A Cocktail-Inspired Elimination Challenge Leads to Another Home Cook’s Elimination on CTV’s MASTERCHEF CANADA

A cocktail-themed Elimination Challenge, featuring the tropical flavours of a piña colada, led to April Lee Baker’s elimination as she turned in her apron and said goodbye to the MASTERCHEF CANADA Kitchen. After deliberating, judges Michael Bonacini, Alvin Leung, and Claudio Aprile sent the homemaker from Calgary, Alta. home from the competition, revealing the Top 4. MASTERCHEF CANADA returns next Sunday, June 5 at 7 p.m. ET/PT on CTV and the CTV GO app when the home cooks are surprised to find their families in the MASTERCHEF CANADA Kitchen. On tonight’s episode of MASTERCHEF CANADA, the Top 5 home cooks received a master class in fine dining from judge and Chef Michael Bonacini, who demonstrated some vital techniques. After walking the home cooks through the necessary skills and techniques to perfectly sear meat, make a velvety smooth puree, and present restaurant quality plating, the home cooks faced a Mystery Box Challenge. With only 45 minutes, the Top 5 had to utilize the techniques they learned earlier while putting their own spin on a world class entrée of their own. The judges selected three dishes to taste: Veronica Cham’s Japanese-inspired New York striploin with acorn squash and sweet potato purée; Matthew Astorga’s pan-seared duck with fondant potatoes and caramelized onion purée; and Mary Berg’s seared New York striploin with potato and leek purée and red wine reduction. Following the tasting the judges revealed they felt only one home cook had mastered all the techniques Michael showed them and revealed Matthew as the winner of the Mystery Box Challenge. With his win Matthew automatically advanced to the Top 4 and avoided the Elimination Challenge. In the MASTERCHEF CANADA pantry, Matthew received the advantage of pairing each remaining home cook with a cocktail which would serve as the inspiration for their dishes. Using the key ingredients from their assigned cocktails, the remaining home cooks were given 90 minutes to create both a savory and sweet dish. April Lee was given a piña colada, Veronica received a mint julep, Mary had a Bloody Mary, and Jeremy was assigned Irish coffee. Each home cook struggled during the Elimination Challenge, but the judges felt Mary’s tomato and plum crumble and Jeremy’s coffee and togarashi dry rubbed beef with whiskey and cream sauce were enough to advance them to the Top 4. Veronica and April Lee’s dishes landed them in the bottom two, and despite the fact the judges believed they both showed tenacity and drive, they revealed April Lee would be leaving the competition. On an all-new episode of MASTERCHEF CANADA (Sunday, June 5 at 7 p.m. ET/PT on CTV and CTV GO), the remaining Top 4 home cooks are surprised to find their families in the MASTERCHEF CANADA Kitchen, and get a second shock when they get their help for an impromptu trip to Toronto’s St. Lawrence Market. After making a meal inspired by their loved ones, they face a three-part Pressure Test Challenge featuring scallops. The remaining Top 4 home cooks vying for the title of MASTERCHEF CANADA and the $100,000 cash prize are:

• Jeremy Senaris, a Building Plan Examiner from Winnipeg, Man.
• Mary Berg, an Insurance Broker from Toronto, Ont.
• Matthew Astorga, Digital Design Consultant from Pitt Meadows, B.C.
• Veronica Cham, a Lawyer from Toronto, Ont.

For more on MASTERCHEF CANADA, fans can visit CTV.ca/MasterChefCanada for exclusive content, including must-see videos with the home cooks and the judges, bios, full episodes, sneak peeks, and extras. New episodes of MASTERCHEF CANADA are available following their broadcast premiere on demand at CTV.ca and on the CTV GO app, and encore Mondays at 8 p.m. ET on M3, Saturdays at 7 p.m. ET/PT on CTV Two, and Sundays at 5 p.m. ET/PT on CTV. Viewers can watch April Lee live on CANADA AM (Weekdays at 6 a.m. ET), CP24 BREAKFAST (Weekdays at 5:30 a.m. ET), CTV News Channel (9:45 a.m. ET/PT), and CTV MORNING LIVE CALGARY (Weekdays at 5:30 a.m. MT) on Monday, May 30 as she discusses her experience on MASTERCHEF CANADA. The MASTERCHEF format and finished programmes are represented internationally by Endemol Shine Group, and is based on a format originally created by Franc Roddam. MASTERCHEF CANADA is produced by Proper Television in association with CTV. President of Proper Television, Guy O’Sullivan is executive producer, along with Proper’s Vice-President and Creative Director, Cathie James. For Bell Media, Tina Apostolopoulos is Production Executive, Factual and Reality, Independent Production; Robin Johnston is Director, Factual and Reality, Independent Production; Corrie Coe is Senior Vice-President, Independent Production; Mike Cosentino is Senior Vice-President, Programming, CTV Networks and CraveTV; Randy Lennox is President, Entertainment Production and Broadcasting.