Suvechha Sarkar
With the competition entering its most intense stretch yet, season 16 of Fox’s ‘MasterChef: Global Gauntlet’ turns up the heat in the kitchen. Guiding the aspiring chefs through every setback and triumph are the judges: Joe Bastianich, Tiffany Derry, and Gordon Ramsay. In episode 14, appropriately titled, ‘The Wall,’ the remaining Top 8 contestants encounter one of the competition’s most demanding tests. For the first time this season, they must partner up and create identical dishes while separated by an imposing wall. Another brutal double elimination awaits them, and unlike before, the two cooks do not necessarily have to come from the same team.
The Home Cooks Face the Wall Challenge With a Looming Double Elimination
Once the Top 8 contenders arrive in the kitchen, they are surprised to see the daunting wall running between the stations. Without wasting any time, Gordon reveals that they will face another double elimination tonight, and the two contestants do not necessarily have to be on the same team. Joe chimes in that today’s challenge is the Wall, after which Tiffany explains that it is 80 feet long and eight feet tall. Moreover, it is completely covered by more than two tons of kitchen equipment. She announces that for this challenge, the competitors will be paired with another home cook, and together they must make two identical dishes within an hour without seeing each other.
Gordon then reveals that since Dave and Jake won the last challenge, they have the advantage of choosing the teams. They can also decide whether to stay together or split off. After an extensive discussion, they decide to cook separately since Jake doesn’t know Dave’s cuisine very well. To increase their chances of moving into the Top 6, they want to work with individuals who share their interests. While Dave picks Heidi to form the Red Team, Jake picks Julia to create the Yellow Team. Dave and Jake then pair up Tkaiya and Basia for the Blue Team, leaving Peter and Foo for the Pink Team. The pairing makes Foo tense since he feels his partner is generally not talkative, but communication is important in this challenge.
Joe elaborates that the competitors’ dishes must feature a protein, at least two side dishes, one sauce, and look and taste identical. They receive 5 minutes in the pantry to plan their dish and select their ingredients. As the 5 minutes on the clock begin ticking, the chefs rush to the pantry to grab their ingredients. Upon returning to the kitchen to begin cooking, Jake and Julia realize they have both forgotten to grab tomatoes for their sauce, prompting them to pivot. On the panel, Joe tells the other judges that he thinks Heidi is the dominant force in her team. Shortly after, Gordon notes that Foo seems to be “floating” in the middle of his competition.
Judges Spot Communication Gaps and Risky Dishes as the Pressure Rises
Joe observes that Jake and Julia may have an advantage since they are of the same age and share the same reference points. Gordon hopes Tkaiya will step up to the challenge and lead this because Basia needs guidance. With 10 minutes already gone, Tiffany notices that Heidi is running ahead in time while Dave is struggling to catch up. It makes Dave worried because he and his partner need to be in sync for this challenge, and he doesn’t want to fall behind. Gordon finally arrives at Jake’s station and advises him to elevate the almond sauce he and Julia are making, as it usually tastes bland. Meanwhile, Joe and Tiffany first learn from Peter what he and Foo are making.
However, Tiffany and Joe are disappointed when Foo fails to name the sauce he is making, and they ask him to make sure he and Peter are on the same page. In the meantime, Gordon arrives at Dave’s station and notes that the competitor is taking it to the next level with his and Heidi’s chosen dish, but cautions him to let the Pork Tenderloin rest before slicing it, since it has no fat. When Tiffany and Joe approach Basia, they advise her to ensure that her and Tkaiya’s fish are cooked to the same temperature. As 30 minutes pass, Gordon informs the other two judges about Jake and Julia’s dish, but Joe quickly notes it is a huge risk.
Upon learning about Dave and Heidi’s preparation, Joe remarks that a roulade requires knife skills and technique, making the dish challenging. Tiffany isn’t sure if Foo and Peter are in sync, while Joe feels that Tkaiya is energetic and focused as usual. Basia faces a setback when she realizes that her sauce has broken. Since she still has many components to prepare for her dish, the contestant grows concerned. She becomes resolute about salvaging the sauce but worries that she will not have enough time. Fortunately, Basia succeeds in improving her sauce, putting her mind at ease. With 20 minutes remaining, Gordon asks her to focus on preparing her salmon.
The First Two Teams Receive Praise From the Judges in the Tasting Round
When Gordon arrives at Tkaiya’s station, she explains that she is doing her best to make sure she and Basia are on the same page. The judge promptly reminds Tkaiya that someone needs to take charge. As the final 5 minutes begin ticking, Gordon urges everyone to start plating their dishes. Julia soon realizes that her communication with Jake about the plating isn’t ideal. Once the time comes to an end, Foo reveals that he forgot to put his sauce on the plate because he couldn’t hear Peter in the last few seconds. The Tasting Round finally begins with Dave and Heidi’s Pork Tenderloin. When Gordon asks why they have taken the risk of preparing it, Dave explains that they wanted to cook a protein they have never cooked before for the Top 8.
Once the lids are lifted, the judges note that their plating looks almost identical. While Gordon praises them for taking the risk, Tiffany points out that Heidi’s plate looks slightly messy, but is glad that the elements look elevated. Upon tasting it, Gordon remarks that their dishes are seasoned perfectly. However, he finds that some of Heidi’s pork is cooked inconsistently. Tiffany finds Heidi’s sauce a little looser than the thick sauce Dave prepared, but both are equally flavorful. Joe ultimately notes that, despite minor differences in detail, both dishes are incredible. The judges then move on to Jake and Julia’s Pan-Seared Sea Scallops, but they promptly observe that their plating isn’t similar.
After Gordon compliments their technical execution of the dish, Julia explains that there has been miscommunication between her and Jake regarding the plating. Joe is left impressed by the dishes’ taste, though they aren’t aesthetically pleasing to him. He finds Julia’s sauce a little sweeter and her partner’s sauce “punchy,” but the judges are satisfied that their cultures are being represented through their preparation. Gordon praises Julia’s sear on her scallops but notes that Jake’s scallops are not cooked enough on the other side. Tiffany remarks that although both dishes are flavorful, she feels they could be more consistent.
Basia and Tkaiya’s Overcooked Salmon and Foo’s Forgotten Sauce Disappoint the Judges
It is now the turn for Basia and Tkaiya’s Blackened Pan-Seared Salmon. When Gordon asks them about the temperature at which they cooked the protein, Basia quickly reveals that she tried to prepare it medium-rare. However, since Tkaiya fails to give a definitive temperature, the judge asks her to be professional about it. Ultimately, the former states that she has aimed for a medium temperature. Upon questioning, Basia discloses that she had told her partner not to put the salmon in the oven, but it turns out that Tkaiya had briefly placed the protein in the oven.
Although Gordon finds that Basia and Tkaiya’s salmon portions are cooked to the temperature that the contestants expected, both are overcooked. Tiffany then points out that they should both have focused on the salmon and that the dishes are quite rich. Joe says it is difficult for him to judge the dishes because they are burned, and he cannot taste the seasoning. Lastly, they turn their attention to Foo and Peter, who have prepared Miso-Glazed Salmon. However, the judges are shocked to discover that Foo has forgotten to put the sauce on his plate.
When Foo tries to explain that he didn’t hear Peter tell him to put the sauce on the plate, Gordon remarks that the former should’ve already known. After the reveal, the judges are disappointed to find that the two dishes differ significantly. Despite being impressed with the visuals in Peter’s dish, Gordon finds that Foo’s mushrooms are still raw inside. The judge further states that although Foo’s salmon is cooked perfectly, the asparagus on his plate is hard, and the puree is underseasoned. Turning his attention to Peter, Gordon compliments the salmon’s cooking and seasoning but notes that the mushrooms need to be cooked longer.
Double Elimination Ends Foo and Tkaiya’s Journey in the Competition
Tiffany eventually tells Foo that his salmon is quite fatty and out of balance. As she turns her attention to Peter, she states that although she loves the sauce, she wishes he had finished it with some zest to further brighten the sauce. Lastly, Joe expresses his exasperation by pointing out that it is impossible that Foo cooked his mushrooms for 10 minutes in the oven, since they are raw. The judges then quickly excuse themselves to deliberate which team has prepared the best dish and which two contestants will be eliminated.
After an intense conversation, Gordon announces that the Red Team, consisting of Dave and Heidi, has won the Wall Challenge. The judge then declares that the Yellow Team—Jake and Julia—also understood the spirit of the challenge and will advance to the Top 6. Unfortunately, the two home chefs leaving the competition today are Tkaiya and Foo, which means Peter and Basia are safe from elimination. After bidding their emotional goodbyes to their fellow competitors, Foo admits in his exit interview that he never imagined he would reach the Top 6.
Foo adds that although the journey has been like a roller coaster for him, the experience has been fulfilling. He further divulges that he always tells his daughters that age is just a number and that there is nothing they cannot accomplish. In her exit interview, Tkaiya reveals that she has put her Master’s degree in Marketing on hold to follow her calling. Coming to the competition has allowed her to find her voice in the culinary world. As the battle narrows to the Top 6 contestants, they must face increasingly difficult challenges to advance and ultimately reach the finale.
