‘MasterChef’ Ecuador: Santiago and Victoria have won the mystery box challenge and will compete for the chef’s pin

With pans and cheers: this is how the MasterChef contestants entered the kitchens of the program, ready to take on another mystery box challenge following Sol’s elimination last Friday, February 10.

For this challenge, the chefs had to cook a dish with coffee as the main ingredient. Each cook was assigned to prepare a savory or sweet dish and they cooked with the pantry open. They had 45 minutes for the challenge and risked the opportunity to compete for the chef’s pin, which keeps them from being eliminated.

The participants gathered the necessary ingredients to make their dishes: for example, Victoria had to prepare a salt dish and decided to make her own version of it. Chicken & Waffles (chicken and waffles) with coffee as the protagonist. Sara, for her part, decided to cook pork with a coffee crust.

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Shortly after the challenge started, however, Chef Rausch announced that the rules of the game would change: now all contestants would cook salty and sweet dishes. Some participants, such as Andrés, said the change got them into trouble. However, Andrés stressed that Chef Rausch “is no longer yelling at him” after the Colombian chef walked through his station to review his progress.

The first contestant the judges called forward was Cynthia, who presented a ratatouille with spices and coffee as a savory dish and a coffee soufflé with ice cream as a sweet dish. The presentation of the ratatouille was criticized by the judges, but the soufflé was “sensational” by Chef Caro.

The second chosen was Andrés. He presented a chicken dish with coffee and cappuccino sauce. To Rausch, it tasted like “chicken with milk”; As a sweet dish, Andrés presented a coffee cream with a crumble. Chef Caro liked the dessert.

The third chosen was Victoria, still fresh from returning to the program via extra time following her elimination. He presented waffles and maple syrup fried chicken with coffee as a savory dish, and a crepe with coffee and fruit. Chef Irene liked the sweet but gave the salt dish a mixed review. Chef Caro indicated that the sweet dish lacked a ‘neutral element’. Rausch just told him to “design the menus better”

Victoria was followed by Alexandra, who presented a pistachio-crusted pork loin and coffee. For dessert he presented a tiramisu. Caro liked both dishes. Rausch disagreed with the inclusion of almonds in the dessert as it negated the presence of coffee. Irene praised the presentation of both dishes, although she said the coffee was not at the forefront.

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Santiago earned the slap from Chef Rausch, who was full of praise for both of Santiago’s dishes: tenderloin with coffee sauce and coffee bread with ice cream for dessert. Chefs Caro and Irene agreed with the Colombian in his criticism.

The last person to call to present their dishes was Johanna, who presented a pork tenderloin with a coffee and chilli crust and white carrot puree; For dessert, he offered the judges a ripe cake with corn and coffee cream. The judges gave it mixed reviews.

After a short deliberation, the jury chose two winners, who will compete for the chef’s pin: they chose Santiago and Victoria. In the next episode, the couple compete for chef privilege while the other contestants take part in a pressure challenge.