MasterChef Canada (season 1)

MasterChef Canada (season 1)
Country of origin	Canada
No. of episodes	15
Release
Original network	CTV
Original release	January 20 – April 28, 2014
Season chronology

Season 1 of the Canadian competitive reality television series MasterChef Canada premiered on CTV on January 20, 2014. Winner Eric Chong currently holds the record as the youngest winner of MasterChef Canada.

Top 16

Contestant	Age	Hometown	Occupation	Status	Winnings
Eric Chong	21	Oakville, Ontario	Chemical Engineer	Winner April 28	5
Marida Mohammed	31	Toronto	Stay-at-Home Mom	Runner-Up April 28	5
Kaila Klassen	24	Penticton, British Columbia	Realtor	Eliminated April 21	4
Tammara Behl	38	St. Albert, Alberta	Special Needs Teacher		8
Mike Green	30	Winnipeg, Manitoba	Journalist	Eliminated April 14	5
Pino DiCarbo	36	Mississauga, Ontario	Stay-at-Home Dad	Eliminated April 7	6
Julie Miguel	30	Woodbridge, Ontario	Bankruptcy Analyst	Eliminated March 31	2
Danielle Cardozo	28	Fernie, British Columbia	Employment Development Officer	Eliminated March 24	3
Carly Tennant	30	Abbotsford, British Columbia	Retail Clothing Store Owner	Eliminated March 17	3
Dale Kuda	26	Toronto	Household Manager	Eliminated March 10	1
Dora Cote	37	Edmonton, Alberta	Plumber	Eliminated March 3	3
Josh Gale	26	Vancouver, British Columbia	IT Sales	Eliminated February 24	0
Danny Raposo	36	Brampton, Ontario	Construction Worker	Eliminated February 17	0
Brooke Feldman	32	Toronto	Make-up Artist	Eliminated February 10	0
Meghan Toth	30	St. Catharines, Ontario	Stay-at-Home Mom	Eliminated February 3	0
Ben Miner	33	Ottawa, Ontario	Stand-Up Comedian		0

Elimination table

Place	Contestant	Episode
		3		4	5		6	7		8	9		10	11		12	13	14		15
1	Eric	HIGH	IN	LOW	IN	LOW	NPT	WIN	IMM	WIN	IN	WIN	PT	HIGH	IN	LOW	LOW	LOW	WIN	WINNER
2	Marida	WIN	IMM	WIN	IN	IN	WIN	HIGH	IN	NPT	HIGH	LOW	WIN	IN	LOW	PT	WIN	HIGH	IN	RUNNER-UP
3	Kaila	IN	IN	PT	WIN	IMM	PT	IN	WIN	LOW	HIGH	IN	LOW	IN	IN	WIN	PT	WIN	ELIM
4	Tammara	IN	IN	WIN	IN	IN	WIN	IN	IN	WIN	HIGH	WIN	WIN	HIGH	WIN	WIN	WIN	ELIM
5	Mike	IN	IN	LOW	HIGH	IN	WIN	IN	LOW	WIN	IN	IN	WIN	WIN	IMM	WIN	ELIM
6	Pino	IN	WIN	WIN	IN	LOW	NPT	HIGH	WIN	WIN	IN	LOW	WIN	IN	WIN	ELIM
7	Julie	IN	IN	WIN	IN	IN	WIN	IN	IN	PT	IN	IN	LOW	IN	ELIM
8	Danielle	IN	IN	WIN	IN	WIN	PT	IN	IN	PT	WIN	IMM	ELIM
9	Carly	HIGH	IN	WIN	IN	IN	WIN	IN	IN	WIN	IN	ELIM
10	Dale	IN	WIN	NPT	HIGH	IN	LOW	IN	LOW	ELIM
11	Dora	IN	IN	WIN	IN	WIN	WIN	IN	ELIM
12	Josh	IN	IN	PT	HIGH	IN	ELIM
13	Danny	IN	LOW	NPT	IN	ELIM
14	Brooke	IN	IMM	ELIM
15	Meghan	IN	ELIM
16	Ben	IN	ELIM

     (WINNER) This cook won the competition.

     (RUNNER-UP) This cook finished in second place.

     (WIN) The cook won the individual challenge (Mystery Box Challenge or Elimination Test).

     (WIN) The cook was on the winning team in the Team Challenge and was directly advanced to the next round.

     (HIGH) The cook was one of the top entries in the individual challenge, but did not win, or received considerable praise during an Elimination Challenge.

     (IN) The cook was not selected as a top entry or bottom entry in an individual challenge.

     (IN) The cook was not selected as a top entry or bottom entry in a team challenge.

     (IMM) The cook did not have to compete in that round of the competition and was safe from elimination.

     (IMM) The cook was selected by Mystery Box Challenge winner and did not have to compete in the Elimination Test.

     (PT) The cook was on the losing team in the Team Challenge, competed in the Pressure Test, and advanced.

     (NPT) The cook was on the losing team in the Team Challenge, but was exempted from the Pressure Test

     (RET) The cook was eliminated but come back to compete to return to the competition.

     (LOW) The cook was one of the bottom entries in an individual elimination challenge, but was not the last person to advance.

     (LOW) The cook was one of the bottom entries in an individual elimination challenge, and was the last person to advance.

     (LOW) The cook was one of the bottom entries in the Team Challenge, and they were the only person from their team to advance.

     (WDR) The cook withdrew from the competition due to illness or personal reasons.

     (ELIM) The cook was eliminated from MasterChef.

Episodes

The episodes started airing on CTV on January 20, 2014.

No. in series	No. in season	Title	Original air date	Production code
1	1	"White is the new Black"	January 20, 2014	101
The 50 cooks selected from across Canada prepare their signature dishes for presentation to the judges (Michael Bonacini, Alvin Leung and Claudio Aprile). 26 contestants are presented with MasterChef aprons and advance to the next round.[1]
2	2	"Chicken Little"	January 27, 2014	102
The 26 cooks must prepare a dish using any part of a chicken with only one pan and burner. The cooks were also supplied with a limited pantry of produce. Only 16 contestants keep their aprons. A first group consisting of Mike, Marida, Julie, Meghan and Josh was called and advanced into Top 16. Two more groups are then called forward, where the group consisting of Tammara, Eric, Pino, Ben, Danielle, Carly and Brooke is advanced, while the other group consisting of Rob, Sarah, JD, Alison, Natalia and Jordan is eliminated. This leaves 8 home cooks: Bubba, Dale, Danny, Dora, Evan, John, Kaila and Sparkle, where their dishes will be tasted by the judges to decide which of them will be moving forward. The first pair called forward is Dale and John. Dale is advanced, while John is eliminated. The next pair is Bubba and Sparkle. Both Bubba and Sparkle are eliminated. The third pair is Kaila and Evan. Evan is eliminated, while Kaila is advanced. The final pair is Danny and Dora. Dora and Danny both advance into the Top 16.
3	3	"First Kick at the Box"	February 2, 2014	103
Mystery Box 1: The top three dishes are made by Carly, Eric, and Marida. Marida won the first mystery box. Elimination Challenge 1: Marida is granted immunity and has a choice of ingredients from Canadian land, air, or sea for the other cooks in the challenge to use. She chooses the smelt. The judges also allow her to choose one other to be safe from elimination and she chooses Brooke. The two best dishes are Pino's and Dale's. Meghan, Danny and Ben are called for having the worst three dishes of the challenge. Ben is eliminated, but Meghan follows soon after in a surprise double elimination.
4	4	"The Puck Drops Here"	February 10, 2014	104
Team Challenge 1: The competitors have to cook for the Toronto Maple Leafs. Pino and Dale are the team captains. Pino was the Blue Team captain, and Dale was the White Team captain. The teams had to make one pasta dish and one fish dish for the challenge. Pino chose Marida, Julie, Carly, Tammara, Dora, and Danielle. Dale chose Eric, Brooke, Mike, Josh, and Kaila. Danny could not cook because he was sick with the flu, but he had to compete in the pressure test. After the Leafs, alumni and family members voted, the Blue team won with 26 votes to 11. Pressure Test 1: The cooks had to cook a Raviolo al Uovo, which is a ravioli with a liquid egg yolk inside and a fried sage leaf at the top. Dale decided to save himself and Danny. Kaila's pasta was considered the best and she, along with Josh, were sent to safety. Eric was also sent to safety. Finally, Mike was saved, meaning Brooke was eliminated.
5	5	"Where's the Beef"	February 17, 2014	105
Mystery Box 2: The cooks had to create burgers with a meat grinder using many different meats. Near the end of the challenge, Eric severely cut his hand and was forced to sit out, leaving him with no dish to present. The best dishes were Dale's, Kaila's, Josh's, and Mike's. Kaila won the Mystery Box challenge. Elimination Challenge 2: Kaila was immune from elimination and able to choose a Canadian ingredient which was paired with a bottle of Alexander Keith's Hop Ale. She chose apples. She was also allowed to force two home cooks to create desserts, and she chose Eric and Josh. Dora's dish was declared the best, followed by Danielle, making them team captains in the next challenge. The bottom three were Eric, Pino and Danny. Danny's dish was deemed the worst and he was eliminated from the competition.
6	6	"Edible Art"	February 21, 2014	106
Team Challenge 2: The cooks were sent to Toronto's distillery district for their next team challenge to serve many famous artists. The judges were allowed to decide the winning team. Dora chose Carly, Mike, Marida, Julie, and Tammara for the Red Team, while Danielle chose Dale, Josh, Eric, Kaila, and Pino for the Blue Team. The cooks had to prepare three canapés. The Red Team comes out on top, and the Blue Team must face a pressure test. Pressure Test 2: The Red Team was given the power to choose two contestants to give immunity from the Pressure Test. They chose Pino and Eric. For the Pressure Test, the four home cooks are assigned to prepare a cheesecake, with the best cheesecake being placed in a magazine. Danielle's is deemed the best. Josh's cheesecake is deemed the worst, and he leaves the competition.
7	7	"Brains Before Beauty"	March 3, 2014	107
Mystery Box 3: The 11 finalists faced a Mystery Box challenge that takes them back to their roots. The top three were Pino's, Marida's, and Eric's. Eric won the Mystery Box challenge, granting him immunity. Elimination Challenge 3: The judges presented Eric with ten different cuts of beef from an Alberta cow, ranging from premium steaks to offal. For his advantage, Eric got to decide which home cook would cook which cut of meat. The top two dishes were Kaila's and Pino's. The bottom three are Mike, Dora, and Dale. Dora's dish was deemed the worst, and she was eliminated.
8	8	"Major Steaks"	March 10, 2014	108
Team Challenge 3: The remaining home cooks head to CFB Trenton for the team challenge of cooking a rib-eye steak with two sides for 151 members of the Canadian Forces. Kaila becomes captain of the Red Team. She selects Danielle, Dale, Julie, and Marida. Pino becomes captain of the Blue Team and he selects Eric, Mike, Tammara, and Carly. The blue team wins with an overwhelming 107 out of 151 votes. Pressure Test 3: The Red Team must select one of their own to save. Marida was made safe. In this pressure test, the home cooks are challenged to make salmon wellington. Danielle creates the best Salmon Wellington, winning the Pressure Test. Kaila and Dale are left in the bottom two. Dale's dish is the worst, and he is sent home.
9	9	"Great Canadian Bake-Off"	March 17, 2014	109
Mystery Box 4: The top 9 finalists were given a Mystery Box that contained ingredients that the judges enjoyed working with. There were four top dishes: Tammara's, Danielle's, Marida's, and Kaila's. Danielle's dish was deemed the best. Elimination Test 4: Danielle was given immunity. Then she was presented with three classic regional Canadian desserts, one of which she would choose for the other eight home cooks as base to recreate a new one, Danielle selected the Nanaimo bars. The top dish was Tammara's followed by Eric's, making them team captains in the next challenge. The bottom three were Pino, Marida, and Carly. Carly's dessert was deemed the worst and she was eliminated.
10	10	"Meals on Wheels"	March 24, 2014	110
Team Challenge 4: At the Nathan Phillip Square in Toronto, the eight home cooks are asked to run a food truck, either Mexicana or Italiano. Tammara chose the first one, leaving the other to Eric. At first Tammara, Marida, Mike and Julie were the Blue Team while Eric, Pino, Danielle, and Kaila formed the Red Team, but the judges gave Tammara the advantage of trading a member. She exchanged Julie with Pino. They had two hours to cook and serve a dish with the assigned style. The Blue Team won by a narrow margin of only 15 dollars. Pressure Test 4: The Red Team had to take part in this Pressure Test. The competitors had 80 minutes to recreate a Baked Alaska. Eric was safe. Julie was deemed the second best. Danielle was eliminated.
11	11	"Claws Out"	March 31, 2014	111
Mystery Box 5: The contestants had to cook lobster. They were given 45 minutes. The top three dishes were Mike's, Tammara's, and Eric's. Mike was declared the winner. Elimination Test 5 The contestants had to recreate a Chinese Dim sum platter identical to a modeled platter. Mike chose the teams of Tammara and Pino, Julie and Marida, and Kaila and Eric. This was a tag team challenge: one chef at a time could cook while one gave orders with each member switching in a while. Tammara and Pino produced the best recreation, thereby winning the challenge. Julie was eliminated.
12	12	"Line of Fire"	April 7, 2014	112
Team Challenge 5: Tammara and Pino are team captains in a "Restaurant Takeover" of judge Claudio Aprile's Origin North. Restaurant owner Aprile chooses the teams. The Red Team consists of Tammara, Kaila, and Mike, while the Blue Team consists of Pino, Marida, and Eric. The judges determine the Blue Team to have the worst performance and subject them to the pressure test. Pressure Test 5: The Blue Team are required to create a box of one dozen donuts, with at least three different types. Marida's donuts are deemed the best. Pino is judged to have made the worst box of donuts and is sent home.
13	13	"Family Style"	April 14, 2014	113
Team Challenge 6: The five remaining contestants are reunited with their families, and then asked to create a family style meal, consisting of an entrée and two sides, for a combined table of family members and judges. The remaining five contestants are split into two teams. Marida is allowed to select one or two members for her team. Marida selects only Tammara to create a team of two, leaving Eric, Kaila, and Mike as members of the opposing team. Marida and Tammara are judged to have done the best with the challenge and are safe from elimination. Pressure Test 6: Eric, Kaila, and Mike face off in the pressure test. The judges ask the three to make a medium-rare New York strip steak, crispy French fries, and Béarnaise sauce. The judges decide that Mike is sent home.
14	14	"Not Your Average Joe"	April 21, 2014	114
Mystery Box 6: Special guest Joe Bastianich assembles the box with his favorite Italian ingredients, adding a white wine from his vineyard. The judges reveal that the person with the worst dish will be sent home immediately, in addition to the winner receiving an advantage in the elimination challenge. Kaila's is named as the winning dish. Tammara was deemed to have cooked the worst dish and is eliminated. Elimination Test 6: The remaining contestants get a choice of seafood. Kaila chooses first and selects scallops. Marida chooses razor clams, and Eric receives crab. Kaila is eliminated, setting up a final between Marida and Eric.
15	15	"And Then There Were 2"	April 28, 2014	115
Eric and Marida compete for the title. They are instructed to create a three-course meal, and the best meal will win the $100,000 and the title of MasterChef Canada. They are given one hour to make each course. For her appetizer, Marida creates a pumpkin callaloo soup with coconut lime crème fraîche, crispy pig tail, and lime pepper sauce, while Eric creates a crispy pork belly with vegetable dumplings and wasabi mayonnaise. In the entrée round, Eric makes lobster with egg noodles, and Marida composes taro-leaf steamed black cod with pigeon pea purée, mango chutney, and cucumber. In the dessert course, Marida makes an apple crumble with coconut ice cream and rum sauce, while Eric makes an Asian take on a banana split, composed of tempura-fried bananas with red bean and green tea ice cream. Eric is declared the winner of the first MasterChef Canada which makes Marida the runner-up.

References

1. "CTV - Masterchef Canada - Details". Bell Media. Retrieved 2014-04-27.