Bread and Buzzers! Competitors Relish The Game-Show Experience on MASTERCHEF CANADA: BACK TO WIN

By BILL HARRIS Special to The Lede How do culinary skills translate to fast hands and quick recall? Competitors on MASTERCHEF CANADA: BACK TO WIN participated in a unique game show called “Kitchenary” in this week’s episode, which aired Sunday, March 28 on CTV, and is available for catch-up on the all-new CTV.ca and CTV app. Being speedy enough to smack the buzzer, and answering rapid-fire questions correctly, held a big reward for the victor! The food-related responses from “Kitchenary” formed the basis for the subsequent cooking challenge, but a controversial choice by one cook didn’t pass the smell test. SPOILER ALERT: Details regarding who was eliminated are about to be discussed. Benefitting from a points boost that he had earned with his performance in the previous week, Andrew Al-Khouri finished first in “Kitchenary,” which secured him a comfortable view from the gallery. The other seven competitors were shown a big board with 20 of the “Kitchenary” answers, and each had to pick two of those terms to feature prominently in a dish of their own creation. Judges Claudio Aprile, Michael Bonacini, and Alvin Leung couldn’t choose between the delicious offerings from Mai Nguyen and Christopher Siu, so they were declared co-winners. However, Marissa Leon-John – a private chef from Montréal who had prepared tuna papillote with tamarind coconut curry – decided to cut the parchment paper in advance, rather than waiting to do it in front of the judges, just before the dish was served. A disappointed Leung missed both the showbiz factor and the enticing aromas, and Marissa was sent home. With another new episode of MASTERCHEF CANADA: BACK TO WIN set for Sunday, April 4, at 9 p.m. ET on CTV, here are Marissa’s reflections on what transpired: Q: Why did you agree to come back to the MASTERCHEF CANADA Kitchen? What was it that you wanted to prove to yourself, or to others? MARISSA: “Coming back was a no-brainer. Filming Season 5 was such an incredible experience for me, I couldn’t refuse the opportunity to live some of that excitement again. Also, there has never been a BACK TO WIN season of MASTERCHEF CANADA before, so to be asked to be a part of something so special was a trip! Right in the thick of the pandemic, I saw a unique chance to bring a little joy to a lot of people, so why not go for it?” Q: You admitted in the episode that you were worried about your choice to cut the parchment paper in advance, and Chef Alvin Leung wasn’t happy with the choice. What were the concerns that caused you to cut it in the first place? MARISSA: “That whole ‘parchment-gate’ was me getting in my own head. I was so worried about what the judges may or may not like that I forgot to stop and listen to my gut. At the end of the day, I don’t have any regrets. I learned a heck of a lot in the time I spent with my fellow competitors and the judges, and I’m thankful to have had another shot at that ever-elusive title!” Q: To quote you directly: “Queer female cooks of colour; how many of these have you seen on TV?” Can you elaborate on why representing all your communities means so much to you? MARISSA: “I feel like an old-timer saying this, but when I was younger, there wasn’t very much diversity on the TV screen – specifically on food-focused networks. Things are changing now, but while I watched these shows with throw-downs, and diners, and quick everyday meals, I rarely saw anyone who looked like me. I never thought I could be part of that world. But since Season 5, so many young people have sent messages of how inspired they were to take cooking seriously after seeing reflections of themselves through me on TV. I am so humbled to be part of that change, to offer something to others that I didn’t have: inspiration through representation.” Q: Before leaving, you were asked to pick the eventual winner, and you said Andrew Al-Khouri. Why? And which other cook should Andrew be most worried about? MARISSA: “I hadn’t ever really watched MASTERCHEF CANADA until Season 5, and knew nothing of Andrew before we stepped back into the kitchen. The intense passion and ingenuity that Andrew displayed completely blew me away. Didn’t you see that peaches-and-cream dish? Like, COME ON! On top of being an excellent chef, Andrew is one of the most kind people I’ve met in my two seasons of MASTERCHEF CANADA. I believe that Andrew has a very special gift and, holy cow, is Halifax lucky to have him! Who should he worry about? I’d say that he should look out for his East Coast brother, Andy (Hay).” billharristv@gmail.com @billharris_tv