Suvechha Sarkar
Season 15 of Fox’s ‘MasterChef: Dynamic Duos’ is nothing short of thrilling. Episode 15, titled ‘Keeping Up With Gordon – Tag Team Style!’ turns up the heat even more with the Semifinal. The remaining four duos battle today to secure their spot in the Finale and eventually take their shot at winning the title and the $250,000 prize. As always, Gordon Ramsay, Joe Bastianich, and Tiffany Derry are ready to push the competitors to their limits and decide who truly deserves to stay in the competition. Tonight, the duos are tested with two of the most iconic and fearsome challenges: Keeping Up With Gordon and cook tag team style.
The Top 4 Duos Deal With Two High-Pressure Challenges in the Semifinal
The episode begins with Gordon welcoming the Top 4 duos into the kitchen: Jesse and Jessica, Tina and Aivan, Zach and Michelle, and Rachel and Julio. It is then announced that there are only four dishes standing in their way: three in the Finale and one tonight. Joe adds that it is finally time for the most iconic challenge of every season: Keeping Up With Gordon. For this challenge, they have to replicate one of Gordon’s dishes, and they have to do it while moving at the judge’s speed while he is cooking it. Aivan is happy to hear it because not many people can cook alongside the renowned chef. Although Gordon is fast, Aivan’s family story also highlights survival and sacrifice. So, she and Tina are ready to fight for their spot in the Finale. Gordon continues that they will also face the Tag Team challenge, which they haven’t done yet.
Tiffany explains that only one of them is going to cook along with Gordon, and the other half of the duo will be waiting at the end of the station. When Joe and Tiffany are going to say “Switch,” they have to tag out with their partner. The switch will happen every five minutes, and they must focus on Gordon’s every move. Communication with their partner is essential for staying on track. Gordon then reveals that they will cook buckwheat-crusted duck breast with parsnip purée, sweet and sour endive, pickled daikon, and cherries and port wine sauce. The dish is from one of Gordon’s restaurants, which has held three Michelin stars for 25 years. He elaborates that he wants the duck, which has to be caramelized on the skin, and the protein has to be served medium rare.
The duos have to be alert about the plating since the symmetry is going to showcase their precision. At the end of the challenge, they may be in jeopardy if their dishes don’t look and taste just like Gordon’s. Once the chef finishes, the contestants will have 30 seconds to finish plating their dish. Gordon then asks them to head to their station and decide who will plate and who is starting. As the time starts, it turns out that Jesse, Tina, Julio, and Zach will start. Wasting no time, Gordon instructs them to keep all five of their burners on because they will need them. Michelle notes that it is nearly impossible to keep up with Gordon, but since this dish is hers and Zach’s ticket to the Finale, they must stay focused. Meanwhile, Gordon instructs them to cut the fat on the duck into tiny squares to help release it and caramelize it.
With Tensions Rising, the Duos Face Miscommunication and Frantic Pacing
As Gordon and the duos continue cooking, Joe asks Tiffany about the most obvious risk while searing the duck. Tiffany explains that there is skin, the fat has to be rendered, and the duck has to be medium rare. Joe notices that Aivan is following Gordon, and Tina is following her partner’s instructions. Aivan remarks that although she is excited for the challenge, they are against some formidable competitors. Although Tina is an amazing cook, her partner feels that they are a little slower. With just one minute left for the first switch, Tina grows worried when she compares her aunt’s pace with Gordon’s. Tina expresses that she feels a little lost amid the chaos, and considering the speed, Aivan may face a challenge in catching up. As the chef continues guiding them with the tossing of the buckwheat and cutting the parsnip, the first switch happens.
Joe observes that Jesse is giving instructions to Jessica like a quarterback in a football game. As Gordon asks everyone to cut the parsnip into small pieces, Joe notes that the size of the cut is fundamental. Tiffany adds that if anyone cuts it too large, it will take a long time to cook. She also notices that Jesse is eager to jump in to help his partner, but in teamwork, one needs to understand how the person is responding to what one is saying. Joe agrees that it may be counterproductive for Jesse to “yell.” In the meantime, Jessica grows impatient because she is trying to keep up and follow Gordon’s instructions, but she cannot hear the judge over Jesse’s instructions. She understands his intentions are coming from a place of passion, but she wishes there was a wall between them like the last challenge.
Jesse admits that he is getting worked up and is “yelling” at Jessica to go faster, but it is not helping. Joe observes that this is not a challenge of speed but precision, where the duos must watch every detail of their actions. Jessica is growing increasingly concerned that while trying to keep up with her partner, she may be unable to keep up with Gordon, which can send them home. Meanwhile, Gordon moves on to working on the port wine sauce. After the next switch, Zach realizes that there is a significant difference between watching and assisting compared to actually cooking together. Just when he remarks that it is getting tougher, he almost drops a pan in a hurry. For him, it feels like pure survival mode and instinctual experience. Amid the pressure, Zach slightly burns his hand and then breaks the milk container.
After the Final Switches, the Cooks Race to Plate Their Dishes
Seeing Zach disoriented, Michelle expresses her frustration. She states that more than his partner, it is directed toward Gordon because he is cooking with great speed. The next step of the preparation continues with flambé on the wine sauce. Joe elaborates that it is essential to burn out all the alcohol in port wine. The flambé will help the duos to render the wine juicy, rich, and sweet. As the contestants switch again, Joe remarks that there is a large amount of variability in the duck’s cooking. So, the contestants have to make sure that even one minute matters. Aivan feels that the stress and pressure increase as more switches are happening. She admits that she and Tina shouldn’t just follow Gordon’s instructions to cook the duck. Amid the chaos, Aivan is forgetting the basics of cooking, like checking if the protein is prepared well.
By the time of the next switch, Gordon instructs the duos on properly preparing the pickled daikon. Joe states that it can be tricky because if the pans are not heated up properly, the daikon may end up tasting raw, almost like salad. The intensity of the competition continues to mount as the contestants make their final switch. Julio notes that all the relationships are being tested right now. He and Rachel have been through many things in their lives, like immigration, not knowing the language, hurricanes, and even losing jobs. However, Julio feels they have come this far because they are resilient and fighters. He observes that the yelling of the other duos and the influx of too much information aren’t helping right now. As the time slowly approaches the end, the contestants begin plating their dish following Gordon’s instructions.
Joe notices that all the duos are way behind Gordon, with Aivan being the farthest behind. Ultimately, every duo finishes plating their dish by the time the final 30 seconds for plating pass away. Michelle is unsure how to feel because although she is proud that she and Zach have put everything on the plate, there is no room for a messy one at this stage. Zach hopes there are mistakes on every plate, and the judges will decide based on who made the fewest errors. It is finally time for the judges to taste the dishes, and Rachel and Julio are the first to come up. Although Rachel and Julio didn’t find it easy to keep up with Gordon, they feel confident about having all the elements. However, Rachel is nervous about cooking the duck and hopes it’s prepared perfectly.
Small Missteps in Execution Cost the Teams the Chance at a Flawless Dish
Upon seeing Rachel and Julio’s preparation, Gordon remarks that it looks good, but the number of flowers on the plate is too much. He finds the protein slightly overcooked but compliments the other aspects of the dish. Tiffany compliments how well everything on the plate goes together. Right after, Joe observes that although the protein is overcooked, the overall preparation captures the spirit of Gordon’s dish. He adds that had they reduced the flowers and cooked the duck 30 seconds less, they would have had the perfect three-Michelin-star dish. It is now the turn of Aivan and Tina, and the former feels so underconfident for the first time.
Aivan failed to pour the glaze at the end during plating, which is a missing component. She is also worried about whether the duck is perfectly cooked medium-rare. Gordon points out that the purée of Tina and Aivan’s preparation looks a little wet and the sauce a little heavy. He also notices the missing flowers and the glaze. He finds the duck beautifully seasoned, but states it is 90 seconds overcooked. Although Tiffany loves the dish’s other elements, she hoped to get the glaze for the sweet. Joe says the proportions on the plate are incorrect, impacting the overall balance. It is now time for Michelle and Zach to present the dish, but the former doesn’t feel good about what the duo is presenting.
Michelle doesn’t feel they received enough time to showcase finesse at this point in the competition. Gordon promptly notes that the plate looks messy and everything is in excessive amounts. The judge finds the duck a little overcooked and the purée to be dull and in need of more seasoning. Tiffany points out that the plate has too much sauce, making the dish a little too sweet, but she finds the protein seasoning and glaze perfect. Joe states that the dish falls short on many levels, mainly in the seasoning and the balance. He continues that it seems like a preparation that can be served at a family-style, easygoing restaurant and not a three-Michelin-star restaurant.
Lack of Finesse in Michelle and Zach’s Dish Results in Their Elimination
It is now the turn for Jesse and Jessica, but the latter is full of self-doubt because this was one of the most overwhelming challenges in the entire season. She grows worried about the plating of the dish because she feels it is not Michelin-star restaurant quality. Gordon compliments the visuals of the duck and its caramelization, but notes that the purée looks heavy. As the judges taste the purée, they ask where the spice is coming from. When Jesse informs them it is from black pepper, Gordon tells them it is super strong. However, he finds the duck exceptionally well-cooked, so it all comes down to the finishing touches of finesse.
Tiffany remarks that the black pepper in the dish is taking over every component, and it is hard to taste the other flavors. Overall, she likes the other elements and the acidity she gets from the dish. Joe compliments the dish but states that the black pepper changes the dynamic of the dish. Unfortunately, he feels that the spice from it takes away the elegance from the preparation and adds roughness to it. After a very thorough discussion, Gordon announces that the first duo to move on to the Finale is Rachel and Julio. Following them are Jesse and Jessica, who are also moving on. The final decision comes down to Tina and Aivan, and Michelle and Zach. Sadly, Michelle and Zach are the ones to get eliminated, marking Tina and Aivan safe.
Gordon explains that the eliminated couple overcooked the duck and missed the required finesse. However, he compliments how beautifully they work together as a couple. Before parting, Michelle expresses that this was a journey of a lifetime. Similarly, Zach notes that they are going to have many proud people back at home. In their exit interview, Michelle emotionally states that she is proud of what they did, and today, she and Zach can go home to what they love and their son. She thinks their son will see what his parents are capable of, which may inspire him one day to pursue harder things. All eyes are now on the next episode since it is the Finale, and the audience is eager to find out who succeeds in taking home the title, the trophy, and the $250,000.
