Suvechha Sarkar
The heat is no longer confined to the kitchen in season 15, episode 6 of Fox’s ‘MasterChef: Dynamic Duos.’ Titled ‘Pier Pressure,’ the episode takes the cook-off to a harbor with the backdrop of a beautiful blue sea. With 10 duos left standing, the competition is reaching new heights as they face their first-ever major team challenge. Judges Gordon Ramsay, Tiffany Derry, and Joe Bastianich return to evaluate the chefs with their signature blend of intensity and insight. The contestants must give it their all and show impressive communication to take another step closer to the $250,000 grand prize.
The First Big Team Challenge Kicks Off With the Judges’ Surprise Boat Entrance
As the contestants arrive at the harbor, they begin wondering where the judges are. They are pretty surprised to see them entering in style on boats. Wasting no time, Gordon reveals that the duos are going to be facing their first team challenge. He points out the fish fanatics in the area and adds that they are going to have a good appetite once they get back to shore. Joe chimes in, informing the contestants that they are going to be broken into two teams of five duos. They have to prepare a delicious seafood dish for 101 hungry fishermen and their families. While the winning team is safe from elimination, the losing team will get back to the MasterChef kitchen and cook off in the dreaded Pressure Test, from which at least one duo has to face elimination.
Since Rachel and Julio won the last challenge, they have the advantage of picking their team. However, Joe cautions them that if they lose for the day, they must face the same team. The duo is on the Red Team, and their strategy is to pick the best cooks in the competition for the challenge. After deliberation, they pick Joel and Adam first because they’ve already been in the top three. Right after, they select Aivan and Tina since they are good with their fish dishes. When Rachel and Julio select Jessica and Jesse, they grow concerned because the team has too many strong voices. Last but not least, the duo decides to choose Michelle and Zach. Julio feels their team has all the leaders, and the other team has none. The Blue Team consists of Timothy and Athena, Tonna and Cait, Ryan Kate and Kayla, Azu and Javier, and Darce and Courtney.
Timothy and Athena perceive that Rachel and Julio do not consider them as competition, and they are willing to prove them wrong. Gordon then informs the duos that it is time to select duo captains, owing to the season of duos. He asks them to discuss among themselves and nominate a duo for the position. While the Red Team trusts Rachel and Julio to take the position, the Blue Team picks Timothy and Athena as their captain. The latter notes they have prior experience in managing and food service. So, they believe they can lead the team to victory, provided they follow the directions. While Gordon and Tiffany are going to watch the kitchen, Joe is going to oversee the dining room. The diners are going to taste both dishes and cast a vote. They have one hour for preparation, and the judges want to taste the dishes in just under 30 minutes.
As Both Teams Dive Into Their Seafood Dishes, Tensions Begin to Flare
Once the time begins cooking, the Blue and the Red Team arrive at their respective kitchen to discuss what they are going to prepare. While the latter decides to prepare grilled cod tacos with corn salsa, avocado crema, pickled onion-smoky beans, and green salsa, the former decides on a pan-seared bass sandwich, sweet potato fries, citrus slaw, and tartar sauce. As the captains begin assigning each dish to a duo, Jesse says he wants to prepare the corn salad. However, this does not sit right with Julio, who feels everything is already going off track regarding the teamwork. However, Jesse and Jessica believe that in the end, it’s survival for them, and although it’s a team challenge, they are not going to just do what others expect of them. Even if it means facing off against others, they are going to do the hard things.
As everyone gets into action, Gordon notes that cooking a fish is quite hard. Joe quickly states that the biggest challenge is the weather. He then adds how Julio and Rachel have picked all the top three duos, making it a simple strategy. However, when he remarks that not everyone can be a hero, Gordon adds that it can make the duos in the Red team end up cooking individually. Joe also points out that since the Blue Team has the unpicked duos, they can be easier to control. Tiffany quickly expresses her surprise at Timothy and Athena stepping up to become captains because it is unlike them. With 15 minutes already gone, Gordon approaches the Blue Team and asks the captain duo about their preparation. The judge learns from them that while Ryan, Kate, and Kayla are working on the fish, Cait and Tonna are preparing the fries.
Courtney and Darcy are cooking the citrus slaw, and Azu and Javier are the team’s floaters. However, Gordon quickly points out that sweet potato fries are challenging to cook correctly. Although he advises them on how to cook it right, Timothy and Athena realize it’s best to listen to the judge because of his experience. Hence, they change their idea and decide to make potato chips instead. Meanwhile, Joe and Tiffany arrive at the Red Team’s kitchen and learn from the captains that they are preparing grilled cod. They inform the judges that Joel and Adam are working on the fish, Jesse and Jessica are preparing the corn salsa, Zach and Michelle are cooking the smoky beans, and Aivon and Tina are working on the green salsa. However, the openly grilled cod concerns Tiffany because the wind can affect it.
Pressure Continues Rising as Both Teams Readjust Their Menus Mid-Challenge
Joe explains that cooking a cold fish in the open can drop the grill’s temperature, leading to improper searing. This prompts Julio and Rachel to pivot and create fried fish with batter. Meanwhile, Gordon informs Joe that the Blue Team is preparing sweet potato fries, prompting Joe to observe that it is harder to make them crispy due to their moisture content. The former quickly adds how the team is now going for chips. Tiffany also adds that the Red Team was initially preparing grilled cod but is now frying it in batter. With the 30 minutes ending, it is now time for the judges to taste the dishes. Although Tiffany remarks that the Red Team’s dish is visually good, Gordon points out that the fish is not seasoned properly. He cautions Rachel and Julio that they want a cohesive dish.
Upon tasting the blue team’s dish, Tiffany notices the lack of herbs on the plate. While Gordon remarks that the chips are greasy, Joey suggests using crispy onion rings in the sandwiches to give them texture. Right after, Athena decides it’s time to change, so she sets up Ryan Kate and Kayla to prepare onion rings instead of fries. In the meantime, Joe observes the Red Team and states that the egos of every duo on the team can be tasted in the dish, making it less cohesive. The teams hurry up with their preparations in the tireless heat and rain. During the rush, Ryan Kate almost drops some of the fish while taking them out, but luckily, Athena arrives to save the day. As the diners begin arriving, the judges urge the duos to pace up. Gordon then approaches Ryan Kate to show her how to flip the fish using her hands to ensure the fish isn’t cold.
With the serving finally beginning, Tiffany and Gordon take their positions before the Red and Blue Teams’ kitchens, respectively. However, things become grim when Gordon discovers that Timothy and Athena’s team’s fish is still raw. He finds the kitchen chaotic, with a napkin catching fire while sitting on a hot pan. Athena realizes that Ryan Kate is getting overwhelmed under the pressure. Although the fish is once again sent back twice to Ryan Kate and Kayla, they send it back undercooked, prompting Gordon to advise their captains to change the problem. The task of cooking the fish is then given to Azu and Javier, and the judge explains to them to put only four fish in each of their pans. Meanwhile, Jesse and Jessica are finding it challenging to portion out the corn salsa for 101 fishermen.
The Fall of the Blue Team Due to Mishaps Seizes Victory For the Red Team
Although Jesse and Jessica took on the corn salsa, they are not used to such high volumes of diners. When Tiffany arrives at their station, she learns that they are giving away too much portion of the dish. The judge promptly suggests they prepare more because the portions may run out. With everyone on overdrive, Gordon notices that the guests have begun coming. In the meantime, he informs Tiffany that the Blue Team is all over the place and has cooked raw fish three times. Similarly, Tiffany also states how the other team may run out of their corn dish. The teams continue rushing to serve their arriving diners. Amidst everything, Gordon points out that the chips fried by Ryan Kate are soggy. He asks Athena not to serve them and to inform the cook.
When Athena notifies Ryan Kate about the same, Timothy notes that the latter is under immense pressure, having received multiple criticisms. The focus shifts to Joe, who is in the dining room and hearing reviews from the diners. However, things take a turn for the worse when Ryan Kate ends up collapsing. The medics rush in to help her, ultimately taking her out of the cooking line. This prompts Kayla to note that she must push harder for her team because she knows her partner is in good hands. In the meantime, Joe learns from some of the diners that they find the Blue Team’s fish well seasoned and moist, making the burger taste better, contrary to the Red Team’s tacos, which they find greasy. However, the other diners remark that the former’s bread and chips are overcooked, while the latter’s fish tacos are properly seasoned.
Soon after, Gordon notices that the Red Team’s fish is undercooked and asks them to take their time. As the serving ends, Courtney expresses how she felt her team could’ve done better because the communication was lacking. Meanwhile, Joe announces in the dining room that once the diners finish their meal, they are asked to vote by placing the balls kept there into the blue or the red net. Finally, the judges introduce the teams to the diners. Gordon then informs them that Ryan Kate had collapsed because of dehydration and is okay now. After Joe reminds everyone of the rules, Gordon announces that the Red Team is the winner. Upon asking, Timothy explains that communication was lacking in their team. Joe remarks that the problem ensued from the dish’s conception and poor execution. The audience is now eager for the next episode as the five duos of the Blue Team will be back in the MasterChef kitchen to face off in the Pressure Test, eliminating one of them.
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