Masterchef Australia – Audra versus Hamish Ingham
Regular commenter Fides wrote yesterday “They should amend the rules to say that if you assist in an immunity challenge 3 times, and win with your dish each time, you get a pin.”
Absolutely agree. Again Amina smashed it out of the ball park with the dish she made for Audra, which makes it three out of three she has won. Unfortunately for her the one time she was up for a pin she was cooking in Tasmania in the chef’s own kitchen so he had home ground advantage of the kitchen and the recipe.
Tonight Audra was cooking against Hamish Ingham who looks about 25 years old but must be older as he has been cooking for twenty years. He is the owner/chef at Bar H in Surry Hills Sydney.
I really liked him and his team and it gave the episode a nice dynamic. All three of them, Hamish, Renee or Alexis would be fabulous on a Masterchef Professionals or Top Chef series. Yes I know I am a broken record on this topic.
Audra picked Amina and Kylie to assist her. The ingredient was tea. Audra’s team had 90 minutes to cook, Hamish’s 60 minutes.
Amina who was making Tea Smoked Duck had to redo her duck breast as she overcooked the first one. I still don’t quite understand the rationale behind these immunity challenges. Yes Audra or who is the person up for the pin supposedly supervises but they are always so busy with their own dish that it looks like everyone is cooking individually within the team challenge.
All the food looked great tonight and the judges confirmed it.
The first dishes to be tasted were the Tea Smoked Duck by Amina and Green Tea Tuna Sashimi by Hamish’s team.
Gary thought the Sashimi was delicious. But George said it was beautiful but could not tell it was a tea inspired dish. But how much tea do you want to be tasting?
Amina’s duck was thought to be a “cracker” by Matt Preston. Gary wanted two pieces of it but George told him he did not need it.
The main couses were done by Audra and Hamish.
Audra did Tea Master Stock Chicken which looked similar to Hainan Chicken. Both George and Matt thought it was delicious.
The Tea Smoked Quail looked interesting and the way it was served up as whole quails was not very elegant, but the judges loved the bold flavours.
Kylie’s dessert was Tea Creme Brulee Tart Gary said pastry and brulee was delicious but the custard was not as creamy or the right texture. It did look a bit runny.
Matt Preston loved the plum and tea that accompanied it.
The Jasmine Tea custard from Team Hamish was as Gary said “just wonderfully cooked and just holding itself it is as light as a feather.”
Amina’s duck won the entree, and Team Hamish won main and dessert. Kylie felt bad that she had not delivered for Audra, but then Audra had not won with her dish either.
Gary spent more time placating Kylie when he saw she was upset. He also said that he had been hoping that when he cut into the tart it would be oozing.
Anyway if Amina sticks around she is going to be exhausted by the end as she will be selected each week to be in the immunity pin challenge as her track record is too good to ignore.
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55 comments
Seems I have just missed Mario and Dalvinder leaving ….. does anyone think this series is improving?
Poor Amina – hopefully she does get a pin – eventually!
Man, I got some Reality catching up to do on the recorder tomorrow!
Sioux Denim; still think its a total waste of time doing the Immunity challenge; it only showcases the chef and restaurant and so predictable but I guess it’s another chance for the contestant to aim higher. The series seems to be ok this season better than last, altho George is becoming a bit too bossy nasty boots and tore Filippo to shreds. Dalvinder was losing it (too much stress) and Mario sadly as we all saw in the Top 50, didn’t really ‘have it’
Hey RR. Random thoughts before I dream of sheep. Loved the look of “Oh shit!’ across Hamish’s face when he entered the kitchen and realised that his competitor was Asian. Bet you he would have been overtly cocky if it was Mindy that had won on Sunday….until he was told she only cooks Asian flavours.
Jules was wearing Andrew’s hot red pants today in the peanut gallery.
Debra was sending psychic messages for Audra to pick her today for the dessert but since it was Asian flavours, Audra was not having a bar of her after that yum cha challenge.
Hamish fell for Audra’s psych-out with the whole coffee or tea choice. Funny how we didn’t get a chance to see what actual tea leaves Hamish chose as Audra spent a little while choosing the specific tea flavours she wanted.
Before the winner of the dessert round was announced, I swear Audra was sizing up Matt P for her anticipated jump if she had won. Enjoyed this episode. Very even competition between the two teams and it was done in a sporting manner. Although I’m not a fan of this sort of immunity challenge, the fact that the amata was cooking flavours she was familiar with made this a competitive contest.
Thanks Daze – been in Bali for 10 days and just catching up on MChef news – should have started at the bottom as I also missed Fillipo going …..
Agree totally on the Immunity Pin – its all a bit of wank really, the whole charade of the judges not knowing the dishes is a tad old!
Fides, I didn’t read your comment but that is exactly what I said to my housemate as we watched (in a much less eloquent phrasing I must say). To win an immunity pin your team’s dishes only need to beat the chefs 2/3 times. We know you can win without you dish actually beating the chef. Amina has beaten chefs 3 times! It is so ludicrous. That would be an interesting rule to have had from the start because it might have given people pause when choosing their teams.
Having said in my last comment that I was a bit grossed out by Gary and George well, tonight they seemed a bit grossed out by each other. George was patronising and didn’t give Gary the extra bit of duck: “we are here to taste not eat” (um, I saw you shoving that fig cake into your mouth the other day hypocrite) and then Gary was noticeably disgusted when George licked the syrup off the edge of the plate. Hmm.
(I just wanted to do a general apology for the random typos that pop up in my comments frequently: I usually write them on my phone just before I go to bed at night/get out of bed in the morning and don’t ever double check haha!)
I detected a look of ‘oh shit’ on the stooges faces when the entrees came out because I think it was the first time they couldn’t actually tell which dish was the chef’s – funny!
I’m pretty sure I busted Jowl$y looking down to see what George “get me the food ambulance” had written down to score a dish.
The stooges were in heaven, so seldom is there an episode where nearly every dish is a “cracker”. Oh well, $hit happens.
Hope Amina doesn’t suddenly up and die, because these amatas will be rooted in ammunity challenges without her.
I’m half expecting a fight to break out one night over portion sizes. Jowlsy watches Pigsy very closely to make sure he’s being fair about it. It’s pretty funny how they don’t just taste, they actually eat the whole dish between them.
When Amina was delivering the white apron to Audra, she said: “Just know I’ll be up there on the balcony, yelling out for ya.”
Was that Amina hinting that she didn’t want to cook this time around? She did look a bit caught off guard when Audra picked her.
Did Audra devise the entire menu by herself? Or was it just her summing up the dishes for the camera?
Hamish’s sous chefs reminded me of Gadaffi’s bodyguards. Tall, young, pretty, and confident. “I’m not nervous. I just want to cook.” Alexis spoke to the camera a few times in the side interviews. Has a non-main guest chef done that before?
I didn’t like how Hamish was always over on the girls’ side, practically “spying” on their cooking. I think he, as a competing chef, is one of the few who have taken the immunity challenge so seriously as an actual competition. The other professional chefs who compete in the kitchen usually help out the contestants and give advice and all that.
Amina really knows how to cook. I think Audra’s presentation let her down. Her main plate only had two items, and all the condiments and sauces were served separately. It looked really “loose.”
Why have there been so many figs this season? Figs, ravioli, and runny egg yolks. That covers about half of everything cooked this season.
I wonder how the judges took to Hamish’s eggs. They would have certainly been hard boiled—having been cooked twice—maybe to the point where that grey sulphur ring forms.
A few quotes from this episode:
Kylie: “Can I come work for you guys?”
Hamish: “Yup.”
Kylie: “Sweet.”
It’s good to see a contestant soliciting herself. It kind of shows which of them really want to be in the industry.
Alexis consoling Kylie on her “burnt” pastry: “It’s not burnt—it’s caramelised.”
Gary: “Can I have two bits of duck, George?”
George: “You don’t need it.”
Gary: “I know, but I like the idea of it.”
Matt: “Gary, you can have seconds if you finish your firsts.”
Matt Preston later goes on to have seconds.
Gary: “The dishes that we saw today could OF come from he same restaurant.”
Could “have,” Gary. Could have. Grrr, grammar.
What a crock! I hope Audra and Amina make it to the final two and Mindy gets eliminated!
Poor Amina, looks like the always the bridesmaid never the bride syndrome has struck! Let’s hope every ammunity challenger doesn’t pick her to help them out … she needs an award of her own!
But … once again I was distracted from the programme by the greed and disgusting manners of the Three Little Pigs (well big pigs ..) I fear that El Gordo will burst before too long – the strain on his arteries must be enormous. George’s handling of the tools hasn’t improved and I’m sure Gary probably eats with his mouth open when he’s at home. I thought it was a tasting, not a six course degustation! They should have taken a tip from Rick Stein who only took a teaspoon of food when he did his tasting.
Goodness knows what havoc they will cause tonight at a Hindu wedding ffs! Why would you allow a team of amatas anywhere near such an occasion!
Sioux Denim, hope you enjoyed your Bali trip, yes you have lots to catch up on. If Amina doesn’t get an immunity pin there is something seriously wrong with this show, or get rid of immunity altogether. The judges would always know who cooked what I’m sure. Tonoght’s episode looks great with the Indian wedding to cater for!
i think they have slipped in something to address the controversy of Audra having “owned” a catering company! did anyone notice how she said something along the lines of “he’s a professional, and i am “just” an amateur”.
hmmmm a little sus, still.
i’m starting to not like Audra as much, because of that. and also the way she tried to manipulate hamish into choosing tea. fair enough, it id a competition, but surely she can play fair??!
I actually thought the girls should have won this one 3 out of 3. Still think the format is stupid though and if any producers are reading this – please do NOT include it in MC all-stars. Can you imagine picking the ingredient then the judges give you Jono and Chris B as your teammates? As if they’re gonna help you – its a competition damnit.
Seriously whoever thought up this format should be fired. If you want better ideas on how to format it just go through the previous threads in this blog as there have been many good ones.
Anyway, Hamish is blessed with youthful looks (unless he was cooking since he was 5, hence the “20 years”), but better yet… Renee and Alexis… especially Renee (asian girl). *drool* She makes good tv.
Still, I would not have enjoyed that tasting. Being a non-coffee and non-tea drinker (and non-alcohol drinker just as an aside), infusing the hideous flavour of tea (any/all of them) into perfectly good food would have turned me off. Good to see the judges are open to eating anything though, and despite people not liking their table manners I do find it quite entertaining.
More so when my mother (who like me, has been watching since season 1) can tell straight away when George and Matt make their semi-angry face that they like it before they even finish chewing. “Tragones!” (greedy) she exclaims happily as she watches them eat. So funny.
Much to Amina’s slight awkwardness, I noticed that Audra jumped Amina when the judges picked her entre as the winner…
Not sure about tonight’s ep on the indian wedding reception, why would you put all your trust in a bunch of amateur cooks on the biggest day of your life!?!…. hmm anyways I noticed that Beau has been in all blue team challenges, he can thank his lucky stars.
@J-Ko – Beau hasn’t been on Blue team in all challenges, but he certainly is usually on it. One where he was on the losing team that jumps to my head is Kev’s pasta-fail elimination. He was the one who stood behind the girls just being courteous, then was rewarded with karma power.
Loved how Gary got a ‘slap on the wrist’ for asking for a second piece of duck!
Amina does deserve an immunity pin for winning her entree course three times out of three. Note that the dessert course from the contestant has never won against the chef (Julia, Mindy and now Kylie).
Did anyone else hear Matt Moran refer to Audra as ‘sweetheart’?
Yes – I also think those immunity challenges are really unfair. I think the suggestion of getting a pin if you assist and produce 3 winning dishes is great.
Agree Amina should be given a pin. Am enjoying this series better than last year but they need to re-think these immunity challenges and also put a stop to the browbeating of certain contestants.
RR, keep playing that broken record, hoping connections to these shows read and take advice.
I never watch these eps, but had to due to Asian fare, and it looked deeeeelicious.
Yes, a bit of bitching between the G’s tonight. Gary is a pig and his eyes are disappearing. Gross.
Yes Matt Moran did call Audra sweetheart. Mmmmmm.
And agree with everyone re Amina and an ammunity pin. She is fantastic.
Don’t like the format of the immunity challenges. They also can include another rule that a contestant can only assist in 2 or 3 immunity challenges. This will make them think and choose wisely.
Now I know why they use this format for the immunity challenges. So the 3 judges can eat more…….
Also noticed the judges are trying to give positive comments to a dish that is not so good to make us think that it is a very good dish. Like when they were commenting on Kylie’s tart.
Exactly littlepetal, so the judges can eat more, agree this is the only reason this segment is featured, lol.
As viewers from all over Australia, we don’t know half the chefs or restaurants in Sydney or Melbourne and I still feel strongly, that it showcases (free promo) MC’s favourite restaurants/chefs where obviously GG&M and producers, get free meals at – buddy’s pact – I’m just guesstimating this. For example, I’ve never heard of Hamish to name one well known chef/restaurant/bar
I think it more appropriate that the stooges are now served in a pig sty rather than at a table. It’s a degutsation that the obese amigos really need.
Looking forward to tonight episode. Finally I think the red team curse will be broken tonight. With Mindy, Audra, Alice, Jules, Ben, Andy, Julia and Andrew in the team, they may be able to win.
littlepetal – I hope so too, although Amina Deb and Sam are strong and sharp with thinking on their feet and their skills – should be a very colourful entertaining show tonight
Of course the ‘judges’ know whose dishes they’re tasting. Of course, it’s all set up so the restaurants get free advertising. It’s a TV show first, a cooking competition second.
And whoever questioned why the Hindu couple would entrust ‘the biggest day of their lives’ to these cooks, wtf! They’re getting free catering… in accordance with their customs… and they get to be on the telly! Goes to show, even the strictest religious adherents enjoy their 15 minutes of fame.
Amazing that the jumper didn’t get the pin…
This espisode made me think about the chasm in skills between the top contestants and the rest. Imagine if Hamish had gone up against a dream team of say Tregan, Beau and Andy. I suppose Greg would still have said how they couldn’t work out who did what!
With the amatas entrusted to the cooking, things are going to be more Hin-doh! than Hindu.
sioux denim how was Bali? Delicious and warm?
I think there would be a huge impact on getting in a challenge on Masterchef particularly if you are not as known as some of the more high profile ones. I don’t like the format of the immunity challenges. However have been loving seeing some fresh chef faces on the screen. Dan Hong, Hamish and the chefs from Three Blue Ducks.
I so want a Masterchef professionals. What do we have to do? Should we start a petition and if it reaches 10,000 then it can be debated in NSW State Parliament?
I’m personally just over the whole group immunity challenge arrangement. Over it. It’s stupid, unfair and is not working. Of course Amina should have an immunity pin now.
They need to go back to one contestant against one guest chef. Keep it simple and FAIR. They are really ballsing it up this year. Perhaps it was change of the group making the show – maybe they are trying to jazz it up – but what ever it is it’s not working.
On the other hand, the American Masterchef is coming across punchy, fast moving and no bullshit – unlike the Australian masterchef!
Oh, and I want both the tea smoked quail and Audra’s chicken recipe stat! They looked delicious.
Yes RR, was sensational and a bit of a shock to the system flying in last night to Perth cold – can’t show off my tan!
Did this amazing authentic Balinese cooking class – anyone interested in cooking Asian really should do this class if in Bali only 4-5hrs and about $70USD – value for money and really hands on plus a visit to a local market (not for weak stomachs with the smell) – I think some of the current MChef contestants could really learn a few things from this – very funny too with other participants in the class referring to MChef terms – wondering if we will be having a ‘Pressure Test’ at the end!
I’ve never wanted to be in the judges’ seat quite as much as last night. It all looked lip-smackingly tasty.
OMG I’m giddy with excitement and just want to do an Audra style hug for being quoted at the top of the post. Thanks RR! Poor Amina, she totally deserves the pin for beating the pros 3 times while trying to win a pin for someone else. Talk about team player! She could have made a half-arsed effort, and maybe she should if picked again, but I doubt she would play it like that.
And hey MC producers, how bouts you try to make it not seem rigged by either having one team do a clean sweep, or having 2 pins out at once. Last year it was ridiculous how the pins were won, used, then immediately won again.
I have to say that even a half- ar$ed effort from Amina would still be substantial.
Fides,that’s been a big problem for$hine,convincing the viewer that the show isn’t rigged.
Fides you were spot on. Yes the immunity pins last year were like Survivor one of the seasons that Russell was on he would play the immunity necklace and then next day go out and find it again.
Sioux Denim – That class sounds great.
I liked George last night and they they mentioned he was ill. LOL.
Amina – decline next time they pick you for back up pin winning, tell them to go…..wherever
Mindy – give that pin to Amina you didn’t win it
Future MC contestants please take note, besides pork belly & crispy cracking (Gary’s twitter handler is @crispycracking there you go), the judges adore proteins that are simmered/braised/drowned in so called ‘masterstock’ (they seem to think any thick velvety dark colour Asian flavoured stock/sauce is called masterstock lol) – Amina’s tea smoked duck, Hamish’s red braised quails, Audra Mystery box pork belly noodle dish. All 3 winning dishes have similar sauce.
kess – totally agree on both counts. Mindy may have won it fair and square by their idiotic rules, but hopefully it’s Amina who’ll have Mindy doubting herself should they ever face off. Though what’s the point, Mindy will just use the pin. And actually, I don’t think Mindy lacks confidence, ever.
BDD – I take it you’re referring of course to Amina’s immense talent…;)
lol EH, I just misread one word in your post… red braised balls. Hmmm, I would love to see a bull’s balls challenge and see the judges gorging themselves on that.
Fides, speaking of balls… how can we forget Alex’s pair of raw balls?
Watch out. More tears on Thurs
Surely not littlepetal – who would do that?
RR,
Is “Amina smashed it out of the ball park” a Sydney expression??
I noticed that too littlepetal and why on earth is Ben prepared to bow out of the show for Emma? we shall have to wait and see!
Ben said he would but didn’t think he would actually do it. they won’t give it away so easily on the preview, will they? I will have my mute button ready for the sook fest tomorrow.
I think the judges just asked Ben whether he would compete against Emma and he said no. I don’t think it is going to happen. Emma cries all the time so you can’t tell whether she is in the third round of the elimination challenge or she guess right.
WTF? – It is an expression I use. Like hit a home run. Metaphor for success/winner/good job.
In w.a so still watching but I just had to jump in and remark upon julia’s comments about how ‘indian women’ wouldn’t have access to most kitchen gear. Such a huge generalization, ignorant and very offensive!
Never tasted raita, Ben? Can I assume ‘Tassie men’ don’t have access to Indian restaurant? Kidding, just kidding….
The ad for Sunday’s show during tonight’s ep gave away two of the blue team who won’t get eliminated tomorrow night.
I agree that Amina was shafted with her own attempt at immunity – it was on the back of the fishing challenge, with no overnight get yourself rested and ready opportunity. My other issue with immunity challenges that whilst the contestants get more time the professionals get that time to plan (even if only in their heads). Seems a bit unfair.
I liked the part where Ben swore silently when his team lost, and where Julia missed the pot from point blank. That’s happened to me, though not while making s-mashed potatoes. I also liked the part where Audra was totally freaking out after spilling one of her trays and Andrew was the calm one saying they had made spares.
Did anyone catch the “I hate you, don’t tell me what to do” stares Audra was giving Andrew as they were loading the cart though? Yikes.
@Marie – I don’t think Julia was intentionally being offensive, I think she was just trying to say prior to potato mashers – how did people in India mash potatoes? By violently throwing them into a pot perhaps. Something like that.
Joseph Skyrim – or throwing them violently against the wall a la chickpeas!
Beige Ben’s nanna should have put some concrete in her scones to harden him up a bit. He was ready to go the blub when Jowl$y delivered the bad news.
The nauseating culinary chivalry tonight? Send both Ben and Emma home with a box of tissues and spare the soap,$hine.
George looked genuinely shocked when Ben announced he would not compete with Emma. MC has had 3 of these bombs they didn’t see coming. Kevin with the pasta naming challenge, two favourites head to head in Tassie (Sam and Andy) and now this? If he does bow out, he’ll kick himself for ever, wondering ‘what if’ and ‘how far could I have gone in the show’ etc.
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