Suvechha Sarkar
Season 15 of Fox’s ‘MasterChef: Dynamic Duos’ always pushes the contestants to their limits. Episode 13, titled ‘Divide & Conquer,’ is no exception as the Red Team, containing three impressive duos, steps into the kitchen to face the final Pressure Test of the season. The familiar trio of judges, Gordon Ramsay, Tiffany Derry, and Joe Bastianich, test them on their techniques and finesse. Although the three duos from the Red Team face the test, only two of them gain their place in the top five, while one of them leaves the kitchen behind.
The Red Team Faces the Final Pressure Test to Prepare Three Technical Dishes
Gordon welcomes the Blue and Red Teams as they enter the kitchen. The Blue Team, containing Aivan and Tina, Javier and Azu, and Jesse and Jessica, heads to their spot on the balcony since they are safe from the Pressure Test. He congratulates them for earning their deserved spot in the top 5. However, this is not the case for the Red Team, which includes Adam and Joel, Rachel and Julio, and Zach and Michelle. When Gordon asks Adam and Joel what happened since they had the Team Challenge in their hand, the latter explains that their steaks were all over the place in terms of temperature. Adam admits he helped too much with the panzanella when he should’ve helped Joel. The judge adds that they can perform better and asks the team to put on their black aprons for the Pressure Test.
Joe announces that the judges are going to test their technical abilities in this final Pressure Test. He then presents to them an egg yolk raviolo with sage and brown butter, which is one of the dishes from the judge’s restaurant. It requires not just technique but also precision and finesse, and the contestants have to execute it flawlessly. Tiffany chimes in that they must also make a second dish from her restaurant, which is an entrée, seared scallops with Texas creamed corn, pickled mushrooms, and spicy cornbread crumble. There are a lot of elements in this dish that the chefs have to nail to pull it off. Gordon adds that they have to prepare the dessert, sticky toffee pudding with toffee sauce, whipped mascarpone, and toasted pistachios, which is featured in many of his restaurants.
Michelle grows nervous since she and Zach are not bakers at home, and preparing a three-course meal before the time ends is a challenge. The contestants have to prepare the dishes within one hour, so they have to divide and conquer. To give them a helping hand, Tiffany demonstrates how she makes her scallop entrée: It begins with making a pickling solution with mustard seeds, bay leaves, vinegar, water, and a little salt, along with a bit of sugar. After boiling it for flavor, she makes the creamed corn with a small dice of onion and bell pepper. Then, the onion and bell peppers must be sautéed in the pan, and the corn and a little cream have to be added. She cautions them to ensure the corn remains tender but not mushy. Then, they have to toast the cornbread until it turns brown and simultaneously puree a little portion of the corn along with cream in the mixer.
Despite Helpful Shortcuts, Two Duos Struggle With Timing and Execution
Tiffany continues that lastly, the contestants have to use the pickling solution over Fresno chili and then blend it. The hot sauce goes into the bread crumbs and is then used to sear the dry scallops with butter. However, she advises them to ensure they don’t overcook the seafood. Following this, all that is left for the contestants is to plate the dish with basil and pickled mushrooms. Gordon then reveals that the judges have provided them with a few shortcuts: the pasta has been made, and the dessert components are all weighed and placed at their station. However, they must still roll out the pasta dough and make the ravioli themselves. He reminds them that only two duos will survive the Pressure Test, and one of them is going to go home. Once the clock starts ticking, the competitors strategize who needs to prepare what first.
Adam and Joel decide to finish the pudding and the creamed corn first. While Rachel takes charge of the dessert, Julio works on the pasta because he has often made this dish. They are going to cook the scallop dish together at last. Meanwhile, Tiffany states that each of these competitors has to work separately. Gordon promptly adds that they should first prepare the pudding in the oven. He notes that the aeration of the batter is crucial because they need to ensure it has no lumps. This is because if it granulates, the dessert is going to lose its essence and can even send a duo home. Gordon says making the pasta early is a good idea, and then the duos can focus on the entrée. With 45 minutes remaining on the clock, Michelle suddenly realizes that she put the wrong ingredients in the cake batter, so it hasn’t turned out to be soft and fluffy.
Michelle begins panicking and asks Zach to make the pudding while she hops in to make the pasta. After five more minutes, Gordon urges everyone to get the pudding in the oven and start rolling the pasta. He then approaches Zach and Michelle, and upon learning about the mishap, he asks them to speak to each other and get back on track. When Joe arrives at Adam and Joel’s station, Joel informs him that he is comfortable making the creamed corn since he often makes it at home. The duo candidly admits that the pasta raviolo is the most challenging dish for them. When Joe realizes they have not started by making the raviolo, the judge remarks that he would’ve begun cooking with it first. He advises Joel to judge the raviolo’s thickness based on the ricotta he puts in and the size of the egg yolk. Joe explains that the pasta must be cooked thoroughly, and they have to ensure it is not overcooked in order to prevent it from exploding.
The Last-minute Scramble Tests Every Duo’s Nerves Before the Judges’ Tasting
Tiffany approaches Rachel and Julio and learns that their dessert is already in the oven. The judge suggests that Rachel should get more things done early because plating the dishes can be challenging. With just 20 minutes remaining on the clock, Joe expresses concern about Joel and Adam doing the creamed corn first and informs the judges that they are rolling the pasta now. Gordon remarks that they have wrongly prioritized the preparations. Joe is also worried because the duo has revealed pasta as their weakness. In the meantime, Joel states that the construction of the raviolo needs a ton of technique. He and Adam are worried that tonight they are cooking against two of the best teams, and any mistake can send them home.
Shortly after, Gordon arrives at their station and advises Joel to put a proper lid on the raviolo. The judge cautions him not to put too much pressure on the top because it may break the yolk and reminds the brothers to divide and conquer. When Tiffany checks up on Zach and Michelle, she encourages them to pull themselves together. On the other hand, when Joe learns that Rachel and Julio have put their raviolo in the fridge, he asks them to think about the temperature while boiling it. He returns to the panel, where Tiffany observes that Rachel and Julio may be the farthest ahead right now. However, Joe adds that since they have put the raviolo in the freezer, their cook time is going to be different.
As the final three minutes tick down, Gordon notices that Rachel has just begun cooking the scallops. On the other hand, the judges observe that Joel is overcooking the protein. The duos finish plating their dishes as the final seconds tick away. While Zach and Michelle are worried about the dessert going wrong, Rachel truthfully expresses that there was a lot to do in one hour. Rachel adds that there is no room for error since there are only three duos, but she and Julio did everything they could. The pasta was the toughest for Joel and Adam, and they hope the egg yolk is not overcooked. It is finally time for the judges to taste the carefully prepared three-course meal by the competitors.
Missteps in Execution Result in the Elimination of Adam and Joel
First up is Zach and Michelle, whose biggest concern is the egg yolk and the dessert. Joe notes that the raviolo looks exceptional, and as he cuts into it, he declares it perfect. Although Tiffany expresses that she wanted the brown butter to be stronger, she finds the flavor incredible. After receiving Gordon’s compliment, they move on to the scallop dish. Tiffany remarks that overall it is delicious, except she wishes it had a little more hot sauce in the cornbread. While Gordon praises the colors, Joe notes that the duo has perfectly captured the intention of the dish. However, the former points out that their dessert is dense, which makes it taste undercooked. Tiffany remarks that it is too sweet and is out of balance. Right after are Julio and Rachel, who are confident and nervous considering their competitors.
Joe compliments the perfect execution of the techniques in the raviolo, but adds that he would’ve loved a little more ricotta. Similarly, the other two judges also compliment the dish’s finesse. Things change when the judges find the scallops still raw at the center, but they note that the other components of the dish are beautifully cooked. Luckily, the judges note that their dessert tastes incredible and is well executed. Lastly, it is the turn of Joel and Adam, who hope that their dish meets the standards of even the smallest of details. Joe immediately finds a crack in the raviolo and says it is poor construction. Although he finds the egg perfectly cooked, he remarks that the pasta is thick and the ricotta is watery. Likewise, both Tiffany and Gordon agree with Joe that the pasta is a little thicker than it should be.
Although Tiffany finds the creamed corn watery, she finds it delicious. However, she is disappointed by the fact that the scallops are overcooked, which Gordon also agrees to. Joe remarks that this shows multiple flawed techniques, unlike what the judges want at this stage in the competition. To their delight, the judges love the pudding they have prepared, but they point out that the cream served with it is broken. After a thorough deliberation, Gordon announces that the duo who stood out tonight is Zach and Michelle, who are now in the top five. Ultimately, it comes down to Adam and Joel and Rachel and Julio. Much to their dismay, Adam and Joel are the ones to get eliminated. Gordon explains that two of their dishes missed the mark in execution and detail, but their brotherly bond made them formidable contestants. In their exit interview, they admit that although they are sad about not winning the competition, it has been a lovely experience.
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