Masterchef: The Professionals 2014 is back on our screens once more with new judge, Michelin-starred chef Marcus Wareing at the helm.

Each week we'll be bringing you a round-up of the culinary successes and disasters as we edge closer to finding out this year's winner of Masterchef: The Professionals 2014.

Well this week was a bit of a damp squib! The professionals were lacklustre and their dishes seemed to follow suit. As a viewer, obviously we can’t judge their plates of food on taste so it has to at the very least look inviting. Step forward Jonathan from London with his beige food – when he popped it down in front of the judges I rolled my eyes in exasperation.

And I wasn’t alone it was the first thing Gregg Wallace pointed out! Luckily for 30-year-old Jonathan, who has a masters in physics and astronomy, it tasted good but it didn’t bode well for the next two nights of viewing I had to get through. As I’ve come to expect, Monica Galetti ‘s skills test is always the highlight, it manages to fluster even the most cool and collected of chef and this week was no different.

Although, when they asked the competitors to make a millefeuille they offered certain chefs like 20-year-old Aaron, from Omagh, a lot of advice which was not consistent with the others. It seemed a little unfair to me that one could be given hints and the others just received Monica’s blank stare. Moving on to the winkle and whelk test I felt a little nauseas at times, namely when Monica ate Ben from Chippenham’s attempt – he didn’t wash them and her face when she chomped on a large piece of grit made my face turn a shade

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of green!

Then poor Kris from Devon cut all the best bits off the whelks and served the bits full of intestines! Although he doesn’t really deserve sympathy, the attitude he oozed was uncomfortable to watch. I don’t think it’s a wise idea to back-chat Marcus Wareing when he is offering you criticism.

The 22-year-old said: “If it’s not a dish I’m completely happy with I would rather throw it on the floor and walk out than serve it.” Well he served bouillabaisse and it lacked, well, everything but he still served it! I was waiting expectantly for some drama but as with his dish he failed to deliver.
I suppose the star of the week was Katherine from London.

The 31-year-old lacked so much self-belief at the beginning I wanted to reach in to the Masterchef kitchen and give her a cuddle. But it was just a cover because she impressed the judges over and over again.

biscuit souffle In fact her lamb dish in the first round impressed Marcus so much he said: “It was one of the best dishes of the competition so far.” A bold statement!

The critics favourite however was Jonathan, yes he stepped out from underneath his beige shell and presented them with beef, oyster and nettle followed by a biscuit soufflé and Earl Grey tea ice cream - his food was described as big, rich, serious cooking with a touch of hedgerow thrown in – he’s on to a winner!

Fingers crossed next week will deliver a huge spoonful of talent mixed in with some confidence and personality because this week was tough viewing.

By Cara Pilkington

@canteencara

>>> Read more about Masterchef: The Professionals 2014 here

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