New Masterchef Australia (2011 series??)

[5ofus]

Anyone watching this?

Usually I don't watch Masterchef UK but this has me hooked. 14 contestants to go from a "shortlist" of 50. I think the series has finished now but they're showing it on Watch I think 4 times a week.

I can't be the only MNer watching?

I am watching but I'm taping it on a series link and I'm way behind. It my guilty pleasure that DH and DD don't want to watch so I have to watch it when I can during the daytime. My favourite is Hayden.

Yes, love love love it! DP is fed up with me as every night as I watch I say "god this is so much more challenging than the UK series!"

I love the format with the different challenges. I think the uk series just get boring with them constantly cooking what they want - well the poor aussie guys hardly ever get to cook what they want :o

I like Hayden, and am warming to Dani after the Korean challenge.

I love things like "fix this dish" and guessing ingredients by tasting and looking at a dish

I love it. Find it's more interesting than uk masterchef.
Even dh likes watching it and he has zero interest in cooking.

I think the contestants show a far greater level of skill and basic knowledge than UK contestants. That 'fix this dish' elimination with Kumar (is that his name?) and the weird guy who lost was hilarious though, neither of them had much idea what they were doing!
I also like Billy.

Ok I have to ask - does anyone else find Dani really, really annoying? She seems to get a lot of those little interview style clips, she has this whole fake humbleness thing going, over pronouncing every word she says and doing this weird bashful act. She just irritates the hell out of me.

That aside I bloody love the show - won't say any more as I see some of you are taping it. Yes, Hayden, yummy indeed.

Yay - pleased I'm not the only one watching. I'm all caught up but won't say too much. There are some really cool chefs and challenges coming up for those who are far behind.

Only downside is DP and I are cooking really good food but putting lots of weight on! Upside - we cooked the chocolate cake tonight from one of the challenges and it was fantastic.

Once this series (and Christmas) is over it'll be salad only until Easter honestly

And yes, Dani certainly gets a lot of airtime.

I liked fix the dish too - we saw far more of Kumar during that than we had during the previous weeks.

Dani not annoying so much, but does get a lot of airtime where some of the others who are middling in a challenge (not bad, not the best) hardly get any screen time at all.

Does anyone else share my hatred of Sun?

I'm already finished (downloaded it) so I won't let any spoilers slip - but I was really happy with who won in the end! It's a million times better than the UK one and if you want a real laugh, watch the US one with Gordon Ramsey - they are such idiots and the cooking skill compared to Australia is like comparing a cold macdonalds happy meal to a meal at a michelin star restaurant - the Americans are terrible!! (just at Masterchef - I happen to like most Americans I meet but they are not good at cooking!). I love the challenges where they bring in something totally and utterly ridiculous to cook (like the croque en bouche) and their attempts look ... ahem... real!

Yeah I'm watching it. I think it's much better than the masterchef here. I would like Hayden to win. He's really good. Michael isn't too bad but he seems to have been on a downward spiral recently.

Obviously I share your hatred of Sun. I don't know why but she gets on my nerves.

Yep, cannot stand Sun. Thought it was a travesty when Blue (lead by Sun) won the 'less waste' challenge. Sun did Nothing but faff around letting other people take over. She is shite.

Love Hayden, Billy and Kate. Don't like greasy haired chap that needs a wash. Was glad when Shannon went home last week.

Normally watch religiously (and DH amazingly) but away this week so have no idea who went home sun/mon.

And Dani's mouth bothers me...it's sooo BIG!

I'd forgotten about Kate. She's quite good, I'd like her and Hayden to get to the end.

I love the mystery box challenges. I love the way that so many different meals come from the same ingredients.

We've got this on series record, it's what gets us through the winter months. I particularly liked the shot of Hayden ironing his shirt before his elimination challenge this week, though DP seemed less impressed. I'm sure Hayden will have a good career out of this regardless of the actual result as he seems skilled (at cooking, ehem), photogenic and just all round nice. I can see him presenting a cooking/lifestyly program with lots of gratuitous surfing shots thrown in.
Yes to Sun and Dani being annoying (tho Dani growing on me). I like Kumar too, he seems like a lovely bloke. And I have a soft spot for Matt but he needs to wash his hair more.

Dani sounds like she eats every word.

sorry not Hayden's elimination challenge, it was his immunity challenge. I got flustered at the shirtlessness

Mat's hair makes me want to heave. Greasy lank hair in the kitchen.

Love it!!!

Hayden is by far the best dish on there!!

Yes Sun does look pained most of the time!

I feel I don't know as much as I'd like about other contestants because on every little thing all we get is Dani's opinion & shots of her either sucking up to the judges or trying to avoid any responsibilities in the team challenge. I want more on the others, I love hearing what inspires them etc. We'll suddenly get a little bit on someone & then they're gone!

Don't really watch UK version, bit tedious & which channel shows US version? Had a delight on holiday when I caught Portugeuse Masterchef & it was identical in style to Australian.

Anyone know when NZ is back on?

Yes Sun does look pained most of the time!

I feel I don't know as much as I'd like about other contestants because on every little thing all we get is Dani's opinion & shots of her either sucking up to the judges or trying to avoid any responsibilities in the team challenge. I want more on the others, I love hearing what inspires them etc. We'll suddenly get a little bit on someone & then they're gone!

Don't really watch UK version, bit tedious & which channel shows US version? Had a delight on holiday when I caught Portugeuse Masterchef & it was identical in style to Australian.

Anyone know when NZ is back on?

Ooooh! I love this! I caught a few episodes of series 1 but have only got into it this series, and DH and I are addicted! And I cannot BEAR Sun! I like Michael and quite like Kate and have come round to Dani.

And Hayden, of course!

I know who wins

Ha ha lula! I have been resisting the urge to spill on here too!!