Masterchef Confessions
I’m watching with great interest the number of people visiting my site lately after Master Chef Australia information. There’s been searches for masterchef auditions, what to cook for masterchef auditions, masterchef judges, masterchef and spam, spam masterchef and spam, spam spam spam masterchef and… oh wait, this isn’t monty python.
Apparently a lot of people want to know about Masterchef, and I am definitely one of them. So i’ve taken it upon myself to collate a little information from all the various visitors to my site in regards to the audition process, their impression of the fairness or otherwise of how the selections are happening, and any other little tid bits of information I can gather.
The score so far:
Out of the 7000 (or so) people who applied to be on the show, roughly 100 were selected from each state.
From the 100 or so who turned up to the Masterchef auditions, about 20 or so got through to the second day of competing. From those 20 or so people who made it to day 2 in each state, a final 50 were selected overall to go to Sydney for the semi finals.
Those semi finals will be filmed and are due to start on Monday next week the 9th of Feb.
Some stories coming out of the auditions are that a lot of people got through based solely on their stories, and who had little cooking ability. In my personal experience, I’d have to say this isn’t true. The people I met at the Perth auditions were all great people, who had as much love of food and cooking ability as I do, and I would have been very happy for any of them to go through.
I’ve also been talking to other people who did make it through, and can confirm that they are not all of the model stereotype, and did not resort to tricks or sob stories to make themselves seem more interesting in order to get onto the show. The people I’ve spoken to have also displayed an amazing level of knowledge of food and flavours, and I will be more than happy if they make it onto the show eventually.
The word from the audition floor is that seasoning and cooking things properly were big downfalls for a lot of people. Risotto was a hard sell, as were under seasoned dishes. Word on the judges is that George was very tough, Gary a bit dull, and Matt quite friendly. But then aren’t all Matt’s :)
Of course, there’s no denying that reality TV brings out the worst in a lot of people. The grand standing, the gregarious personalities, the over the top fakeness and willingness to do or say pretty much anything to get yourself recognised is all to tempting for some. I’ve heard plenty of interesting stories in the comments of the last post for that.
My two cents is that yes, this is reality TV, it’s going to happen. With Big Brother not airing this year, there will be a lot of disappointed teenagers and voyeuristic housewives looking for their reality fix. Masterchef needs to be the thing that fills that void. The producers are thus compelled to find personalities that fit whatever mould they think is needed to make the show entertaining. How interesting would it be if there were a bunch of food geeks sitting around a room discussing how to best sous vide a fillet of salmon ? (Ok, actually that would be quite interesting…but that probably just means I’m a food geek).
I’m still going to be watching the show of course. I’ve been through enough of the process now to be very interested in how it all turns out. And if a certain mystery person wants to send me a secret wink when they do get on the show, they may just make my day.
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I think Masterchef will be a hit for channel ten. My only concern is viewer fatigue as it will be screening 6 nights a week.
Yeh I find that a little concerning too. Especially when I put myself in that position and realise the nation would get fairly sick of seeing and hearing from me after about a week, let alone 6 nights a week for 4 months.
It’ll be interesting to see how they sustain the interest for that long, as the UK version seemed much less focused on the reality side of things.
After checking out the slap dash meals served as dinner party food at a blog of a would-be Australia’s first Masterchef, I must say that I have wasted my time, effort and money on the audition. If I have known about the “House” format, I would not have participated. For a semi-professional home cook, it is insulting to be pitched against a lesser accomplished cook, than yours truly, who writes this comment. Call me snobbish or sour grapes if you must!
Dearest Sour Grapes… I have no clue what that comment means.
Are you saying my dinner party food is crap ? Or someone else’s ? And please define “semi-professional home cook”.
Sounds like a nice way of saying you have 12 kids and spend all your time in the kitchen. Whilst i’m sure you are
no doubt talented and brilliant in your own right, it’s impossible to judge unless you’d care to show us what you can do.
So leaving random anonymous comments does indeed make you seem like you have sour grapes.
Not that there’s anything wrong with that of course.
I would also like to know what is a “semi professional home cook”. Come on people, you can’t be that naive to think that because you cook well, there is some inherent right that you have to be accepted onto a REALITY TV program that is all about ratings. If you are so passionate about cooking, just do it. Not making the cut is not the all and end all – surely!!!!
Usually a dark room with some soft music playing in the background.
Ooooh, wait a sec… Master*chef* confessions. My mistake.
Moving right along.
Well said Matt. While I’m yet to be convinced that it won’t be anything other than a plethora of sob stories interspersed with the occasional person who can actually cook, the fact remains that you were actually there and therefore more qualified to offer an opinion.
Regardless of the outcome, you can bet I’ll still be watching. The first week at least.
Ahhh I love that the knives are already out and the show hasn’t even started! I’m intrigued as to how the show’s format and intent will unfold. And as anyone who’s ever watch reality tv will attest, it’s always about ‘the journey’ and getting the disenfranchised public to believe in you.
Congrats on making it to the audition process too :) If it’s any consolation, missing out on very public infamy is not necessarily a bad thing!
well i have just got home from the “top 50″
What a joke!!!! i feel like ive had 60hrs of my life stolen for 6 minutes of TV.the first challenge was the dice onions.
after fine dicing about 25 onions in 15 minutes i was not one of the people to gain “auto entry” to the next round,though one young lady diced hqalf an onion and her finger and went through!!!!!
then we went to a 12 person cook off and unfortunatly my pasta didnt cut it against things like a sausage casarole!!!
George can go and f#$k himself however the rest were quite nice.
I was proud to have made the 50 till i heard more than 3 people ask “how do you cut an onion” Then i realised i just fit the mould for there plans.
There are also at least 3 who dont meet the critrea in regards to training and current employment.”I cook for 540 people once a fortnight” was one claim
I got through to the second day in the Perth auditions. I found it to be unorganised and VERY bad time management. Day 1 I got there at 7:30am and got home at 8pm! I seemed to be answering the same questions over and over. I must say i really enjoyed meeting loads of like minded ppl and it was a totally new expreience taking me outside of the square. The secound day i got pretty good feedback from judges but my onoin chopping was BAD and my dish needed more salt. i was lucky that i was the 3rd person to see the judges (the girl with the bright yellow pink and blue outfit) i still didnt get home till 2pm (i live in mandurah) but i heard some ppl didnt even get to cook until midnight! Did any of u hear about the guy from perth (a lawyer i think) who got in and then turned it down?? From reading other posts its good to see some others are a little apprehensive to see how they might manipulate the fottage to make you look the fool to boost ratings!
Hey Matt seems this masterchef had been good for your blog – i have just found it and like it a lot. U r kinda like perez hilton crossed with gordon ramsay minus the profanity! hehehe :)
Brad: If there was a prize for most consistently inappropriate blog commenter, you’d get it :)
Helen: Yeh it’s going to be interesting. This is probably my first “involvement” if you can call it that, with the world of reality TV, and I would imagine that would be the case for most of the applicants, who weren’t the kind of people you’d see trying to get onto Big Brother.
I think not getting in was a blessing in disguise actually. I’m infamous enough without exposing all of my character flaws to the entire nation :)
Can’t Chop Onions (!) : Great choice of anonymous name… I approve immensely. Shame you got the rough end of the stick with that one, though it sounds like perhaps you should have absorbed a little more onion gas and turned on the water works for bonus points. My spies are telling me that people are being eliminated each day with an increasing series of tasks like this to get through. Sounds like all predications are holding true for the time being though.
Bimmy: So did you go over to Sydney as well ? Agree with you about meeting like minded people, everyone I met was great. Maybe us Perthians are just more likeable people than the rest of the sour grapes sufferers ? :) You may have just made my day with that Perez Hilton / Gordon Ramsey reference. If only my life was as trashy and exploitative…. I would totally swear more though if my mum didn’t read this blog. Hi Mum.
I am a little disappointed now though… because I cut onions like a demon.
Hi there, I recently dropped out of the top 40 and I agree with the comments made by ‘can’t chop onions’. It was all based on personalities and the girl who cooked the sausages on mash – what can I say – it was terrible. How did she get through? Well it is clear that the top 20 were already picked. It’s a Big Brother cooking show.. very disappointing. I expected more…
Am at home now from a long and trialing experience after putting myself through the last round of MasterChef auditions to make the final ’20′…… After receiving three yes’s from the judges on Day 2, I was thrilled to have made it through to what I thought was going to be a final week of some mad and furious cooking….. but it so wasn’t….. Up every morning before the sun rose to be led into the studios and left standing for hours while the production team studied us behind the cameras waiting for someone to crack and start the tears or to excel in the personality department. I agree with you Matt that there needs to be something for the viewers to want to keep watching the show other than a bunch of food experts commenting on how they produced their dishes. But the judges have their integrity on the line and I can honestly say that anyone in the food industry will be appalled that this show can use the word “Chef” in their title of the show……
After succeeding the first two challenges….. 1. Cutting onions and 2.Tasting ingrediants in the bolognaise sauce I was “saved” from the lifeline cooking challenges to stay in the competition. I now realise that I should have listed some bizarre ingrediants in the sauce and had the opportunity to show some tears and tantrums to have had some decent exposure for the cameras and then maybe thats how I would have got through…. After succeeding all three challenges in the week I waited yesterday to see how the decisions would be made for the final casting of the show….
Everyone on this site has confirmed and I will now reconfirm ( and also not with sour grapes ) just disbelief that the personalities and stories were the winners…..
I saw some amazing people leave yesterday all with great personalities and cooking skills but also with class who kept their private lives and tears away from the cameras during the week and wanted to show the skills for what the show was thought to be about.
I feel embarrassed for the judges….. They must be getting some big dollars to be treated as puppets and lose all morals and integrity regarding food along the course of the show.
I wish some great friends who I made along the way good luck, but please remember your self respect and focus on what you can hopefully achieve from the show re cooking skills and not what the producers try and make you do….
If I had of made it through to the top “20″ after seeing how the final process of elimination was made I would still be sitting here writing this blog as I would have totally not accepted the challenge of “MasterChef Australia” for what it has transformed to be.
One gutted and tired great cook…..
Check this yeah, Butane infused raw pork chop with braised apple served with a raw cabbage and apple garnish yeah, into the top 20…mmmm Foodies beware!
Now I know why Matt spat that dish out…… Maybe I should have used the butane and created a fire on the set… that would have created some energy and a chance for a spot in the “house”…. lol….. or made pork tartare……
Masterchef …Done
That dish sounds delish, such creativity deserves a spot! (haha only joking)
Not a BB Conternder
I think the fire would have got their attention – good idea!
I am getting so interested to see what the show will be like now and how it will do in the ratings. Does anyone know when it is going to be aired?
Oh – Matt – no i didnt make it to Sydney – i have a new born baby (8 weeks) i didnt relise that i had to go away for 4 months until the friday, then i just went the next day to see how far i could get. I didnt really think i would make it anyways i just enjoyed the experience. Wow this has turned into the masterchef blog!
The term ‘lock down’ should have done it for me… I knew there was a house we had to live in but with a lock down, whats the point apart from trying to evoke more of the sense of tired disillusionment that the Top 50 experienced last week.
5.30 starts midnight finishes, no meal breaks for 9 hours.
Fine for the 20 something kids that got in but not the smart, food passionate crowd that we all thought MasterChef was about.
I’m kinda glad I didn’t get in, it would have made me select between the “chance of a life time” and my ethics.
Oh and the prize… still not anounced to the top 20 but mentions of a publishing deal, a cash component and an intership.
I think it will be good watching though to see some of the tosser tall poppies be cut down by having to cook real food well. Lets see any of these guys in a real kitchen. I doubt they can handle the heat.
Best of luck to channel ten, perhaps they should have picked a production company that doesn’t treat people like cattle.
Oh and the sh*t food on set, I can’t believe that they were not embaressed to serve it to us, and the judges!
Oh and the girl with the sausages got through because the fisher boy and her ‘hooked’ up.
Now that makes great tv, surf and turf in the MasterChef house. Shame they can’t cook.
Pork Sashimi with a capronata of Tomato and cabbage presented in a dug out bread roll with a side of melted chocolate served on a raw cabbage leaf, through to top 20!!!! mmmm Foodies beware.
Mmmm pork sashimi! hahaha
Last night I got back in my kitchen and made a beautiful rack of lamb with a crust of mustard, lemon zest, italian parsley and fresh bread crumbs served with garlic mashed potatoes, green beans and a jus made with caramalised shallots, red wine and home made beef stock reduced to a sticky sweet glaze…
It was my Valentines dinner to my partner who is now so relieved that I also didnt have to make the choice of “ethics” or “fame” to have the opportunity to excel in the kitchen.
My guess with all the cutting and editing I witnessed throughout the last week no one will really know what the contestants will be doing in that house but I am guessing it won’t be a lot of cooking!!
Everything said here is true. They have made commerical decision on casting. The only unmentioned thing is that some may be only few great cooks did made it in. If they decided to go in, they will do some awsome cooking for us to see.
50% or more of the chops has red blood on the end of the bone! Only 3 got told they are raw!
The whole 3 months lock down boom droped on us on Sunday did play a big part in everyones mind. At least half that did not made it through were happy that they didn’t.
Whats done is done, I just hope this is a cooking reality show, not a Big Brother with a little bit of cooking.
Hi Matthew
What a load of sour people who didnt get through.
You people are perfect for reality TV, your vindictive, sour and bitter. Take a good hard look at your attitudes, thats why you didnt get through, the judges can see through bullshit a mile away and you lot are full of it.
Have some integrity with yourselves and honour the confidentiallity agreements you all signed, get on with your lives and realise, that your a bunch of arrogant people, who are yet to realise that 3 judges were right in the decision to not let you through, ohh and you cant cook….
Build a bridge and get over yourselves.
I am sorry… but the judges are not there to “see bullshit”….. they are there to judge food. So maybe the judges are not the ones making the decisions, but the producers instead. Vindictive, sour and bitterness are not the feelings that are going on in my head right now…. its anger and frustration that this show was cast unders false pretenses and I was a fool for not seeing it until I got home and the brain washing had worn off.
Come on….. there are maybe 10 out of the final 20 who can cook…. The other 10 will be great for reality tv and thats all they wanted….
No one is in breach of there agreement (No one has been named etc etc) “Coffee” perhaps you should have read it a little closer but then again you are through so no wonder you want to protect the intefrity of the show!!
If you believe the best went through and others who missed out were just not good enough cooks then so be it… But for me it reinforces the fact that at least 50% of the people who progressed were not worthy and now it seems not only do they have no idea about food, it now seems they are also delusional…!!!
By the way what coffee did you love?
I have no axe to grind I guess I was just deluded about the fact that the show was about food. What will now happen is that the top 37 challange will ne edited in such a way that it in no way reflected the actual process for eg having your food tasted 6 hours after it was cooked etc etc.
Pork and tomato bruschetta mmmm
Enjoy the coffee x
Love the coffee your comments are way OTT and obviously u are just trying to get a rise out of everyone on here. U must be a dramatic person who likes to get attention. Perfect for reality TV?
Pork & banana salsa ;)
It sounds like the people that didn’t get through are both boring and uninteresting or simply can’t cook. Of course they are going to put personalities in the top 20, otherwise people won’t watch.
So if you can cook maybe you should have a look at yourself and see if you can spice up your life a little bit. Good luck next year.
I agree with Coffee.
I can’t help that I’m more interesting than you lot.
Thank you Big Cupoda for understanding….. Once again, I wish everyone that made it through Good Luck…. no hard feelings towards any of you…. but as for the “professionals”, shame on you. Money talks and integrity has definitely walked.
Run Rabbit Run…….
Perhaps those people who think they are more interesting should not think they know everything. You don’t know what went on behind the scenes. Most of the top 20 was already picked before the week. How could it have then been about cooking! A fact I can honestly say..
I found this article which I thought would be a good read to you all… I hope for those that go into the house.. and do put your life out there on TV for the world to see.. that there is something for you at the end.
The knives are out
Author: Shelly Horton
Date: 15/02/2009
Words: 1087
Source: SHD
Publication: Sun Herald
Section: S
Page: 4
Ten’s new reality series presenter is ready to tackle the cooks and critics.
THE latest reality television host has spoken for the first time about her new gig. Former restaurant reviewer and mag editor Sarah Wilson is all set to front Channel Ten’s six-night-a week-show MasterChef.
“I’ve worked in the media long enough to realise I’m a risky choice but same old, same old just doesn’t cut it these days,” she tells S as we tour the MasterChef set.
“No one wants a trumped-up weather girl any more. Critics must give comment. That’s their job. But I won’t take it personally. Just call me Teflon Girl!”
The executive producer of MasterChef, Paul Franklin, says chefs, restaurateurs and well-known television presenters auditioned but Wilson blew them away. “Of all the people we auditioned, she was the standout,” Franklin says. “She looks amazing, has great chemistry with the judges [chefs Gary Mehigan and George Calombaris] and because she’s done food writing before, can make intelligent comments on what’s taking place.”
More than 7500 everyday folk auditioned to be contestants on the show, where they take cooking challenges for three months until there is one cook left. There’s no prize money or restaurant deal – just the satisfaction of being named MasterChef.
“It’s a positive concept geared at nurturing the best from people,” Wilson says. “The focus isn’t on snark. It’s not like other reality TV shows where extroverts are creating drama, this is everyday people, from single mums to lawyers to CEOs of companies who are obsessed with cooking. We even have an 18-year-old who spent his first weekly wage on three truffles. You can’t beat that passion.”
MasterChef is scheduled to launch in four months.
‘The Big Cupoda’ is a perfect example of people being selected because of personalities, not cooking ability. He gives himself away by the stupid “Sfphericate” bullshit that he spoke all week. He got in because he got on everyones nerves…
Oh and I couldn’t be bothered to tell you during the week, but the spelling is actually ‘Sferificación’ straight from the el Bulli website…
Go on keep looking the fool, it will make great tv!
Dear fellow Masterchef contenders….while I sit here and muse over all your entries I have only one thing to say. Let this experience be an experience. Don’t be bitter, don’t be sour or have regrets. What were you all ultimately trying to achieve by entering this competition? Let’s be frank here. If you look at history, look at your own life, the life of your family and friends, who can say that one has achieved success by not working hard, making mistakes and learning from it? Who can say that successful entities have made it big, have achieved their ultimate goals and aspirations by entering a competition and then having it all laid on a silver platter?
Did you all really expect to enter a reality cooking TV show and end up owning/managing a restaurant at the end of it? Did you really expect that a publishing company would see you on TV and offer you a deal? Did you really expect that a TV network would see your camera capabilities and offer you a gig on a cooking program? If you did, I sympathise with your ignorance. You all need to wise up and understand that life is not a playground and success is only achieved through hard work, determination, drive and a clear delineation of where and what you want for the future.
Observing the contenders, there were people from all walks of life. Each contender had a unique and compelling story. Each had their own strengths and weaknesses. Each had their individual dreams and goals. How the producers/judges ultimately decided on their Top 20 was based on not only the challenges, but how much the contender wanted to achieve their goals and yes, I do agree to some extent it was based on what would make good reality TV. However, I think we shouldn’t focus on the latter, but rather, take away from this experience that it was simply that…an experience and believe in yourselves that you still achieve your dreams and goals without the hype, publicity and gruelling days of filming!
My advice is; if cooking was really your dream….then go and cook! Go apply to be an apprentice in a kitchen, compile your recipes and send out to publication companies, send out your profile to cooking TV shows….do whatever it is you want but do it on your own merit! Yes, admittedly Masterchef would help those who wanted a foot in the door or a leg up in a competitive industry, particularly when there were many who have already established careers. But, seriously, if you look at yourself and see what you have accomplished to date….I bet you cannot say that you have all that you have because of a TV reality cooking show! No, you accomplished all that you have because of hard work and determination.
Success is defined by climbing a ladder and one must always start at the bottom. So, those that didn’t make it….start climbing and remember those that refuse to look ahead will remain behind. If you were to look at the three judges, they themselves are proof that starting at the bottom, hard work and determination bring success. Learn from this experience, build on it and use the knowledge that you have to now create the dreams you hoped this program would achieve….and do it well! Don’t wallow in self pity, don’t give up, don’t question your abilities…..instead go out into this world and be the best chef you can be, write cook books, be a food critic, work on food TV or radio and do it for yourselves with your head held high, work hard, push yourselves, never give up and you will ultimately find success!
OMG Mystery Chef is Dr Phil 4sure!
All,
I take great interest in this blog, how actuall contestants are on here. To come across such a gold mine from a viewers point of view is fantastic. As I am not on the show, just love food and find this blog amazing.
Look to the guys that did and didnt get through I can tell you right now, in the top 20 contract, there will be a clause that gives the executive producer absoloute rights to the show, most likely mentioned in the context of the rules and decisions not being challenged by the contestants and made at the producers absoloute and final discretion.
Basically, the show will be rigged. I am not on the show, but you people have to realise, that people will be on there who have talent and are marketable, whilst some for pure entertainment value, as afterall, what are tv shows about? Making money and ratings.
The sferication kid sounds a gem, if he actually performed the sferificiation, then that shows skill. He will be a perfect marketing tool, as you now all know the term. Adding if he is a ball breaker, they will pitch him along the lines of a miniture gordon ramsay, busting everyones balls and he will create conflict which is viewer entertainment.
The fish guy will be on there for his little romance with sausage girl, and for a seafood edge and great entertainment, however, they will be marketable.
From what I have picked up from this blog, people are on there because, they are marketable, and can be taught and moulded into a cooking professional.
And dont knock people for the spelling used in the blog or on the show, there are a million and one mistakes in the blog and frankly no one is perfect.
The Big Capouda team, sounds like a bunch of older fonzies trying to recapture there youth, not marketable as you are a team in a individual competition, if the Big Capouda, was iconised as an individual, he would be on there for sure.
Not to mention, anyone on the show will be in breach of the confidentiallity agreement you signed, as you have divulged information regarding the shows circumstances and challanges, the fact you have all stayed anonymous is irrelevant and in your favour.
Best of luck to those who didnt get through and to those who did, if you are serious about a dream, and want it bad enough you will get it.
By the way, cant chop onions,
Sferification, is the spanish term, Spherification is the english term used by UK chefs Simon Rogan, and Heston Blumenthal, get your facts right before tearing apart some poor kid.
Sorry should add, either is acceptable so clarify what he used, just incase I am wrong.
I agree that the show is about marketing and ratings. We’re not stupid.
That’s all good and well, but they’ve bastardised the Masterchef brand. I have no problem with the show being what it is – just don’t call it Masterchef. It’s misleading and deceptive… it’s nothing like the UK version.
I now know why they didn’t pick judges who are on tv with reputations – because they would never have agreed to make a mockery of the show, and it’s integrity. Shame on them. Doesn’t anyone have any ethics anymore?
“…bunch of older fonzies”
What the hell?
Well it just keeps on getting better. More info flooding in from my network of spies and plenty of juicy gossip before the show has even started. Expect another tell all (tell some anyway) post shortly.
And LoveTheCoffee, there is never any excuse for bad spelling, that’s what spell checkers were invented for. So as long as It’s my blog you’re commenting on, make sure you’ve got a dictionary handy… :)
And yes, Mystery Chef (if that’s your real name), save the life lessons speech for post Oprah cupcake binge sessions. I want scandal dammit.
Very well put Mystery Chef!
Good luck to all the Cupodas that are still in the game. I hope one of you win and say Cupoda on camera. Means nothing to anyone else but sure will bring a smile on my face.
I know most of top 20 are reading this. Due to your new contract, is best none of you post. My sincere best wishes to all of you! May the best chef win.
I do miss all the people I meet last week that I am proud to call “friends”.
All you complainers can suck my ass. Yes, it is I, the youngest contestant in the Masterchef Australia competition. Now listen up coz i will tell you why people got in. They got in because there is pottential to be brought fourth within them…and they also have a story. They want a mixture of both elements. Look at me, i was at the prime age for an aprentiship but my story didnt fit the context.Plus i fucked up one of my dishes but who knows if thats why i diddnt make it. This program is for a life style change. To unleash the passion within someone. I have the rest of my life to become a chef…if i want to, so your forgetting that the contestants picked may have deeply wanted this lifestyle change and they have been selected because they deserved it most.
by the way…CUPODA hahaha
This Coories wack!!! great point, spot on the money.
After doing some thinking, this show wont be rigged as much as I have previously said. Let me explain why:
Political backlash, the producer needs the longevity of the show, combined with personality to make the winner sucessful, they will not have a winner who can not cook. Plain and simple.
Should they do that, they risk the judges walking out and with such high expectations of this show, they wont risk it. This show is replacing big brother and is expected to run for at least 5-8 years. Each series winner will be an amazing chef, and although the producer will have some input as to who is getting in as ultimately its there kneck on the line if the show is a flop, the top 50 could most likely all cook, amauter style and above grade, however if you can chop an onion mighty fast and accurate, you have f%^k all chance in a kitchen, a palate can be taught but only so far, so the basic understanding of ingrediants when combined with others is essential.
The reality is people who got through are better than the people who didnt on skill and are overall more interesting people, and have the ability to work in a top tier restaurant straight after the show, open a restaurant that will suceed, head into TV cooking or the other number of avenues this show opens.
End of the day, what is the cupoda thing? A cupola (note different spelling), is a small dome on top of a building, like the top of a bell tower, what are you a bunch of domes or something? Or just a bunch of geriatrics trying to do what the kids do today? Or a bunch of young guys who just have no clue? As a viewer, I dont find it interesting, infact its a little pathetic.
There is also this notion that the UK version of MasterChef is this pure beacon to aspire to. Just a quick reminder, as Fremantle Media has an interesting in that show (they also make the Bill too). How do you not know that the selection process is similar to the format of UK MC? You are a viewer of that show, and would probably find that the selection process for the show would be similar to MasterChef Australia when behind the scenes.
To This Coories Wack – you display a level of maturity, style, sophistication and good sportsmanship that a lot of other commentators (who I am sure are much older than you are in years) fail to display and should take a lesson in. Your comment shows you for who you are and says to me that you will succeed in your life not only because you have the potential of being a great chef but because you are able to see and accept things for what they are.
In masterchef UK they dont live in lockdown in a big brother style house… would be one major difference!
Are you all mad? Everyone is speculating on what the show is about and who was right for the show. Can we all just stick to the fact that the show was thought by some of us to be based on cooking. Sure, its now been proven that the Australian series will be based more on personality and probably sex and scandal! Ha!
Remember though to all of us brainwashed fools that have allowed Freemantle Media and Channel Ten to use us for their latest experiment based on a great successful cooking show, there will be soooooo much cutting and editing that they will create 20 finalists to be what they want them to be, not, unfortunately who they really are. Grow thick skins finalists…. you will need it as you each leave the show and your eyes are back open. Any of you been studying cooking techniques over the weekend? I bet not….. Why bother…. you won’t need it….
What a bunch sore fucking losers.
Get back in the kitchen and start practicing, and maybe you’ll be good enough next year.
And in the meantime, if you have the knife skills that is… carve a BIG L in your foreheads!
Dear Spherication of the nation, is using such profanities really necessary?
Frankly you epitomise what one would call ‘pedestrian.’ (Weber Dictionary definition: pedestrian – to be common, boring, uninteresting, banal, mediocre) Need I say more?
Need you say more?
Your vocab is obviously so limited you cannot.
Ok kids…
Resorting to name calling and pettiness is not really the purpose of this blog. So keep it nice. Also patronising passive aggressive comments are not appreciated or particularly enjoyable to read.
If you have any more details about the process or the show you’d like to share, then please do, but speculation on the nature of people who made it through, or who didn’t, is not really helpful or necessarily warranted.
Good call
Carving L in your forehead with a knife…. is for me a little too scary!
See ya!
Not a Big Brother Contender…
Sex and scandal…come on now really.
Everyone chill… No one need take a knife to there head and carve just yet!
Let us all remember, in the great words of our Lord Cuboda
“many have walked, many have stood and waited but it is only he who truly embraces the onion that will be given the wisdom, for he who chops finest will be the first to taste the clove and then and only then will he know the righteous path to the cooking of the pig, for with this knowledge, and only then will he be armed to face the light and drink from the golden cup that once was blessed by the one true master CUBODA”
xx
congratulations to the top 20…well done
by the way Cupoda is a small island of the coast of Japan
I can feel the love!!! A whole lot of bitter people on this blog, should make for a good reality show!
I heard a rumour that the internship is the restaurant of your choice anywhere in the world!
Can anybody confirm that?
Very glad Matt, that you decided to reign in the childish and churlish nasty comments by a few. I have really been enjoying this site which I have stumbled across…..until then. It would be so nice if those that are obviously hurt by being dismissed, learn a bit about what a game is all about…that there WILL be a winner and there WILL be those that don’t win…that is…LOSE. There is definitely something to be said for losing graciously. Isn’t it all about how we experience things? Hopefully all the ‘losers’ get over themselves, and get on with their lives. Then they will be able to just kick back, turn on the telly and enjoy, and hopefully be open to actually learn something from watching what should be a really fun informative TV reality cooking show.
I’ve never seen a Master Chef show so am really looking forward to it, especially after having followed this site. Good luck to all of you that are in….Have fun and cook your little hearts out !!!
Smoked too much: I can confirm that it sounds like a load of crap. How would they be able to offer an internship anywhere in the world ? That just logistically makes no sense, I can’t see someone strolling into eBulli, Fat Duck, or the French Laundry and flipping pans (or spheres).
Any more specifics on the prizes would be good though. I’ve heard a few things so far, but nothing substantial.
Hi Matt,
I’m Sharnee…..Brand spanking new to blogging. Loving it…but didn’t know food could get so bitchy.
Fab photos and recipes anyhow. Enjoying the new inspiration!
Sharnee
I glad the meanies have been told to stop it now.
I am really looking forward to seeing the show – i just want to know who got in from Perth! Matt, I dont know if i saw u on the Friday?? Have u ever thought of making your own recipe books? Are u a pro photographer?
It seems to me that they’re modelling this show more on the American “Top Chef” rather than the English “Masterchef”, what with the house deal, and the tasks like chopping onions.
One thing I found from watching the UK version, was that people who cooked simple dishes properly tended to do really well.
Anyone get a read of that hreeald sun article about masterchef this week? Apparently i got a mention in it and i would love to have a read of it. So if you do find it, please post it on this shizzle.
Hi This Coories wack!!! I posted the article on this site on Feb 16th – just scroll up! Are you referring to the truffle comment?
Sharnee: Welcome to the world of blogging. Careful you don’t get lost on this page, it’s a long one now :)
Bimmy: I don’t know if I saw you at the audition either… but then I look fairly generic as you can tell on my About page :) I’m not sure I’m ready to start making recipe books yet, and no i’m not a pro photographer, but I do a bit of casual photography work around town for people who like my stuff.
Linda: I’m getting that impression to. The drama factor seems to be a lot higher than the UK show…
Big Fan: I guess we’ll have to see what happens. I’m hoping those people with a real love of cooking and some great skills get through, and show how simple wholesome cooking can be really good.
Wack boy: Good to see a couple of people from my group got through to the final 50, shame about the french toast, but keep it up mate, you got talent.
Hi Guys,
Just a few suggestions, the house will probably not be seen on TV, on assumption, it will be the same as Idol & Dance where contestants are housed in privacy. I think that people are confusing the house with the top chef show, which from my experience in the top 50, the only thing similar is the format of challanges, as face it they are more TV friendly, at least for Australian prime time viewing.
Also, the restaurant intership prize is a bit far fetched, from my recollection, it is my belief that the only 2 people in the top 20 who I reckon could actually walk into a restaurant and complete an internship at a top restaurant. Hoping to hear more and good to see some fellow season 1 contestants on here
Does anyone know when this goes to air?
I think it’s going to air in April or May, not sure though. I hope they let the world know soon !!
Hi Matt,
Now I’m wondering too if you know when the show will go to air. Any of your secret ‘contacts’ can clue us all in ???
Got a thank you letter for the top 50 week… Anyhway, it mentioned that it will be air in April. No exact date though.
my friend is currently in ‘lockdown’ in Sydney for the top 20. They told me it would go to air early May, the day after The Biggest Loser finishes. I just wanted to know if anyone knew anymore goss!
youtube australian materchef 2009
2 teasers from fremantle media.
Show clearly what they were looking for!!!
How odd… Channel 10 has pulled them from youtube…mmm…
managed to sneak a peek though….. I agree… shows clearly what they are looking for… ouch…..
I saw a promo on TV for Masterchef, and it is a very stylish and exciting tempter. Now looking forward more than ever to the actual show.
I’m looking for a friend I made whilst in the Top 50 week. I lost my mobile and hence all my contacts. We had dinner plans…sorry, but had no way of contacting you! I’m hoping you check this site out (my last resort) and send me a text so I can get back in touch with you. I will be back in your town over Easter and hope to catch up then. :)
oooohhhh how wonderfully romantic! All efforts should be made to find Dulce’s friend. But Dulce, what happens if they are in lockdown now?
dulce de leche- are you from perth and looking for Melbourne friend? fruit + chocolate girl?
A few thoughts: By now many will have seen the promos for Masterchef” on network 10. I fear that my biggest worries for the show may be coming true… Why does Australian television feel it needs to sanitize and over style everything? The contestants bear no resemblance to those I stood next to in the auditions etc. Sure a little Hair and Make-up work doesn’t go astray but these fantastic amateur chefs now look like they have just stepped off the set of “the secret life of us”… And what’s with the beaded curtain and acrobatics? It seems that food will be forced to take a back seat as the cult of personality is forced into the limelight!!! If the producer’s creed is that “The Australian general Public” can see through BS then they may well be struggling to push this boat out. Why couldn’t they have embraced the highly successful UK model where it seems personality and looks give way to food and passion?? Imagine my horror when today I peel back the pages of “Real Living” May addition to see a double page spread with a model holding a golf club with the bi-line “Could a pro golfer out cook a French chef?” Now, not to disclose anything… I am pretty sure he is neither a golfer or a contestant…why when you may well have the real deal in the competition would you chose to use a model? I am afraid to say that this is fairly emblematic of the entrenched attitude. I so want this to work for all the contestants involved (and believe it or not even the Judges!), but…. is this seemingly all pervasive tendency for over-styling and superficiality going to turn viewers off. Fingers crossed that passion and food win out over plastic hair and bleached teeth!!!
i think the chefs do have the power to place the winner in well respected kitchens…Maby not as respected as ebulli or tet suyas, but when i made it to the top 50, they said to me “obviously you cant win, your too young to own or opperate your own restraurant. What would you expect?”
I said that if i did win i would like to work for a brilliant chef…not necessarily a celeb chef, i mentioned maby rick stine or neil perry. and they said “if you do win, you wouldnt mind going to work for rick stein in his Padstow restaurant would you?”
so im pretty sure they wont get a restaurant but perhaps a job with some of the worlds finest.
Not wanting to be to obsessive..but…All those interested please read the most honest appraisal I have read to date… Save for the usual cliches Cooking up a storm!.. Fry pans at fifty paces etc but nae matter:
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25270282-5010800,00.html
I just saw an individual promo on ch 10 for masterchef. Some guy who is a labourer, and really ‘needs’ this show. Blah blah blah. No real mention of food. Just a whole lot of reality tv sob story. BUGGER. I was really looking forward to this show… sigh…
Came across these snippets regarding successful contestants……..
http://forum.behindbigbrother.com/showpost.php?p=1241110&postcount=1
http://forum.behindbigbrother.com/showpost.php?p=1241134&postcount=8
http://forum.behindbigbrother.com/showpost.php?p=1241570&postcount=23
http://forum.behindbigbrother.com/showthread.php?t=38258
Having visited the above forum it is evident there is a groundswell of disenchantment for this Personality driven “cooking” show, from my intimate experience I can assure punters that this show was not, is not and will not be about the food! I know that contestants got through with scant regard for even the basics of cooking, whilst others deemed not to fit the mould but who could cook were left in the wings, wondering why?? I know that the winner will be a great amature chef of that we can be sure its just about the dross that are there to make up the number and fit the bill for what they think will be good TV and who are in target demographic… Its sad that they appear not to have had the ability to disseminate what Joe Public would actually like to derive from this style of show… But hey I might be wrong!
Being one of the Top 50 who did not make it through to the final 20, knowing my cooking skills should have got me through ( and I think I have plenty of character )…… I can only hope that the show is a complete flop, so that the producers can feel the way I did when I went home on that Friday….. Sorry….. but its true…. Of course I will be watching the show to see how the friends I made went on in the show, but to the judges and people trying to make money from the show, I hope that the outcome proves to them that you should stick to skills and facts rather than drama….. and stop messing with people who really want to have a go……
Cafe Princess,
Masterchef is Fraudulent….many of the contestants are fakes & ringins
It’s just Big Brother style famewhores wanting attention…..if there’s more than a couple genuine cooks amongst them, I’ll stop eating Maccas!
You people are clearly jealous of those fortunate to have made it to the top 20. I have friends that made it through and I know that they are genuinely there for cooking. Nobody is there purely for the money. From what ive heard from the contestants who are there working hard to improve their skills, you are all very wrong.
Cafe Princess,
There, you go on about degrading Top 20 contestants when you yourself, thrive on the biggest load of bull-shit. If there is anyone who needs a career change, it’s you.
foodinsanity,
Say what!
Where-When?
I find it hard to understand that the show has not aired yet and there are still so many sour grapes out there. Of course a lot of the final 20 MUST have had a life, a profession, a passion, before Masterchef. So if there is an EX pro golfer, an artist, whatever, for goodness sakes, if you’re too upset for not being selected…don’t watch ! and get on with your own lives ! It would be a lot nicer if you could somehow see the good in others, maybe, just maybe, you’ll learn something !
I do see good in others…. all except the producers and judges of this show…..
Just saw one of the advertisements from one of the contestants on his second audition day ( the cooking one ). He didnt make it to the top 50. They have rubbished him in the commercial and I can only question again the integrity behind the show…… all for drama which they think sells…..
The undertone to these comments is that people feel betrayed by the producers for picking sensational contestants over talented chefs.. but is that really a surprise given its a reality tv show.. which you all knew right from the start didn’t you?
when did the producers ever say it was only about cooking? obviously entertainment counts for a great deal as it won’t grab ratings otherwise, and everyone knows sensationalism sells.
i agree the producers make ‘out-there’ contestants a higher priority than great chefs.. because they’re GOOD at their jobs & they know we’ll tune in to see what the people get up to..
but why is that a surprise to anyone? surely it was to be expected right from the start? its actually NOT a cooking show, its another typical reality show which is trying to splice things up by adding in a cooking element.
you all had unrealistic expectations right from the start..
Unrealistic expectations or perhaps just keen fans of Masterchef UK?
I think the producers/directors and channel ten should have done a little more investigating on the Top 20 contestants or perhaps it was their intention to have an ‘actress’ on the show!!! I find it interesting that one of the Top 20 was in an Australian movie with Toni Collette. The movie is..Hey Hey its Ester Blueburger! So much for wanting to portray ‘real characters.’ The show is a farce! And, no this isn’t a bitter contestant that didn’t make it. This is purely an avid fan of the Masterchef program that cannot fathom the hypocrisy of what Channel ten and the producers claim is an opportunity for budding, raw, amateur talent to shine in the kitchen. Please, this show is purely about ratings and creating a dramatic element! Well, they can certainly achieve that with an actress on board!!
So what if she was an actress. Most people did have real jobs before they tried out. You people obviously are not good at handling rejection. I made it to the top 50 & don’t have issues or gripes about the process.
Well good on you tofu girl… I am happy to hear you can handle rejection! I think most people are just commenting on the process… like say for instance ummm making a vegeterian have to go through the ordeal of having to look and smell “… all that meat”!!!! As regards the actress, make-up arist, movie star and aspiring chef she seems unsure of what direction she wants to go in or maybe its just that she wants to be on the box… and so perhaps the judges werent quite as good as they thought they were in regards to “weeding out those who just wanted to be on television and selecting those with a real passion” question for me would be is food really her passion???
I am sure that we all know by now that the judges have no say in the decision process at all….. As long as money goes in their pockets they seem happy to allow the producers and staff behind the cameras and televison screens to process the “great drama that is about to unfold”….. Otherwise how else did two contestants make the top 20… one who infused a pork chop with butane gas and the other that thought a garnish of a cabbage leaf with melted chocolate would go well with the pork chop…. Please….. Top 20?!!! the other 7000 contestants who bothered to apply would be cringing so why not the judges?
twitter has found Master Chef
http://twitter.com/MasterChefAus
Ok so clearly I am not going to reply to any of these comments directly because it’s not about me anymore and I lost interest in the debate around 30 comments in.
What I will say is a combination of what other people are saying.
Who really cares what motivation people had before they went on the show ? and what they are intending to do if they win ?
I don’t particularly want to be a chef, but would have been more than happy to go on the show and be able to showcase my love of food and see where it took me on the road towards working in the industry in some capacity. Be it in writing, reviewing, consulting… there is a hell of a lot more to the food and hospitality industry than just what happens in the kitchen, and the winners of Masterchef UK have proven this. To date (after a few dalliances in professional kitchens) they’ve all gone into other food related areas. Some writing cook books, one opened a cooking school. To my knowledge – none of them are cheffing full time.
Pretty much everyone who entered the show did so on the basis of knowing about the UK series and hoping it would be somewhere along those lines. Of course Fremantle in their infinite wisdom have gone with a completely different format for the Australian version in order to try and maximize the drama and add enough reality for the Big brother fans who’ve been left out in the dark this year.
I know a few of the people who’ve made it through to the final 50 and now the final 20 and I think they’re both talented and going into it with the right intentions… To showcase their cooking and bring their love of food to the world.
The producers have picked the people they thought would look best on TV and who they think will have interesting enough stories to make people want to watch. Whether they can all cook or not seems to be besides the point.
Personally if anyone is to blame for sensationalism or lack of integrity in anything to do with this show, it will be the producers. Not the contestants, so save your accusations of attention seeking and posturing for the producers who can and will manipulate the contestent, judges, and the format to get what they want out of it.
Anyway… not long now til we see it all unfold, and whether the gamble has paid off. I’ll still be watching.
All commerical TV shows are about ratings and viewer numbers, in terms it generates advertising and other revenues for the network. The producers are within their own right to do what they think can achieve the best results. Wheather they are right or wrong about this one, we will soon find out.
The final power are with us the viewers, we can choose to watch it or not.
For sure I will be watching to the end.
i’ve just read most of the comments on here and have to say, it is better than reality tv in the bitchy stakes. so much drama! so much unexplained anger…
i love it how every internet forum or blog invariably becomes an arena for weird, petty (sometimes vicious) fights in the safety of anonymity.
i found some of the comments hilarious.. i don’t know why lots of these people didn’t get in if it’s all about dramatic reality tv! perhaps they lack the confidence to interact like this outside of internet land. or not, i dont know or really care.
on a more relevant note, love the blog and the style of your writing, matt – and i LOVE that you said hi to your mum and she said hi back. hahahaha
u know what would have been cool. If they sent in a “real professional celebrity chef” in disguise at the auditions to be judged by them . Would’ve loved to see the outcome haha. Also George is a poser that tough guy image does not suit…. Napoleon syndrome indeed!
I must say after all the pent up hype for Masterchef, the launch of it last evening was rather disappointing. I would be interested to see what others thought of it, as personnally I thought it was rather amateur in the filming/editing and was way off the mark in replicating the promos they advertised in the last few weeks.
The host (Sarah Wilson) could have benefitted from some elocution lessons and the other judges continued to comment on the aspiring chefs that they wanted to see real drive and enthusiasm with hunger and passion, yet they (except for perhaps Matt Preston)resembled and had the personality of a dead fish.
I will continue to view the program on the proviso that when it is narrowed to the Top 20, channel 10 and the other production companies involved, pull out their finger and produce some rivotting, excellent cooking, dramatic and reality tv. Otherwise, god forbid I would rather watch Home and Away!
I think I tend to agree with you Bored… Everyone else can feel free to share their opinions on my shiny new blog post… Seeing as this one is getting fairly long and cumbersome. So comments turned off here, head yourself over here:
http://abstractgourmet.com/2009/04/masterchef-reactions/