Mamma mia… it is Italian Week on MasterChef Australia and the remaining 18 contestants are being critiqued by the best in the business when they are joined by Godfather of Italian gastronomy, Antonio Carluccio. By the end of the week the top 15 will be revealed.
Sunday 23 June, 7:30pm
It’s Italian Week on MasterChef Australia as we head to Melbourne’s famous Lygon Street for an Italian Food Fiesta.
The contestants are divided into four teams and assigned a dish inspired by a different region of Italy that they must prepare and sell to the public from a dedicated food stall. Each team is assigned a Nonna to help guide them in this challenge.
The Godfather of Italian gastronomy, Antonio Carluccio, joins the judging panel. Whichever team makes the most money wins. The two teams that make the least money will be considered by the judges and the least impressive team will be sent into the elimination challenge.
Monday 24 June, 7.30pm
With five contestants facing elimination tonight, the contestants are required to make guest judge Stefano De Pieri’s ravioli stuffed with quail in burnt butter and sage. The contestants have just 60 minutes to make the dish from memory. The contestant with the least impressive dish will be eliminated.
Tuesday 25 June, 7.30pm
There is no single dish that defines Italy more than the universally popular pizza. On MasterChef Australia tonight, the 18 remaining contestants are split into two teams for a supreme Battle of the Pizzas. Each team must design a menu of four pizzas to feed 150 hungry diners in the MasterChef pizzeria but they will also need to keep up with real time delivery orders from nearby homes.
The teams are given two hours to prepare for a 90-minute service. Customer feedback and pizza quantities ordered will be considered by the judges when they make their final decision on the winning team.
Wednesday 26 June, 7.30pm
Tonight, the losing team from yesterday’s pizzeria challenge are going head to head in the kitchen. But there’s a twist: the contestants are asked to draw a coloured apron and are then restricted to cooking with pantry items of that colour.
The contestants have 60 minutes to cook an Italian-inspired dish. The contestant with the least impressive dish will leave the MasterChef Australia kitchen for the last time.
Thursday 27 June, 7.30pm
In tonight’s MasterClass we are joined by the Godfather of Italian gastronomy, Antonio Carluccio, who makes his handkerchief pasta with ligurian pesto. Gary shows us how to make the perfect carbonara and George will make a risoni with chicken polpete.
