A Devoted Dad Leaves the MASTERCHEF CANADA Kitchen Following a Difficult Cupcake Pressure Test

After completing their first Team Challenge on the historic Main St. in Unionville, Ont., the MASTERCHEF CANADA home cooks returned to the kitchen for a difficult cupcake Pressure Test, that ended with judges Michael Bonacini, Alvin Leung, and Claudio Aprile sending contractor Vince Spitale from Pickering, Ont. home. MASTERCHEF CANADA returns next week on Sunday, March 20 at 7 p.m. ET/PT on CTV and the CTV GO app, with the Top 12 home cooks pairing up for a team Mystery Box Challenge. On tonight’s episode of MASTERCHEF CANADA, the home cooks competed in a rib cook-off, preparing meals for 121 Canadian firefighters. As the winners of last week’s Elimination Challenge, Matthew Astorga and Michelle Nault were Team Captains, with Matthew receiving the strategic advantage of choosing his five Red Team members first. With very different leadership styles from each captain, both teams suffered setbacks during the stressful challenge. After Red Team member Sean Hickey opened the smoker against Matthew’s wishes, the team lost valuable heat for their ribs, while Michelle and the Blue Team discovered they had burnt a number of theirs. After each firefighter cast a vote for their favourite lunch, the judges revealed that only 20 votes separated the two teams and it was the Blue Team who came out on top thanks to their tender ribs. Back in the MASTERCHEF CANADA Kitchen, Matthew was given the opportunity to save a member of his team from elimination – including himself. After deciding to save himself, the judges surprised Matthew by also giving him the opportunity to save one other person, and he selected Jeremy Senaris. During the Pressure Test, the four remaining home cooks were tasked with making two dozen gourmet cupcakes that featured at least three different flavours in only 90 minutes. Jacqueline Clark impressed the judges with her inventive red wine velvet cupcake, as did Mary Berg who was also sent to safety. With Sean and Vince Spitale remaining, the judges revealed that Vince would be leaving the MASTERCHEF CANADA Kitchen. On an all-new episode of MASTERCHEF CANADA (Sunday, March 20 at 7 p.m. ET/PT on CTV and CTV GO), the Top 12 home cooks are encouraged to find their better half in a Mystery Box Challenge that requires excellent team work. The pair who makes the best dish must collaborate again in the MASTERCHEF CANADA pantry, where they assign different fish to each of their fellow home cooks. The remaining Top 12 home cooks vying for the title of MASTERCHEF CANADA and the $100,000 cash prize are:

• April Lee Baker, a Homemaker from Calgary, Alta.
• Jacqueline Clark, an Accountant from Abbotsford, B.C.
• Jennifer Baglione, a Salon Manager from Maple, Ont.
• Jeremy Senaris, a Building Plan Examiner from Winnipeg, Man.
• Julia Mark, a Makeup Artist from Burnaby, B.C.
• Mary Berg, an Insurance Broker from Toronto, Ont.
• Matthew Astorga, Digital Design Consultant from Pitt Meadows, B.C.
• Michelle Nault, a Teacher from Bolton, Ont.
• Sean Hickey, an Auto Worker from London, Ont.
• Shawn Karls, a Doctor from Montréal, Qué.
• Terry Adido, a PhD Law Student from Edmonton, Alta.
• 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 Vince live on CANADA AM (Weekdays at 6 a.m. ET), CP24 BREAKFAST (Weekdays 5:30 a.m. ET), CTV MORNING LIVE ATLANTIC (Weekdays at 7 a.m. AT on CTV Two Atlantic), and THE SOCIAL (Weekdays at 1 p.m. ET) on Monday, March 14 as he discusses his 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.