Masterchef the Professionals 4th Nov!

[LondonMother]

BBC2, 8.30pm. Monica is back. Michel is back. Sadly, Greg is also back, but we can't have everything. This is my favourite Masterchef variant, so I am a happy bunny.

Isn't it pretty much the same every week though, Brugmansia? I am always sure they know almost from the moment Monica first sees them which ones are going to be out in the first week, they just have a chat so we know what to to expect. If we're undecided between the two for whom there are apparently question marks then we create our own tension.

I'm sure that even Greg knows which ones are likely to get into the semis from before filming starts.

I don't know Jux since sometimes the person they send off isn't the one I'd expect to see go.

Of course, as I always say during GBBO also, we haven't actually tasted the food, so it's hard to be an 'armchair' judge.

Aline was lucky to survive last night but I would put money on her leaving at the start of the quarter-final. There's that bit when six of them cook for Michel again and then he chucks out two before the critics' round.

David could be series winner, I reckon.

On another note, I am fairly certain I was on the bus with the joint winner from last year yesterday. I recognised her immediately. Hope she's doing well! Must do a bit of googling.

Keri Moss. Now running a restaurant in Selfridges! Good.

I have no memory of her. I think I missed the finals last year.

There were two winners?

There were two winners once before weren't there? Young chefs, one was still in College at the start. I wonder how they're doing?

Poor, poor Greg. There wasn't anything cooked by Monica that he could scoff in this skills test.

I wonder what Paul Hollywood would have made of the bread skills challenge!

I have no idea why they found the bread so hard. It's the only bit so far that I could do without instruction.

Michel doesn't seem a happy bunny tonight, lots of argghing

Oh dear. There's a seafood massacre going on here!

I'm waiting to see if there's another potato and vanilla combo going on tonight

Oh, slightly surprised there

I loathed Ryan from the first moment - too cocky, management speak, something about his eyes when he was criticised - so though I was surprised, I was rather happy that he went today. (Yes, I know it's mean of me.)

I don't normally view any of the chefs with strong feelings, until much later in the competition, and even then I don't mind that much. Very strange.

Just watching it now even though I just read who goes!

I didn't understand the bread test either: I can do that, and I am definitely not a professional chef. Now Tuesday's skill test, where they had to make a sauce that we had never even heard of, was in a completely different league!

Mr Antarctica and David get my votes to go through.

Michel just did it again, cream straight into a hot pan! He must keep it at room temperature or something.

Anyone know what to do with Pomegranate Molasses? DH bought some, expecting it to be a bit like Healthy Boy Sweet Soy Sauce, but it's not! It's very very tart.

I thought that double cream didn't curdle no matter how hot it was?

I don't know about double cream not curdling I've just been taught to never put cold into hot!

No idea Jux, sorry!

I agree about the bread test, BTW.

Not hard not sure why so many had a problem.

Jux, try it in place of vinegar in a salad dressing, or swoosh a bit over chicken as it's roasting.

I actually disagree with Monica regarding knocking the air out of bread dough and I make loads and loads of bread. It's a lot easier to work with if you knead it before shaping. I just leave it to rise again afterwards.

Jux there is a fantastic Persian recipe with chicken or lamb and walnuts and pomegranate molasses. I can't remember what it is called.