‘MasterChef’ season 14 episode 16 and 17 recap: Who was eliminated in ‘Ramsay’s Rooftop Restaurant Takeover/Semi Final’? [LIVE BLOG]
Tonight on “MasterChef,” the top six home chefs get a break from the MasterChef kitchen to take over Ramsay’s Rooftop, an exclusive pop-up restaurant open for one night only in the heart of downtown Los Angeles. Later on, it’s the semifinals and the top five chefs face two back-to-back challenges involving a mystery box and replicating a restaurant quality dish in the all-new “Ramsay’s Rooftop Restaurant Takeover / Semi Final” two-part episode of “MasterChef: Generations” airing Wednesday, September 11 (8:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX.
Season 14 of “MasterChef” brings together amateur cooks from four generations – Millennials, Baby Boomers, Gen Z and Gen X – to prove that age does not matter in the kitchen. Judges Gordon Ramsay, Aarón Sánchez, Joe Bastianich eliminated contestants each week until one winner is crowned with the title of MasterChef and the $250,000 grand prize. Follow our live blog for tonight’s episode below.
8:00 p.m. — Previously on “MasterChef”! In Episodes 14 and 15, the top 10 contestants were faced with a fiery mystery box challenge. Later on, the top eight chefs worked in pairs to cook identical dishes from opposite sides of a wall. At the end of the night, Kimberly, Hallie, Horacio and Warren were all eliminated. Who will go home next?
8:05 p.m. — The top six chefs take a limo to downtown Los Angeles, where they’ll be participating in their next field challenge — Ramsay’s Rooftop Restaurant Takeover! They’ll be responsible for manning the line at Gordon’s pop-up restaurant, where VIPs from across Los Angeles (including yours truly — read about my experience here), will be expecting top notch dining service. They’ll be split into teams of three. On the Red Team is Murt, Michael and Rebecka. The Blue Team is Adam, Becca and Kamay. Gordon says they’d like to see the leadership skills of last week’s winning Wall Challenge team, and makes Murt and Becca the team captains. The last time Becca was a captain she lost, so she feels like she has something to prove. Murt is dreading this role, stating, “I’m not a captain at all.”
8:10 p.m. — Tonight’s menu will feature two appetizers and two entrees. The first appetizer is Pan-Roasted Scallops with Cauliflower Puree, Romanesco Florets and Citrus Vinaigrette. Gordon gives them a cooking tutorial on how he would like dish prepared. Next he shows them how to cook the second app, Sautéed Lobster Tail with Lobster Bisque and Chive Oil. For the entrees, the options are Pan-Roasted Duck with Sautéed Beet Tops, Roasted Golden Beets, Pickled Black Currants and Hazelnut Vinaigrette or NY Strip with Sauteed Spinach, Artichoke Puree, Braised Fennel and Black Garlic Jus. It’s a beautiful menu, but are these home cooks ready serve a restaurant full of hungry diners?
8:30 p.m. — For the appetizer round, Murt puts Michael on scallops and Rebecka on lobster. On the Blue Team, Becca puts Adam on scallops and Kamay on lobster. The patrons have entered the restaurant and orders begin pouring in. Gordon is already on edge and looks especially annoyed by Murt tonight. Over on the Blue Team, Adam serves up some burnt scallops and gets an earful from Gordon. “Start again!” On the Red Team, Rebecka is struggling with the lobster station and can’t seem to cook it properly. Eventually she gets some lobster on the plate, but people are starving out in that dining room. On the Blue Team, Adam continues to struggle with scallops. Kamay is frustrated that she has to babysit him because “Becca’s the team captain, not me.” For the dishes that have been served, people seem to be happy with what they’re eating. Rebecka continues to struggle with lobster and Murt is still getting on Gordon’s last nerve. On the Blue Team, Adam continues to struggle with the scallops. He can’t seem to figure out the proper cook. Eventually he ruins so many scallops that he can’t complete the final dish and has to serve the plate with two less scallops than all the rest. The unlucky man who receives that plate asks, “What happened to mine?”
8:45 p.m. — The entrees are up next! On the Red Team, Rebecka is cooking duck while Michael cooks the steak. On the Blue Team, Kamay has duck and Michael has steak. Both teams start pretty strong, but eventually Murt begins plating the wrong thing. Michael warns him to get rid of it before Gordon sees, but it’s too late. Gordon threatens to rip the “Captain” badge off Murt’s chest and give it to someone else. On the Blue Team, Adam serves up a raw steak and burnt fennel. Not good! Back on the Red Team, Murt puts burnt meat on a plate and Gordon’s had enough. He pulls the “Captain” badge off Murt and Michael takes control. On the Blue Team, one diner has sent back her duck entree because it’s too rare. Kamay admits she’s never cooked duck before and worries she just blew her shot at becoming the next MasterChef.
8:55 p.m. — The Red Team has served their last plate and breathe a sigh of relief. “Now we just have to wait and see what they say,” Rebecka tells her teammates. The Blue Team has fallen behind, but the gentleman who was shorted on his scallops earlier notes, “They made up for it, for sure,” with the entree. The Blue Team has finished their job and Kamay admits, “I never want to do this again. All I want to do is get in a warm bath and have a good cry.” Next, Gordon thanks the guests for coming and introduces them to the six chefs who cooked their dinners. After a long discussion and after reviewing everyone’s feedback, the judges name the Red Team the winners. That means Becca, Adam or Kamay will be going home tonight.
9:00 p.m. — The judges deliberate and decide the chef who won’t make it to the semifinals is Adam. He made too many mistakes on the scallops and steaks. Gordon tells him, “You were completely out of your depth.” However, he adds, “You have a long and successful road ahead of you.”
9:05 p.m. — The final five home cooks return to the MasterChef kitchen for the Semi Final. Gordon explains they’ll have to survive two challenges tonight and two more home cooks will be leaving before next week’s finale. The first challenge is the last Mystery Box this season. When they lift up their boxes they find a note — it’s a restaurant review that Gordon reads aloud. Gordon says the review is missing one key ingredient — their imaginations. To survive this Mystery Box they’ll have to solve this riddle — what is the dish? They’ll make the best version of whatever their imagination conjures up from that review. They have 45 minutes and the clock starts now!
9:15 p.m. — The chefs are all cooking up dishes with “smokey,” “citrus,” “umami” and “sweet & spicy” flavors. After 10 minutes, the judges begin circulating the room to see what everyone’s cooking. Joe looks skeptical about Becca’s choice to serve steak with pasta. Later Joe says that Gen Z looks particularly puzzled in this challenge, noting, “maybe they’re not used to playing by the rules.” With just a minute remaining, the chefs plate their dishes and it’s time for someone to head home.
9:25 p.m. — The fist dish being tasted is Kamay’s Smoked Turmeric Garlic Chicken with Saffron Jasmine Rice, Blood Orange Swiss Chard and Sweet & Spicy Zhug Sauce. It’s plated beautifully and the chicken is delicious. Kamay nailed the sauce and her interpretation of the review is perfect. Next is Murt’s Smoky Salt Chicken Thigh with Spicy Creamy Mushroom Sauce, Parsnip Puree and Grilled Pineapple Salad. It doesn’t look cohesive. The chicken thigh is cooked beautifully, but the judges say the tastes clash and he’s made big mistakes. Next is Rebecka’s Smoked Pork Loin with Spicy Tomato Jam, Citrus Couscous and Sautéed Mushrooms. The judges love the idea of spices in her dry rub and each element of her dish was a hit. Next up is Michael’s Smoked Striped Sea Bass with Jasmine Rice, Coconut Broth, Blistered Tomato & Bok Choy and Red Pepper & Shrimp. Visually, there’s a lot going on but the sea bass is delicious. Unfortunately, there’s just to much variety and he needs to edit this plate way down. Still, the food tastes good. Last up is Becca’s Smoked Seared Ribeye with Citrus Lemon Butter Orzo, Glazed Asparagus and Sweet & Spicy Soy Sauce. The judges say her ingredient choices are odd and the asparagus looks hammered. The ribeye is cooked well, but the sweet & spicy dressing doesn’t make sense.
9:30 p.m. — After a brief deliberation, the judges have made a decision. The next chef leaving the competition is Murt. Gordon says tonight his dish “missed the mark,” but he “lights up the kitchen.” We’ll miss him, but he made it all the way to the Semi Final!
9:35 p.m. — In this next challenge, the final four will have to “Keep Up with Gordon.” They’ll follow his lead as he shows them how to make Pan-Seared Salmon with Truffle Gnocchi, Asparagus, Fennel & Pernod Beurre Blanc and Crispy Leeks & Seaweed. Gordon waits for no one, so fall behind at your own risk! Whoever’s dish looks and tastes the least like Gordon’s will be going home. Rebecka’s the oldest of the group and she’s “terrified.” Let’s go!
9:45 p.m. — Gordon is whizzing through this demo as the home cooks fight to stay with him. Rebecka forgets her parmesan, but gets it in later. That was a close call. Later, Kamay falls behind but her good memory helps her retain what Gordon is saying. Next, Becca puts wine in the pan with the salmon instead of the sauce. Whoopsie! She just flambéed a fish. OMG — Michael and Rebecka follow Becca’s lead instead of Gordon’s and now three home cooks have set their fish on fire! Unbelievable. Next, Rebecka pours cream into her salmon when she should have poured it into the sauce. “Boomers never cook this fast!” she exclaims. Meanwhile, Michael is trying to scrape as much burnt skin off his salmon as possible. This is stressful! As Gordon finishes his plate, he allows them 30 more seconds to complete theirs. Finally, time is up and it’s time to judge everyone’s plate.
9:55 p.m. — Kamay did a great job plating her dish. Her salmon is seasoned beautifully and the skin is crispy. Aarón loves the sauce and subtle touches she made. Becca’s salmon is “slightly cremated” but the gnocchi is nicely colored. The sauce is delicious and Joe says the asparagus were “spot on.” Michael’s salmon is completely scorched on top, but the gnocchi is beautiful. Aarón says the magic is in the sauce and Joe adds the dish has some redeeming flavors. Rebecka’s gnocchi is a little too thin and her sauce is broken. She also missed an ingredient, so it could be lights out for the last Boomer standing. The fish is cooked beautifully, but the judges can’t get around her sauce mishap.
10:00 p.m. — After their final deliberation, the judges reveal this season’s three finalists: Kamay, Becca and Michael. That means Rebecka will go home tonight, sadly. That means there will be no representation from Gen X or the Baby Boomers in this final. We’ve got two Millennials and a Gen Z cook. Rebecka goes out gracefully, as we’d expect. What a class act. She’s been fun to watch this season. She can’t believe “a 63-year-old grandma made the top four.” That’s a wrap for tonight.