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?

Can I just say: Marco PW - what a legend! He was great. I think Dani was out of order in that episode, but I still like her I'm afraid.

Loved Marco PW - which was something of a surprise to me as I thought he'd be more shouty.

Loved the fact that the "underdogs" won the task, but Ellie let them down again with that desert. Great to see Billy back, and the end of grease boy. I had no idea they were that cut off from the world, I thought they were free to come and go??

It was a shame the person who left did. It was very close though and could have gone either way.

Roll on next week in New York

I'd be heading for the steak houses having recently read Heston's "In search of perfection" where he has a whole section on NY and steak houses.

Just caught up with last night's episode. Ah, I'll miss that person who left, and the person who beat them was lucky that the final challenge played to their strengths.

Agree! Person who stayed was VERY lucky.

Yes the man who left last night came second on every single one of the 3 challenges. He did well in all the 3 skils tests but didnt win any of them so had to leave.

I'm really enjoying the series and DSs love it too. Don't really like the look of the Vietnamese chicken dish though.

The back story of Matt and the phone use was quite sad. Apparently his mother disappeared 7 years ago when he was a teenager. It was now time to have her formally declared dead. He somehow sneaked a phone in to keep up with his family and find out what was happening - he wasn't secretly downloading recipes.

Didn't Matt Preston say that if he'd told them about his situation they could have sorted something out for communication?

Poor sun. So she stays all week in her hotel room till Friday? If they pick one for an elimination challenge every day and they get locked down they won't have many left cooking!

Another fan here though I also skip the Masterclass. I like Matt Preston. In fact, I like all of the judges. I watch UK Masterchef but the Australian one is more fun. Think the UK one could do with a bit of fun injected into it.

What channel is the american one on?

Lol at them in the UN building in New York! They must have an awesome producer to be able to get in there!

I think the UN scenes suit George's grandiosity.

Seemed a bit unfair to give one person a vichyssoise soup to make which is basically liquidised leek and spud and the others much more interesting things with much more expensive ingredients.

The vichyssoise was bound to come last - a really tasty lobster bisque or maybe even something like small cheese souffle made a la minute would have been a more technical and tasty dish.

I love how all three judges made sure they got a go at the lectern (sp?) in the general assembly!

My thoughts on last night. (spoilers....)

Michael - he's gone a bit smug hasn't he? Finding him quite annoying. Dani - what a cry baby.... She's being a bit shit at the moment.
Ellie - about time too, so happy for her.
Hayden - Stirling performance yet again.
Billy - I thought was a bit shafted by Gary's advice to put cream in the soup. I agree with MoreBeta that it was a poor dish.

My favourite bit was where Billy reflected my thoughts perfectly - "lock down. With Sun. Not going to be fun" P.M.S.L!!

Oooh, we have also been watching this avidly! Ds (nearly 11) loves it! Our favourite contestants are Hayden, Billy and Michael, and we quite like Alana and Kate. Think Ellie is ok, but still quite young and inexperienced. Not keen on Sun, she isn't very good in a team situation. And also find Dani very irritating - she can only cope when things are going well.

I also thought it was a bit unfair that Billy lost last night - it was really because of the dish he was given, not how ell he cooked it.

Agree re Billy - he actually made a dish that looked as it was supposed to, even if the seasoning was off. I wouldn't have wanted to juggle a jar of soup and a big spoon along with my drink if I were a guest though, which is obviously not his fault.

I thought Dani's effort was rubbish - looked totally childish and out of kilter with everything else on offer. And her chocolate wasn't done properly according to Gary or George. But desserts always get a boost when it's a "public" vote because people have them last and like them and can't remember all the other stuff they just ate!

Wonder how many people they will put into lockdown? It's going to get awfully crowded if they're all squashed in Sun's room together

I reckon it will be three - because tonight will be Ellie's immunity challenge, then there will probably be another challenge tomorrow, then elimination on Thursday, then Masterclass on Friday. I'm hoping Dani will be the other person in the elimination - she seems to get completely flustered and freak out if she's not doing really well.

(I'm NormanTheForeman btw, have temporarily namechanged)

Started watching a bit late tonight.

Was/is that really a bowl of pasta in the immunity challenge?

I'm thinking I might even make a fair crack at that.

I wonder if the Italian Stallion may have gifted Ellie that win.... I also think Hayden might love Ellie a little bit!

Good to see so many fans of this fabulous series! So much better then the UK version. I don't want it to end, particularly the NYC trip which must have been so exciting for the contestants, particularly Ellie who trumped it there.

All Ellie had to do was stand about giggling and drinking wine in Central Park and whip up a plate of pasta...

I loved the challenge. Agree Billy's dish was the most challenging and not the kind of thing you want at a drinks reception. Laughed at the sight of Kate heaving that massive tuna around. I am guessing that would have been a very expensive piece of fish so someone would have stepped in if she'd got it wrong. I wonder how much influence flirting with the dishy waiters had on Ellie's votes?

In the elimination it really did feel like he let Ellie win that one. I could have given pasta a good go too

I'm really hoping that Hayden and Billy don't get eliminated tonight. Don't mind too much if either Sun or Dani go though.

So makes me want to go to New York, keep pausing bits to look at skyline etc. They are all so happy, positive and enthisuastic, those Australians!

I am glad Billy and Dani are in the bottom two, all they had to do wsa make ice cream and fry fish compared to the others who had loads to do.

Me and DH went on a guided tour of the UN when we went to NYC 12 years ago, it was amamzing, one of the best things we have ever done. We watched that episode again in bed last night to talk about the bits we remember.

I also know who wins as Aussie friend told me!

Pleased with tonight's result, as I have thought for a while that Sun isn't very organised or very positive. It's looking like the remaining 7 will have more time in New York, which could be interesting.