MasterChef SA impresses viewers, critics

Cape Town - The first episode of MasterChef SA aired on Tuesday with experts and food enthusiasts being very pleased with the show.

Only 50 of the 100 amateur chefs could go through to the next round - the MasterChef Bootcamp.

The chefs have to prepare dishes with secret ingredients for 18 weeks to impress judges Benny Masekwameng, Andrew Atkinson and Pete Goffe-Wood.

Attraction

Sonia Cabano, chef, food writer and social media manager of Robertson's Spices, said she and her family and friends gathered early in the evening ready to watch the programme. "I know many of the contestants."

About the first episode she said: "I think it's well done, exciting and has a strong local flavour.

"I like the judges, they are people you will either hate or love a lot, and that's the attraction."

More South African food

Carmen Niehaus, food editor of magazines Huisgenoot and You, said she was equally excited about the programme.

"I think it's a much more exciting series than Australia's, because there are so many familiar factors.

"The judges are a good combination, they provide varied comments and they do not always agree.

"The dishes that I saw were good, I would've liked to see more South African food."

The second episode airs Tuesday March 27 at 19:30 on M-Net (DStv channel 101).