.
Just under 15 minutes to go.
[Sizzling.]
[Dramatic music.]
All right, Nick, how you feeling? I feel great.
Gnocchi and I go way back.
What's gonna separate your gnocchi - from everybody else? - Keep it light and pillowy.
Confident you can get through this one - and hit the top nine? - Yes, chef.
Absolutely.
- Top nine's calling my name.
- Good luck.
Thank you, chef.
All right.
All right, Christopher.
You got your first batch into your boiling water a little bit longer than a typical blanch on the gnocchi.
You gotta trust the gnocchi and let it float and now I'm just waiting for it to float.
- Okay.
- [Sizzling.]
Make sure those gnocchi have a nice, even golden-brown color on every side.
Remember, it's all about the seasonings.
- Copy that, chef.
- Good luck.
Thank you, chef.
- Hi, chef.
- Hi, Olivia.
- What's going on? - I've only made gnocchi - one time before.
- The only thing I would say is that remember you have your brown butter which is gonna be the little finishing drip.
- Mm-hmm.
- So something like this.
.
Look at them, they're stating to look a little greasy.
So, take those, dab 'em on a paper towel, then go back and gently place them somewhere.
- Okay, thank you.
- Yes.
Yup.
(Gordon) Just under eight minutes to go.
A lot of stuff going on out there.
She's slightly concerned about Christopher's.
Yeah, I have to say, Christopher blanched his gnocchi for about 2, 2 1/2 minutes.
- Which is not a blanch - Right.
- That's nearly a boil.
- Like a boil.
Yeah.
I'm concerned about Nick only because he still has six minutes to go and he's plated his dish.
I think he's that confident, Christina.
Yeah, buddy.
I don't like the texture of these.
They don't look the way that I want.
My gnocchi is exploding and they look like snot.
- Oh, tom.
(Gordon) Two minutes to go.
I've got extra gnocchi dough so I immediately chop, chop, chop, chop, chop and throw them in that pot.
Look at breaking news right now.
Tommy is re-doing it all.
He's making a new batch of gnocchi.
- Wow.
- With just minutes to go.
- Is that even possible? - Hurry, Tommy.
I know.
The clock is ticking down.
(Graham) Coming up to 90 seconds.
Oh, boy, I'm starting to sweat like James Brown.
- Aye, yi, yi, yi, yi.
- It's gonna be tight.
(Tommy) If this second batch fails, I'm just gonna be dead in the kitchen.
Aye, yi, yi, yi, yi.
Look at breaking news right now.
Tommy is re-doing it all.
He's making a new batch of gnocchi.
- Wow.
- With just minutes to go.
- Is that even possible? - Hurry, Tommy.
I know.
(Graham) Coming up to 90 seconds.
(Shelly) Floating, Tommy.
They're floating.
What's he doing? Get it out of there.
[Dramatic music.]
Let's go.
Come on, Tommy.
You've got to plate.
Oh, my gosh, Tommy just poured all of his brown butter sauce on the plate.
You got too much butter.
(Gordon) They need to be down on the front ledge.
Ten, nine, eight, seven, six (Claudia) Slowly, slowly.
- Five, four, three, two, one and stop.
- Hands in the air, guys.
- [Cheering.]
Right.
It's time to taste your gnocchi and to see how you did.
Uh, right, Nick.
Describe your dish.
I made a classic potato gnocchi in a sage brown butter sauce with fried sage leaves.
And ratio of potato to flour is what, please? In the past, learning from my grandmother who taught me how to make gnocchi, I go by eye or really feel.
Um, the plate smells incredible.
Thank you.
Mmm.
Wow.
Crispy, light, seasoned beautifully.
I want to dive back in there for more.
- Thank you.
- That's exactly the way - to make gnocchi.
- Absolutely.
- Good job.
- Thank you, chef.
[Tense music.]
- Incredible.
- Thank you.
I mean, so light, so pillowy.
Ratio of flour and egg to potato, spot on.
I wish they were a little bit bigger.
- Yeah.
- What do you think your mom would've thought about this gnocchi? My mom has never sugar-coated anything.
She taught me to be my own hardest critic because the minute you let up, something's gonna pass you up and take over.
So you always gotta be pushing to be great.
- Well, Nick, keep pushing.
- I will.
It's clearly making a difference to you rise in this competition.
Thank you.
[Applause.]
- Hi, chef.
- Hi, Olivia.
I think you were the underdog here.
You've only made it one time before.
- Yeah.
- But, visually, I think yours is the most beautiful - out of the four.
- Thank you.
They're they're delicious.
Great flavor.
Technique wise, I think, next to Nick's, pretty much neck and neck.
I think the only thing is yours are a little larger.
Not a lot that I would change to the dish.
I think it's pretty beautiful.
You should be proud.
- Thank you.
Thank you.
- Good job.
Just watching the way you work, it's almost like the more pressure we've put you under, - the better you get.
- Thank you.
They look absolutely beautiful.
I like them that size because you get - more crisp on them.
- Mm-hmm.
Mmm.
For now, delicious.
Nick's was there.
Yours has gone beyond that.
A touch more butter.
It's not gonna kill you.
- [Olivia laughs.]
- It's gonna elevate that dish to on the verge of perfection.
- Great job.
Well done.
- Thank you.
Thank you.
(Shelly) Whoo! Yeah, Liv.
Christopher, so first of all, I'm just disappointed in the presentation.
From a brown butter sauce standpoint, typically you'll find the sauce on the outer edges of the plate so that when you're ready to dig into it, you pull it over rather than having it sit in that - brown butter sauce.
- Copy, chef.
Take a bite Your dumplings are definitely more on the under seasoned side.
- Okay.
- The potato dumpling filling - tastes a little dry.
- Okay.
At least one person is going home.
Um, it's probably gonna be between you and Tommy.
Okay.
Christopher, now, have you got a little ant infestation? [Chuckles.]
- What is all that stuff? - It's just a little bit of cracked black pepper.
I thought it would just be, you know, nice presentation and if you want a little bit of bite.
Rule number one, chefs need to season things smartly and not allow the customer to season.
- That's the whole idea.
- Okay.
Okay.
Well, anyway The size So, Christopher, rolling your eyes to the balcony while Gordon is tasting your dish just to be clear, when we say we see everything, we mean it.
If you're gonna be that disrespectful, why are you here? I can hold that back door open for you if you want.
We don't even have to taste Tommy's dish.
The size So, Christopher, rolling your eyes to the balcony while Gordon is tasting your dish when we say we see everything, we mean it.
- Sorry, chef, it wasn't - If you're gonna be that disrespectful, why are you here? I can hold that back door open for you if you want.
We don't even have to taste Tommy's dish.
Don't be disrespectful.
(Derrick) Christopher does not get it.
He has been chewed out multiple times by Christina.
And here he is again.
Dude, look who's standing in front of you.
Now, you got a great color on there, a nice sear, but the big issue is - it needs more seasoning.
- Okay.
(Gordon) Season the dish not the plate.
It was interesting because I was watching you like a hawk.
You didn't taste the mixture before you blanched it.
And if you don't taste what you're about to start poaching, soating, how on earth are you expecting the end result to come out as a MasterChef quality dish? What a shame.
(Christopher) I'm really angry at myself that I didn't perform better.
And I wish things went differently.
(Gordon) All right, Tommy.
We were less than 2 1/2 minutes to go and it looked like you started again.
- Yes.
- And now you've served them in a swimming pool of butter.
Why so much butter on there? Well, I guess it's my Jackson Pollock in me of not being able to hold back.
- I have to stop this.
- Bollocks.
- Yeah, Jackson Bollocks.
- [Chuckles.]
Well, here's a weird thing.
I mean, it looks like they're drowned, but, um, they actually taste decent.
The nut brown butter's there, the flavor's there.
I don't get it with you 'cause you're just You know, you got the heart, but then you're clumsy.
Yes.
[Scoffs.]
Man.
The deal is if you saw that you see how mushy this is? - Yes.
- It has nothing to do with the amount of sauce that you put on the plate.
It's simply the actual dough.
I mean, they're all sticking together.
Yes, I made a mistake with my first batch, I tried to save myself from that.
Here's the the issue I have.
While Christopher has the color, presentation was, obviously, much, much nicer, but your flavor is on the money.
It's almost as if I could mix the two of you - and I'd have a solid dish.
- Yes.
(Tommy) Every muscle on my body is clutching.
Every pore on my face is twitching.
I hate to think it, but there's a real possibility that I could be going home today.
[Dramatic music.]
This elimination challenge, I think, really divided the kitchen into two teams.
One pair gave us, like, a demonstration on how to perfect gnocchi, the other pair struggled under pressure.
(Graham) Olivia and Nick, please step forward.
The two of you put out great plates.
You are both safe from elimination.
Please head up to the balcony.
- Thank you so much.
- Thank you.
Thank you.
I expect to be number one, so making top nine is, like, "thank you, one step closer.
" Christopher, tonight, let's be honest, that wasn't one of your strongest performances.
You know that.
It may have looked like you seared them properly, but the actual flavor was missing.
Tommy, rule number one, when poaching gnocchi, you never put a lid on it.
Then, with 3 1/2 minutes to go, you attempted to make the dish again.
Then you destroyed it with seconds to go by flooding them.
Tommy Say good-bye to Christopher - And head up to the balcony.
- [Gasps.]
Good luck, man.
Be good, brother.
[Melancholy music.]
Christopher, after the top ten in MasterChef we're looking for intuitiveness.
Tasting a mix is important.
By not tasting it, showed us that you're just still not ready to become America's next MasterChef.
I still strongly believe that you're walking through those doors a much, much, much better cook than you came in.
Please, come and say goodbye.
- Truly a pleasure.
Thank you.
- Likewise.
Thank you.
- Thank you for the guidance.
- You're welcome.
Thank you, Graham.
Thank you, Christina.
Please place your apron on your bench.
- Thank you.
- Love you, Chris.
(Christopher) I'm feeling just a little disappointed and I would've liked to move further, but I'm very proud of myself for making it as far as I did.
So I came in here aspiring to one day - become a restaurateur.
- You got a great sense of humor and you light up the room.
At least I did something right.
My culinary knowledge has definitely grown.
There was one stand-out apple pie.
- Christopher.
- [Cheering.]
(Christopher) I may have found a new appreciation for cooking.
There were some highs and lows No, no, no, it's my turn to talk.
You wanted us to taste this? Right behind.
Excuse me.
Right behind.
Move.
Thank you, Chris, you're our rock star.
(Christopher) I never really believed myself.
- Yeah! - [Cheering.]
(Christopher) But I'm leaving here as a, uh as a pretty good home cook.
Top ten.
(Narrator) Next week - Gonna show you how it's done.
- Damn.
I'm not the only thing flaming in this kitchen tonight.
(Narrator) The competition heats up So! As the final nine face a fiery challenge.
- Whoo! - [Screams.]
You must be careful playing with fire.
(Narrator) Who will plate the hottest dishes of their lives? Really delicious.
Boom.
You just keep getting better and better.
(Narrator) And who will go down in flames? That has just put you to the back.
- Hurry up, hurry up! - You're killing it with - these steaks.
- That's good.
- Katrina's blue team - [Cheers.]
(Announcer) Galloped to victory, while in the pressure test - Agh! - He is agitated.
(Announcer) Stephen and Christopher rode their luck.
It's too close to call.
You're both going up the balcony.
- Holy [Bleep.]
.
- We're both saved! What a day! Tonight You are gonna be serving dinner, in the MasterChef restaurant.
(Announcer) The top ten team up to cook family style.
What if we feeding Gordon ramsay's children? Stress! (Announcer) Relationships will be put to the test.
Chris, that's our dessert.
- Get 'em in! - Get the chickens in! There's no way that we're gonna get anything from the red team.
This is ridiculous, man.
(Announcer) All ending in the biggest shock of the season.
This is one family - Whoo! - you do not want - to let down.
- Holy [Bleep.]
.
[Dramatic music.]
Welcome, guys, come on down.
(Christopher) You know, this is a tough thing.
To be top ten's very important to me.
My girlfriend really inspired me to take the plunge, and leave everything behind, and here I am.
But, being here, I'm gonna miss our seven-year anniversary.
So it's tough for me, you know? Tonight, you ten home cooks will be split into two teams of five.
Each team's gonna be responsible for making a delicious family dinner an entrÄÅ¡e, two sides, and a dessert all served family style in one of america's best restaurants.
This one right here! That's right, you are gonna be serving dinner tonight In the MasterChef restaurant.
Tonight's meal is gonna be very special.
You will be creating treasured memories for a family that I have invited here tonight.
This is one family that you do not want to let down.
(Olivia) It could be Gordon Ramsey's family.
It could be previous MasterChef contestants.
But for all I know, it could be the kardashians.
Is it prince william and kate middleton? Are you all ready to find out your teams? (All) Yes, chef! Some of you haven't been team captains yet.
And tonight, we are going to decide who those two team captains will be.
The first team captain will be captain of the blue team.
Derrick.
Second team captain of the red team is Claudia.
All right, Derrick, Claudia, please come up here, and put on your captain's aprons.
- Good job.
- Thank you, chef.
This is gonna sound cocky, but it's about time I'm team captain.
I've been listening and watching over this entire competition.
I know everyone's strengths.
Right.
Derrick, you've got the first pick.
First pick? Nick.
Come pick up your blue apron.
Good.
(Derrick) This is family style.
I have an italian family background, and so does Nick.
- Simple pick.
- Claudia! My first pick is somebody that has amazing flavor profiles.
And I have seen their tenacious attitude.
I pick Katrina.
Katrina, well.
Katrina, please.
Derrick, add second pick.
- My next pick is Olivia.
- Thank you.
I actually would prefer to be on Claudia's team, 'cause we don't butt heads.
Derrick and I definitely butt heads.
- My second pick is Hetal.
- Yeah.
Interesting.
Next pick.
All differences aside My next pick is Chris.
Wow.
Claudia, third pick.
There's no one that I know that understands vegetables more than Stephen.
Wow.
Stephen, come on up.
Derrick, you're picking for both teams now.
(Derrick) This person is overlooked a lot.
- Tommy.
- Wow, Tommy.
Good job, brother.
(Claudia) Welcome to the red team, baby.
[Laughs.]
I haven't been overconfident, like perhaps Derrick has.
But the truth is, I am a methodical, strategic, and delegate a lot in my regular job as an event manager.
So I think that we will have no problem getting this one.
Each team will have just 90 minutes to prep and cook an entrÄÅ¡e, two sides, and an incredible dessert.
In the pantry, you will find everything you could possibly imagine to make your family dinner.
Remember what's at stake.
The winning team will be safe from elimination, and the losing team will face another challenge, after which at least one of you might be seeing your own families quicker than you had hoped.
Your time starts Now.
- Go! - Go.
Whaa! Everybody take a book.
I'm thinking, honestly, family dinners, I mean, what better than chicken? - Yes, perfect.
- How're you feeling on chicken? - Yeah, yeah, roasted chicken.
- Perfect.
So what are we thinking about sides? Mashed potatoes or potato au gratin? - Mashed potatoes? - I think are real genius, yeah.
And then if you could do broccolini with asiago cheese shavings on top? Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Now, I'm not sure what you're thinking for a dessert.
Strawberry shortcake? - Oh, that sounds delicious.
- With whipped cream.
(All) Red team! I'm italian root, you're italian root, let's go we're gonna go italian.
So we're gonna do a lamb rack.
- Hell yeah.
- I wanna do a caprese salad.
And, Nick, you're baked ziti, with that amazing grandmother sauce.
- You got it, dude.
- Does that do well with the caprese? I think it does, yeah.
- I think it goes amazing.
- Yeah, absolutely.
And then we're going with a chocolate mousse pie.
You do a great crust, super simple, it's gonna be beautiful.
(All) Blue team! - I got tons of garlic! - I need these Do it, guys.
(Gordon) Let's go.
[Claps.]
One stunning family style entrÄÅ¡e, followed by a delicious family style dessert.
Let's go! - Wow, family style cooking.
- So excited.
We learn to fall in love with food first and foremost at home at the dinner table, and then it's how you learn how to cook, right? Really curious to see what dishes they put together.
- How you doing there, Stephen? - Great.
Let's just communicate, guys, okay? - Yep.
- Yep.
I trust you all.
- Eye on the prize? - You got it, pal.
- Yeah, chef! - Backin' you up, Derrick.
Thanks, Tommy.
We've seen great, great home cooks with great potential completely crumble under the pressure of being team captain.
- Yeah.
- Do you know how to truss? Yeah, you're gonna help me truss.
Perfect, I'll truss for you.
(Derrick) I need crusts rolled out.
Can I have three minutes? Three to five? - I can give you five.
- Okay, awesome.
[Dramatic music.]
Can you move a little faster, babe? Yep! - Right, Claudia! - Yes, chef? - Describe the menu, please.
- Yes, chef.
We're making a herb roasted whole chicken today with a garlic mashed potato and sautÄÅ¡ed broccolini, with a strawberry shortcake for dessert.
- Cool, done.
- Now, uh, whole chickens, averaging 22, 23 minutes per pound, That's a minimum of an hour, and you haven't roasted.
How are you gonna cook them in time? We're gonna get them right in the oven right away, chef.
I just want to make sure that your chicken, for a very important family that's dear to my heart - Yeah, chef.
- Doesn't go out under-cooked.
I think we should split 'em.
We're gonna split the chickens right now.
We're gonna split 'em in half.
Is that your decision or the captain's decision? It's going to be the captain's decision.
Captain, do you think we should split the chickens in half? Lay 'em flat like this, they're gonna cook in half the time.
- I think that's smart.
- Sure, by all means.
- Yeah, let's do it.
- Let's do it.
- We can still keep 'em juicy.
- Sure, let's do it.
Okay, captain's decision, let's do it.
- Uh, red team, get organized, please? - Yes, chef.
Understood, chef.
- Okay, thank you.
Of course.
We've gotta get these in in the next five minutes, guys.
- All right! Derrick! - Yes, chef? What are you making for dinner? So we're doing italian family style.
I'm playing to the strong suits that everyone has.
I'm going with lamb, because I nailed it in my white apron battle.
Olivia's gonna be doing the caprese salad.
Nick's strong suit is italian, so we're doing a baked ziti.
And a chocolate mousse pie.
Simple.
- Good luck.
- Thank you.
We are halfway there.
Just under 45 minutes to go.
Chris, how are those pies doing, dude? Going, going, going.
Chris, I need that in the oven so fast.
I know, I know.
Rhys, blue team.
How are we doing? Blue team, Derrick's doing good, he seems in control.
But the menu doesn't sound as cohesive as I thought is was gonna be.
- Really? What are they doing? - They have a caprese salad, but then they also have a baked ziti and then they have a lamb rack.
Why would you put two cheeses on the sides? I think in their minds, these are the dishes that they feel the most comfortable with, cooking and finessing from an italian standpoint.
Right, so it's two pieces of tomato per piece of cheese.
Is anybody looking at it on a family table? - No.
- I mean, this is crazy.
- Yeah.
- Mm-hmm.
No one's stepped back and seen the big picture.
Ooh, yum-may! - How are we doing? - We need to get these in the oven.
I've got even more disturbing news.
The red team, the chickens are now being halved, but they're still not in the oven.
- What are they waiting for? - Why won't they just they should have cooked half an hour ago.
Can we get these chickens in? Can we at least - no! Not yet.
- Why can't we get them in? Because they're not dry.
Claudia, I've done this millions of times.
So have I, babe.
There's no way that those chickens are gonna get cooked in time.
We need to get the chickens in now.
Red team! You've got to get your chickens in the oven! - Get the chickens in! - Get 'em in! - I'm putting the chicken in.
- No! - How do you want to do it? - What do you guys need me to do with the chicken.
Let me - nothing, nothing, you stay.
- Nothing! - Wow.
- There's no way that we're gonna get anything from the red team.
- This is ridiculous, man.
- [Bleep.]
.
We are halfway there, just under 45 minutes to go.
We need to get the chickens in now.
Red team! You've got to get your chickens in the oven! - Get the chickens in! - Get 'em in! I'm putting the chicken in.
These clucking chickens have to get in the oven right now, or we're gonna see raw meat! There's no way that those chickens are gonna get cooked in time.
I got it, I'll put it in.
It doesn't take all of us to set an oven.
You serve a bloody raw bird to anybody's family, you goin' home, or they'll kick you out your own house! Done.
All I know is, Claudia need to pull this ship together.
'Cause we will all go down.
What if we feeding Gordon Ramsey's children? My goodness.
Stress! - Blue team! - Yes, chef.
Yes, chef! Have you thought about this menu, Derrick? - Collectively sat on the table? - Yes.
We've got two cheese and tomato sides.
- Yes.
- Baked ziti with cheese, and a tomato mozzarella salad.
I think that the marriage of the tomatoes is the - okay.
But - is the combining Fine, I get that, but I'm just trying to point out a fact - to help you - Yes.
Not serve the same dish twice.
I've got a very important family, Derrick.
- Yes, I understand.
- And it means that they've travelled, Derrick, they've travelled thousands of miles to be here.
- Yes, yes, chef.
- And you can change, and you can alter now.
I'm just trying to get you successful.
- I understand.
- Good.
Let's go.
- Are the chickens in? - Yes, chef, they're in.
- Thank goodness for that.
- All of them.
Okay, solution time! I think we should do a strawberry and tomato and arugula salad.
Basically it's like bright and sweet, and then this is like heavy and cheap.
- Yeah.
I what you - I know you I know you got - tomato and strawberry.
- Okay.
- Do you feel that? - Yeah.
Okay, we gotta change the salad.
X the mozzarella, we got cheese in the baked ziti.
I'm gonna have to trust Olivia that she can make it happen.
Oh, this is gonna be good.
Olivia, come take a quick look.
It's gonna need to lie and bake a little more 'cause it's so big.
- Oh, [Bleep.]
.
- What happened? - What's wrong with it? - No, nothing, it just needs a little more time baking, that's all, we're good.
Just under 20 minutes to go, guys, come on! Speed up, please! - [Bleep.]
Killing me.
- No, it's fine, I swear.
If it's fine, then why are we opening it? Chris, you know what, man? I need you to make pie crust.
Chris, you have one job.
Pie crust.
That is it! Pie crust.
- How is it? - It's fine.
Let me just deflate this, and I'll throw it no it's not, nope, put it back in.
Ah, I'm like, I just need a pie crust.
Go go go, we're losing heat in that oven.
I know, give me a second.
Please don't try to micro-manage me.
It just makes it worse.
I shut down.
Yummy yummy in my tummy.
I need to taste those mashed potatoes.
These need more these need more cream.
They're not creamy enough.
Don't take 'em out, please.
Okay.
I'm sorry.
I need they need to have just a bit more butter.
Can you take care of it while I yes, I can, absolutely.
This is looking so amazing.
I wish you could see it.
You would die.
Five minutes to go, come on! You wanna see something beautiful? Oh, pretty girl.
- Here it is.
- Yeah.
I have to say the blue team's baked ziti - looks fantastic.
- It looks awesome.
- On your left, careful.
- That's our dessert? - Yeah.
- You know what looks terrible? - Their chocolate mousse pie! - Oh dear, oh dear.
Oh, the cream, the cream, the cream, the cream.
Two minutes to go! Just put 'em on there with whipped cream.
Captains, get your teams to victory! Let's take the internal temperature.
- Yeah, yeah.
- It's 169.
- Okay.
- It's technically done.
The chickens are not out of the tray yet.
- Oh, my god.
- How do you want this chicken? It's coming, it's coming.
The family are seated! We are less than 60 seconds to go for the ultimate family dinner.
Hurry up! Let's go, close it up, close it up! - Oh, my goodness me.
- Watch out, watch out.
- Chris, watch out! - Move! - Out, out, out, out, out.
- I'm moving, I'm moving! Yep, stop yellin', get the [Bleep.]
out of the way.
Yes, hurry up, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry.
Last 30 seconds! - I need your help here! - What can I do? Hey, look out, look out, let me wipe off this Nick, help me organize this.
It's falling on me.
Pour the gravy, guys, pour the gravy.
Get that gravy on.
Now, bring it to me now! Come on! Start wiping this plate.
Ten! Nine! Eight! Seven! Six! Five! Give me a towel, give me a towel.
(Gordon) Four! Three! Two! One and stop! Hands in the air! Walk away from your plating station, please.
Thank you, servers.
(Derrick) As a team, we went above and beyond a typical family meal.
The lamb is cooked perfectly.
The baked ziti is cooked perfectly, but I'm looking at the pie and I hate it.
And that's the last thing they're gonna think about when they vote! This could sink our ship.
We could go down on dessert.
Red team, blue team.
Once the family have eaten, they will then decide on which dinner they preferred.
The winning team will be safe, and the losing team, will of course, as always, face the dreaded pressure test.
Thank you.
Get out of here.
I'm really hoping that the love that we put into this meal, really shines through for this family.
Whoever the family is.
- Welcome! - Thank you.
Seriously, thank you so much for coming.
Trust me, we are honored to have you all here.
And they, out there, have no idea That you are the family that we have invited.
So they are in for a shock, let me tell you.
Right now, out there, are the ten best home cooks in all of america, and luckily for you, they are your loved ones! [Applause.]
Derrick's mom, stacey.
You had no clue that Derrick was even auditioning for MasterChef.
When did you last see Derrick? About a year ago.
The last time I did see him he he surprised me, so this is gonna be a real twist.
Star, gorgeous princess, on a scale of one to ten, how much are you missing mom? Can I go above ten? - Of course you can.
- Like 100.
- Stephen's son, Stephen jr.
- Hi.
Did you know that dad was that much of a cook? No, I mean, his food was good, but I liked hanging out with him.
He's a cool dad, and it's been hard for me - not to have him around.
- Aww.
And does he shout at you a lot the way he shouts at me? He He has those short spasms of energy, yes.
- Uh-oh.
- Oh wow.
Here we go! Your dinner tonight has been prepared by two teams of five.
You guys are each going to receive an entrÄÅ¡e and a dessert from each of the teams.
After that, without knowing who cooked what, or what team your loved one was on, you're going to judge on which meal overall that you preferred.
- Painful.
- Whoo! The blue team have done an amazing roasted rack of lamb served with some olives, tomatoes, and a baked ziti.
And on the side is a strawberry rocket salad, finished with a chocolate mousse pie.
- Wow.
- And the red team? Yeah, the red team has done a roasted chicken, rustic garlic mashed potato, and then we also have some broccolini with asiago cheese, and then we also have strawberry shortcake.
- Boy, this is gonna be tough.
- I know.
Bon appÄÅ¡tit, please.
Enjoy.
- Oh, boy.
- Yay, here we go, yay! [Silverware clattering.]
That lamb had a perfect crust on it.
Yeah, it looked good.
The cheese was perfectly crisp on the ziti.
Boy, that lamb turned out great.
- So tender.
- Uh-huh, I love lamb.
I think that the lamb is lacking like a lot of, um - Seasoning? - Season? Yeah.
I thought so too, under seasoned.
Although the pasta from the blue table is very good.
- Yeah.
- The salad dressing is amazing.
The blue team, I think their ziti is misplaced.
I do too, that's what I'm having trouble with.
Although I like it, but it's not, it doesn't I just don't think that the ziti it's not right with the the whole thing.
- Let me try this one.
- Okay, time for the chicken.
Here we go.
That was an awesome job, Stephen.
Best idea today was to split those chickens down the middle and get them opened up like that that's what I'm talking about, brother.
Yes.
- So good.
- (Man) Is that good? Stephen jr.
, so far what's been your favorite? - Red.
- (Gordon) Red team? - Alex? - Yeah? - Katrina's boyfriend.
- Mm-hmm.
Where are you leaning, entrÄÅ¡e-wise? Oh, boy, it's it's tough.
I can put everything together into, like, a perfect bite with the red plate.
I can't necessarily do that with the blue plate, but I will say that I love everything that's on the blue plate.
So I guess I'm leaning towards the blue.
(Graham) Interesting.
- All right, uh, ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, are we ready to tuck into those delicious desserts from the red team and the blue team? - Absolutely.
- Yes! - Oh, my god.
- I know, right? The only thing I'm concerned about and, Chris, you know it, is 90 minutes on getting that crust.
Almost 90 minutes.
Barbara, Nick's mom, where you leaning? You know, I am leaning towards the red plate.
I think the pound cake is really very good.
It's a nice balance.
The problem with me with the blue plate, I think the crust is not quite right.
My son probably made it and he's gonna kill me, - but - [All laugh.]
I-I'm sorry.
Jenni, Christopher's girlfriend.
I actually preferred the blue plate.
I felt like the red plate was a little heavy, a little denser than I would like, and the blue plate was lighter and I actually like the bitterness - of the dark chocolate.
- (Christina) Hmm.
Thank you all for that incredible feedback.
We would like to invite you to make your vote.
If you like the red team's food best, you'll keep the red card in the checkbook.
If you like the blue team's dinner the best, you'll leave the blue card.
I love the suspense.
Let's go see who it is? (Gordon) Please welcome the best ten home cooks in all of america.
- Oh, [Bleep.]
.
- [Laughs.]
[Laughs.]
[Sniffles.]
[Crying.]
(Derrick) My mom gave up a lot to raise me and she didn't get to fulfill her dreams.
She taught me that I could and, so, I'm here to make a dream come true and win MasterChef.
- You had no idea, did you? - No.
- I'm so, so proud of you.
- Oh.
[Soft music.]
[Laughs.]
[Crying.]
Uh, I'm not crying.
Her tears came onto my face.
- [All laugh.]
- Come on, I'm crying, too.
(Gordon) Stephen, someone very special here to see you.
- Aah! - [Laughter.]
Come on.
Look at me.
Ah, I love you.
[Sighs.]
[Crying.]
I love you so much.
- You look so good, babe.
- [Laughs.]
Oh, man.
I miss you so much, mommy.
For a long time it was just me and my mom.
Literally, exactly how it is with me and my daughter right now.
She is someone that has taught me everything that I know about food.
This is one of the most important families.
This is the top ten's family.
I can't believe I just cooked for my mom.
(Gordon) Red team, blue team, well done.
Hi, mommy.
- You okay, bud? - I'm all right.
- You sure? - Oh, yeah.
Tomorrow we'll cook for your family, okay? - [Laughter.]
- (Gordon) It's just mom and dad.
I get sad.
You know I'm sensitive.
- I'm a sensitive man.
- [Laughter.]
Take a deep breath.
You can do it.
Come on.
- All right.
- (Gordon) Excellent.
Now you really need to understand tonight that your loved ones had no idea who cooked what.
And all of their votes have been cast.
- I love you.
- I love you, too.
(Gordon) We're gonna start with Claudia's mom julia.
Will you reveal which dinner you preferred? Was it from the red team or the blue team? [Dramatic music.]
- Whoo! [Laughs.]
- (Gordon) Red team.
- Aah! - Claudia, you relieved? Oh, yeah, chef.
Now, young lady, no pressure.
Please reveal red or blue team? - [Cheering.]
- That's what I'm talk about.
Up top, baby.
Up top.
Up top.
Up top.
Yeah! Roger, open your checkbook and reveal which dinner you preferred.
- [Sighs.]
- Blue team.
- All good, all good.
- Blue, blue, blue! - Jenni - [Groans.]
What's in your checkbook? - Whoo! Yeah! That's my girl! - [Cheering.]
- I'm okay with that.
- Root.
[Laughs, cheering.]
- I love you.
- Eileen.
(Nick) Chocolate got her.
The chocolate got her! - Yeah! - Yeah, baby.
Love you.
- Oh, my goodness.
- This is insane.
There is three to the red, three to the blue team.
Alex.
(Nick) Come on, alex.
Love you, buddy.
- Ooh.
- I'm so sorry, babe.
- [Laughs.]
- Alex, that's the first vote that's gone against their family loved one.
Stephen jr.
, the reveal.
Which dinner did you prefer this evening? Whoo! - You're one lucky boy! - [Laughter.]
- Ha ha, yeah.
- We are even again.
- Barbara.
- Come on, ma.
- [Groans, cheering.]
- I knew it! - I knew it.
- It was chicken.
I know it was chicken.
Right when I saw you I was, like, "damn it!" [Laughter.]
It is now five votes to the red team and four to the blue team.
Stacey.
Reveal red or blue? [Dramatic music.]
It is now five votes the red team and four to the blue team.
Stacey, if you decided blue, then it's a tie.
If it's red, it's over.
Reveal red or blue.
Red team! [Cheering.]
Mom, thank you for coming to MasterChef.
I'm so glad you're here.
I'm just so bummed you picked the wrong dish.
(Gordon) Blue team, unfortunately tomorrow night you will face another challenge where at the end of it at least one of you sadly will leave the competition.
[Groans.]
But, tonight, please, all of you, enjoy the rest of the night together.
If you go further in this competition, clearly it's gonna be sometime before you see each other again.
Yes.
Well done.
Thank you.
Goodnight.
- Thank you guys so much.
- Thank you.
Thank you so much.
- Oh, wow.
- Oh, my god that was tough.
Yes, thank you so much.
Champagne, mom? - Oh, yes.
- Whoo-hoo! - To mommy.
- Here's to you, man.
- I'm so proud of you.
- I miss you.
You look so different.
You hair's so long.
- How'd your theatre go? - Oh, really good.
It was the best play I've ever done.
Did you really? That's awesome.
- So we get to hang out tonight.
- We do? - All night.
- No! [Serene music.]
[Tense music.]
(Gordon) Welcome, guys.
(Derrick) I've got the black apron on and it's really tough going into this pressure test 'cause I feel like I did so well as a captain.
I don't know where this is going.
I'm just not ready to go home.
Now there are five of you standing in front of us, but not all of you are gonna have to face tonight's dreaded pressure test.
- Only four of you are.
- [Sighs.]
And that person who we want to save is Your team captain Derrick.
You were let down in the dessert department, but the lamb dish worked.
It looked stunning.
Thank you.
So take your apron off, head up to the balcony.
Thank you.
(Derrick) I am so glad I'm safe from this one 'cause my parting words to my mom is, "I'll see you when I'm MasterChef winner.
" So if I went home in this pressure test, my mom would never forgive herself.
This dish that you are about to face takes the humble potato and turns it into something elegant, something served at the finest restaurants.
Gnocchi.
Potato-y pillows of perfection.
Yeah, buddy.
Being italian, some people call me Nicky gnocchi.
I mean, I've been rolling gnocchi out with my grandmother since I could see over the counter.
I could make gnocchi in my sleep, baby.
Bring it on.
Let's go.
All of you, it's time to head to your stations.
(Christopher) It's so important for me to survive this pressure test.
Winning MasterChef would allow me to better provide for my girlfriend.
I want to give her the dream wedding that she deserves.
(Christina) On your stations you'll find everything you need to make us this dish.
You have one baked potato, eggs, butter, flour, salt, pepper, and sage.
You will each have 25 minutes.
- [Sighs.]
- [Chuckles.]
That's right.
Just 25 minutes to make us a delicious gnocchi dish finished in a sage brown butter sauce.
(Graham) Your 25 minutes starts Now.
[Frenzied music.]
Come on, guys.
[Sizzling.]
Now, gnocchi, so this is all about - the feel and the texture.
- (Christina) The beautiful part about a perfect gnocchi dish is simplicity, right? But so many things could go wrong.
Where do you think these home cooks will struggle? Uh, lumpy potatoes to begin with.
So, therefore, they haven't riced them properly.
Um, too much flour so it just tastes gummy.
That's what I'm afraid of.
Yeah, it can get too dense.
So the less you roll it, the more fluff it's gonna get.
Liv, that looks great.
Don't work it too much, though.
Just come up to ten minutes, gone.
Just under 15 minutes to go.
[Sizzling.]
[Dramatic music.]
All right, Nick, how you feeling? I feel great.
Gnocchi and I go way back.
What's gonna separate your gnocchi - from everybody else? - Keep it light and pillowy.
Confident you can get through this one - and hit the top nine? - Yes, chef.
Absolutely.
- Top nine's calling my name.
- Good luck.
Thank you, chef.
All right.
All right, Christopher.
You got your first batch into your boiling water a little bit longer than a typical blanch on the gnocchi.
You gotta trust the gnocchi and let it float and now I'm just waiting for it to float.
- Okay.
- [Sizzling.]
Make sure those gnocchi have a nice, even golden-brown color on every side.
Remember, it's all about the seasonings.
- Copy that, chef.
- Good luck.
Thank you, chef.
- Hi, chef.
- Hi, Olivia.
- What's going on? - I've only made gnocchi - one time before.
- The only thing I would say is that remember you have your brown butter which is gonna be the little finishing drip.
- Mm-hmm.
- So something like this.
.
Look at them, they're stating to look a little greasy.
So, take those, dab 'em on a paper towel, then go back and gently place them somewhere.
- Okay, thank you.
- Yes.
Yup.
(Gordon) Just under eight minutes to go.
A lot of stuff going on out there.
She's slightly concerned about Christopher's.
Yeah, I have to say, Christopher blanched his gnocchi for about 2, 2 1/2 minutes.
- Which is not a blanch - Right.
- That's nearly a boil.
- Like a boil.
Yeah.
I'm concerned about Nick only because he still has six minutes to go and he's plated his dish.
I think he's that confident, Christina.
Yeah, buddy.
I don't like the texture of these.
They don't look the way that I want.
My gnocchi is exploding and they look like snot.
- Oh, tom.
(Gordon) Two minutes to go.
I've got extra gnocchi dough so I immediately chop, chop, chop, chop, chop and throw them in that pot.
Look at breaking news right now.
Tommy is re-doing it all.
He's making a new batch of gnocchi.
- Wow.
- With just minutes to go.
- Is that even possible? - Hurry, Tommy.
I know.
The clock is ticking down.
(Graham) Coming up to 90 seconds.
Oh, boy, I'm starting to sweat like James Brown.
- Aye, yi, yi, yi, yi.
- It's gonna be tight.
(Tommy) If this second batch fails, I'm just gonna be dead in the kitchen.
Aye, yi, yi, yi, yi.
Look at breaking news right now.
Tommy is re-doing it all.
He's making a new batch of gnocchi.
- Wow.
- With just minutes to go.
- Is that even possible? - Hurry, Tommy.
I know.
(Graham) Coming up to 90 seconds.
(Shelly) Floating, Tommy.
They're floating.
What's he doing? Get it out of there.
[Dramatic music.]
Let's go.
Come on, Tommy.
You've got to plate.
Oh, my gosh, Tommy just poured all of his brown butter sauce on the plate.
You got too much butter.
(Gordon) They need to be down on the front ledge.
Ten, nine, eight, seven, six (Claudia) Slowly, slowly.
- Five, four, three, two, one and stop.
- Hands in the air, guys.
- [Cheering.]
Right.
It's time to taste your gnocchi and to see how you did.
Uh, right, Nick.
Describe your dish.
I made a classic potato gnocchi in a sage brown butter sauce with fried sage leaves.
And ratio of potato to flour is what, please? In the past, learning from my grandmother who taught me how to make gnocchi, I go by eye or really feel.
Um, the plate smells incredible.
Thank you.
Mmm.
Wow.
Crispy, light, seasoned beautifully.
I want to dive back in there for more.
- Thank you.
- That's exactly the way - to make gnocchi.
- Absolutely.
- Good job.
- Thank you, chef.
[Tense music.]
- Incredible.
- Thank you.
I mean, so light, so pillowy.
Ratio of flour and egg to potato, spot on.
I wish they were a little bit bigger.
- Yeah.
- What do you think your mom would've thought about this gnocchi? My mom has never sugar-coated anything.
She taught me to be my own hardest critic because the minute you let up, something's gonna pass you up and take over.
So you always gotta be pushing to be great.
- Well, Nick, keep pushing.
- I will.
It's clearly making a difference to you rise in this competition.
Thank you.
[Applause.]
- Hi, chef.
- Hi, Olivia.
I think you were the underdog here.
You've only made it one time before.
- Yeah.
- But, visually, I think yours is the most beautiful - out of the four.
- Thank you.
They're they're delicious.
Great flavor.
Technique wise, I think, next to Nick's, pretty much neck and neck.
I think the only thing is yours are a little larger.
Not a lot that I would change to the dish.
I think it's pretty beautiful.
You should be proud.
- Thank you.
Thank you.
- Good job.
Just watching the way you work, it's almost like the more pressure we've put you under, - the better you get.
- Thank you.
They look absolutely beautiful.
I like them that size because you get - more crisp on them.
- Mm-hmm.
Mmm.
For now, delicious.
Nick's was there.
Yours has gone beyond that.
A touch more butter.
It's not gonna kill you.
- [Olivia laughs.]
- It's gonna elevate that dish to on the verge of perfection.
- Great job.
Well done.
- Thank you.
Thank you.
(Shelly) Whoo! Yeah, Liv.
Christopher, so first of all, I'm just disappointed in the presentation.
From a brown butter sauce standpoint, typically you'll find the sauce on the outer edges of the plate so that when you're ready to dig into it, you pull it over rather than having it sit in that - brown butter sauce.
- Copy, chef.
Take a bite Your dumplings are definitely more on the under seasoned side.
- Okay.
- The potato dumpling filling - tastes a little dry.
- Okay.
At least one person is going home.
Um, it's probably gonna be between you and Tommy.
Okay.
Christopher, now, have you got a little ant infestation? [Chuckles.]
- What is all that stuff? - It's just a little bit of cracked black pepper.
I thought it would just be, you know, nice presentation and if you want a little bit of bite.
Rule number one, chefs need to season things smartly and not allow the customer to season.
- That's the whole idea.
- Okay.
Okay.
Well, anyway The size So, Christopher, rolling your eyes to the balcony while Gordon is tasting your dish just to be clear, when we say we see everything, we mean it.
If you're gonna be that disrespectful, why are you here? I can hold that back door open for you if you want.
We don't even have to taste Tommy's dish.
The size So, Christopher, rolling your eyes to the balcony while Gordon is tasting your dish when we say we see everything, we mean it.
- Sorry, chef, it wasn't - If you're gonna be that disrespectful, why are you here? I can hold that back door open for you if you want.
We don't even have to taste Tommy's dish.
Don't be disrespectful.
(Derrick) Christopher does not get it.
He has been chewed out multiple times by Christina.
And here he is again.
Dude, look who's standing in front of you.
Now, you got a great color on there, a nice sear, but the big issue is - it needs more seasoning.
- Okay.
(Gordon) Season the dish not the plate.
It was interesting because I was watching you like a hawk.
You didn't taste the mixture before you blanched it.
And if you don't taste what you're about to start poaching, soating, how on earth are you expecting the end result to come out as a MasterChef quality dish? What a shame.
(Christopher) I'm really angry at myself that I didn't perform better.
And I wish things went differently.
(Gordon) All right, Tommy.
We were less than 2 1/2 minutes to go and it looked like you started again.
- Yes.
- And now you've served them in a swimming pool of butter.
Why so much butter on there? Well, I guess it's my Jackson Pollock in me of not being able to hold back.
- I have to stop this.
- Bollocks.
- Yeah, Jackson Bollocks.
- [Chuckles.]
Well, here's a weird thing.
I mean, it looks like they're drowned, but, um, they actually taste decent.
The nut brown butter's there, the flavor's there.
I don't get it with you 'cause you're just You know, you got the heart, but then you're clumsy.
Yes.
[Scoffs.]
Man.
The deal is if you saw that you see how mushy this is? - Yes.
- It has nothing to do with the amount of sauce that you put on the plate.
It's simply the actual dough.
I mean, they're all sticking together.
Yes, I made a mistake with my first batch, I tried to save myself from that.
Here's the the issue I have.
While Christopher has the color, presentation was, obviously, much, much nicer, but your flavor is on the money.
It's almost as if I could mix the two of you - and I'd have a solid dish.
- Yes.
(Tommy) Every muscle on my body is clutching.
Every pore on my face is twitching.
I hate to think it, but there's a real possibility that I could be going home today.
[Dramatic music.]
This elimination challenge, I think, really divided the kitchen into two teams.
One pair gave us, like, a demonstration on how to perfect gnocchi, the other pair struggled under pressure.
(Graham) Olivia and Nick, please step forward.
The two of you put out great plates.
You are both safe from elimination.
Please head up to the balcony.
- Thank you so much.
- Thank you.
Thank you.
I expect to be number one, so making top nine is, like, "thank you, one step closer.
" Christopher, tonight, let's be honest, that wasn't one of your strongest performances.
You know that.
It may have looked like you seared them properly, but the actual flavor was missing.
Tommy, rule number one, when poaching gnocchi, you never put a lid on it.
Then, with 3 1/2 minutes to go, you attempted to make the dish again.
Then you destroyed it with seconds to go by flooding them.
Tommy Say good-bye to Christopher - And head up to the balcony.
- [Gasps.]
Good luck, man.
Be good, brother.
[Melancholy music.]
Christopher, after the top ten in MasterChef we're looking for intuitiveness.
Tasting a mix is important.
By not tasting it, showed us that you're just still not ready to become America's next MasterChef.
I still strongly believe that you're walking through those doors a much, much, much better cook than you came in.
Please, come and say goodbye.
- Truly a pleasure.
Thank you.
- Likewise.
Thank you.
- Thank you for the guidance.
- You're welcome.
Thank you, Graham.
Thank you, Christina.
Please place your apron on your bench.
- Thank you.
- Love you, Chris.
(Christopher) I'm feeling just a little disappointed and I would've liked to move further, but I'm very proud of myself for making it as far as I did.
So I came in here aspiring to one day - become a restaurateur.
- You got a great sense of humor and you light up the room.
At least I did something right.
My culinary knowledge has definitely grown.
There was one stand-out apple pie.
- Christopher.
- [Cheering.]
(Christopher) I may have found a new appreciation for cooking.
There were some highs and lows No, no, no, it's my turn to talk.
You wanted us to taste this? Right behind.
Excuse me.
Right behind.
Move.
Thank you, Chris, you're our rock star.
(Christopher) I never really believed myself.
- Yeah! - [Cheering.]
(Christopher) But I'm leaving here as a, uh as a pretty good home cook.
Top ten.
(Narrator) Next week - Gonna show you how it's done.
- Damn.
I'm not the only thing flaming in this kitchen tonight.
(Narrator) The competition heats up So! As the final nine face a fiery challenge.
- Whoo! - [Screams.]
You must be careful playing with fire.
(Narrator) Who will plate the hottest dishes of their lives? Really delicious.
Boom.
You just keep getting better and better.
(Narrator) And who will go down in flames? That has just put you to the back.