MasterChef SA cooks wine 'n dine celebs

Cape Town - No one went home on MasterChef SA on Tuesday.

The jam-packed episode saw the remaining nine hopefuls prepare food and wine pairings for a table of ten - the three judges as well as seven local celebs.

Idols' Unathi Msengana, ex-Springbok Breyton Paulse, actor Desmond Dube, soccer star Ryan Botha, The Wild's Milan Murray, singer Loyiso and TV foodie Sibahle Mtungana joined the judges for the meal. 

After the nine-course meal the celebs were asked to vote for their favourite course. 27-year-old Khaya won the challenge with her chocolate fondant and berry coulis paired with the Noble Late Harvest.

Immunity vs pressure test

Her prize - a cook-off with celeb chef Reuben Riffel that could win her an immunity pin. If successful, this pin would get her out of any elimination challenge up until the final two rounds.

Although there was all-round praise for almost all of the dishes, some pairings left the guests with a bad taste in their mouths.

Deena, Jade and Thys were the bottom three contestants who would have to perform in a pressure test.  Deena, not being a wine drinker, mismatched his merlot with a tomato-based lamb curry. Jade's fillet didn't go well with her shiraz while Thys's open mushroom lasagne was just too buttery.

Khaya's cook-off and the pressure test are scheduled to appear on the following episode, airing on Tuesday 5 June.

The on-air promo for the episode revealed that the pressure test would be a gruelling three-hour challenge.

Improvement

The show has come under some criticism recently for the contestants' lack of skill and the interest value. However, Food24's resident chef, Caro de Waal, says her faith has been restored.

"Okay, I am impressed... at last.

"My faith has been restored and it was a kick-ass episode."

MasterChef SA airs on Tuesdays on M-Net and M-Net HD.