‘MasterChef Junior’ season 9 episode 5 recap: Which pint-sized chef was eliminated in ‘Mystery Box’? [LIVE BLOG]
Tonight on “MasterChef Junior,” the top seven young chefs are faced with a mystery box challenge made from their nightmares! The judges task the contestants with facing their fears and turning ingredients they hate into delicious, restaurant-quality dishes. The winning chef will advance in the competition and take home e-bikes for their entire family in the all-new “Mystery Box” episode of “MasterChef Junior” airing Monday, April 15 (8:00-9:02 PM ET/PT) on FOX.
Below, read our minute-by-minute “MasterChef Junior” recap of Season 9, Episode 5. Then be sure to sound off in the comments section about your favorite young cooks on Fox’s reality TV show and who you think has what it takes to win the entire competition. Once again, Gordon Ramsay leads the judging panel and is joined by renowned chef Aarón Sánchez, Emmy-winning talk show host Daphne Oz and, for the first time, his daughter Tilly Ramsay.
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8:00 p.m. — Previously on “MasterChef Junior”! The top eight young chefs journeyed outside the kitchen and headed to the famous Magic Castle to celebrate its 60th anniversary. In the end, Miles was eliminated in eighth place. Who will be next?
8:05 p.m. — The junior chefs enter the kitchen and quickly realize it’s time for a mystery box challenge. They lift them up and discover each of their least favorite foods has been placed inside. This is what nightmares are made of! They’ll have to use this ingredient they hate and turn it into a beautiful dish. They’ve got one hour and the clock starts now!
8:15 p.m. — The youngsters dash off to the pantry in search of ingredients that will drown out the food they hate most. Bryson is tasked with the dreaded lima bean, but he’s making a beautiful lamb roast to go alongside his lima bean succotash. Remy hates tomatoes! What? She’s frying up some green tomatoes to give them a completely different texture. Lilo has a distaste for oysters, but her family restaurant makes them so she’s thought up a way to convert these into oysters three-ways: fried, baked and raw. Michael is transforming the mushrooms he hates into a Caribbean-inspired dish dedicated to his father. Jordyn is so disgusted by kale she can barely even say the word. She’s tossing it with some bacon to make a nice stew to go with fish and kale chips.
8:30 p.m. — Alfred hates bleu cheese and he’s got a New York strip to drown out the flavor — or at least compliment it. This kid is hilarious. He’s using the bleu cheese to make a compound butter and tells Gordon it tastes like “rat poison” so he’s got a lot of work to do. Asher has his despised anchovies and he’s cleverly hiding them in a pasta sauce. With a minute to go all the chefs begin to plate their dishes. Who will have the night’s best? And who will be sent packing?
8:33 p.m. — Tonight all the dishes will be tasted and the judges think four are top-notch. First up is Asher with his Homemade Pasta with Anchovy Tomato Sauce and Anchovy Garlic Bread. Tilly thinks it’s delicious and the pasta is cooked perfectly. Daphne loves the garlic bread. Gordon says it has nice heat, but Asher needs to be careful not so use so many salty ingredients.
8:35 p.m. — Next up is Remy with her Eggs Benedict with Fried Green Tomato, Arugula & Cherry Tomatoes and Hollandaise Sauce. Tilly says it’s visually stunning. Gordon compliments the perfectly cooked runny egg. Aarón wants a little more salt on the dish, but loves the fried green tomatoes. Daphne says the meatiness of the fried green tomatoes is great, but she would like lemon zest on the eggs.
8:38 p.m. — Third up is Michael with his Mushroom-Rubbed Rib Eye with Mushroom Callaloo and Sweet Plantains. Daphne says it looks “hearty” and it’s packed with flavor. The steak is cooked to a perfect medium rare. Aarón says the magic is the mushroom callaloo. Tilly loves the Caribbean flavors and heritage. Gordon says the seasoning is “spot on” it just needs more “freshness” on the plate.
8:40 p.m. — The final top dish tonight belongs to Bryson. His Parmesan-Crusted Lamb with Lima Bean Succotash shows confidence. Gordon says the lamb is the hero and the succotash needs a bit more heat. Aarón says Bryson made him enjoy lamb, which he rarely does. Daphne loves how vibrant the dish is.
8:45 p.m. — After a quick deliberation the judges have decided on a winner. The junior chef on top and taking home e-bikes for their entire family is Michael! All four of them are safe though, and make their way up to the balcony.
8:48 p.m. — It’s now time to judge the three bottom dishes, beginning with Lilo’s Oysters 3 Ways with Fried Oysters, Baked Oysters, Raw Oysters and sauces. Gordon loves the creativity, but the fried oysters are overcooked. Tilly thinks the baked oysters are too salty. Daphne says the dipping sauce is the saving grace of the fried oyster, which lacked flavor on its own.
8:51 p.m. — Next is Alfred with his New York Strip with Bleu Cheese Compound Butter and Roasted Romanesco. Tilly wishes the butter was melted so it could be tasted throughout the entire steak. Gordon thinks the steak is overcooked, but the compound butter is delicious. Daphne says the romanesco is a “yummy side dish” and she really likes everything.
8:55 p.m. — Last up is Jordyn with her Cornmeal Fried Sole with Roasted Sweet Potatoes, Kale Chips and Kale Stew. Daphne likes the various uses of kale and the colors on the plate. Gordon says the crispy kales is greasy and needs seasoning and the fish is over-cooked and dry. Tilly loves the stewed kale. Aarón also likes the stew, but says the fish wasn’t cooked properly.
9:02 p.m. — The four judges have a serious chat and decide the junior chef leaving tonight is Lilo. Gordon calls her “courageous” in her attempt tonight. The judges love her willingness to “experiment and play” and they can’t wait to see what this nine-year-old does next.
