Masterchef Favorite Ben Trobbiani has been eliminated from MasterChef Australia, the first to tumble after making it to the Top 10.
A fan favourite for his colourful and eclectic shirts, Ben struggled in the challenge with acclaimed guest chef Massimo Bottura, failing to adhere to the brief in a cook about minimising waste.
Battling against Larissa, Simon, Tati and Anushka, Ben and the group were asked to create a dish which celebrated the four most commonly discarded ingredients in Australian homes – bananas, milk, lettuce and bread.
Ben was excited by the challenge, opting to use radicchio and lettuce, but also grabbed duck from the pantry, wanting to prepare butter braised radicchio with a pan seared duck breast and jus.
On the gantry his fellow contestants were concerned to see Ben choosing to cook with an expensive item, in stark contrast to the advice given by the judges and Massimo.
His error was highlighted when the judges visited his bench during the cook to see he had wasted half of the remaining duck, only cooking with a small portion of the protein.
And when it came time to taste, not only had he failed in the brief, but they all found the duck to be rubbery and undercooked, and there were no surprises when the 24-year-old was sent home.
Since leaving the MasterChef kitchen, Ben has begun to develop his dream of opening a pop-up restaurant showcasing seasonal Australian produce.
