Fourth Home Cook of Season 5 Exits the MASTERCHEF CANADA Kitchen on CTV

Michael Varga from Port Moody, B.C. is the fourth home cook eliminated from the competition.

Following a fierce Team Challenge  that featured the home cooks tackling a tasty treat for dog lovers, esteemed MASTERCHEF CANADA judges Michael Bonacini, Claudio Aprile, and Alvin Leung revealed that Michael Varga, a Firefighter from Port Moody, B.C., is the fourth home cook to relinquish his white apron and depart the MASTERCHEF CANADA Kitchen. In next week’s all-new episode of MASTERCHEF CANADA airing Tuesday, May 8 at 9 p.m. ET / 8 MT on CTV and CTV GO, the Top 8 home cooks face an intense series of three French-inspired Pressure Tests created to determine their skills and strengths, and reveal their weaknesses. In tonight’s episode of MASTERCHEF CANADA, a Team Challenge took place along Toronto’s waterfront at dog-friendly Cherry Beach. The Top 9 home cooks were divided into three teams and given just two hours to churn out 200 donuts to sell to dog owners who frequent the park. Each team was asked to show their creativity, imagination, and deliver great tasting donuts. The team that sells the most donuts wins, with the losing team facing a Pressure Test with at least one home cook being eliminated. During the challenge, each team faced their own unique struggles. While the Green and Blue Teams were pumping out donuts, Eugene’s Red Team still hadn’t assembled their complex donuts and fell dangerously behind. Marissa’s Green Team emerged in first place with 132 donuts sold, making their apple pie donut with candied bacon and crunchy cinnamon topping the winner. The next day, the home cooks returned to the MASTERCHEF CANADA Kitchen in Toronto, where, as winners of the challenge, Marissa’s Green Team headed directly to the safety of the balcony. But a new twist was revealed: the winning Green Team was given a chance to save two of their fellow home cooks from the Elimination Challenge, and they chose to save Nadia and Andy. Michael G., Michael V., Jen, and Eugene faced-off in the 75-minute Pressure Test, a Replication Challenge of an authentic Russian Salmon Coulibiac, a savoury six-layer pie. Michael G. worked with speed, determination, and an abundance of confidence, while Jen turned it on for her first Pressure Test. Despite Eugene slowly plodding along, Michael V. was last to put his dish in the oven, and he fell behind in the final stretch. Jen was the proclaimed winner of the Pressure Test with her outstanding flavours, perfectly cooked distinct layers, and attention to detail. Ultimately, a series of small missteps led to Michael V. being eliminated, ending his time in the MASTERCHEF CANADA Kitchen. Immediately following tonight’s episode, two of this season’s eliminated home cooks go head-to-head for a chance to reclaim their white apron and the opportunity to return to the MASTERCHEF CANADA kitchen in the CTV.ca digital exclusive, MASTERCHEF CANADA: REDEMPTION. Presented by Miele and hosted by esteemed judge Claudio Aprile at the Miele Experience Centre, viewers can watch the first of two head-to-head challenges now on CTV.ca/MasterChefCanada. The winner will move on to compete in a second REDEMPTION challenge the following week (May 8), and ultimately a chance to step back into the MASTERCHEF CANADA Kitchen. In the next all-new episode of MASTERCHEF CANADA, “Vive La Pressure Test” (Tuesday, May 8 at 9 p.m. ET / 8 MT on CTV and CTV GO), the remaining Top 8 come home cooks enter the MASTERCHEF CANADA Kitchen wearing ominous black aprons and sense a strong intensity from the Judges as they realize the stakes are getting higher. The home cooks face an intense series of three French-inspired Pressure Tests created to determine their skills and strengths, and reveal their weaknesses. The remaining Top 8 home cooks vying for the title of MASTERCHEF CANADA and the $100,000 cash prize are:

• • Eugene Cheng, Financial Advisor and Rowing Coach from Vancouver, B.C.
  • Michael Griffiths, Mathematician from Richmond Hill, Ont.
  • Andy Hay, Small Business Owner from Dartmouth, N.S.
  • Jen Jenkins, Stay-at-Home Mom from Dawson Creek, B.C.
  • Marissa Leon-John, Tech Support Manager from Dollard–des–Ormeaux, Qué.
  • Jonathan Rahim, Real Estate Agent from Winnipeg, Man.
  • Nadia Rehman, Account Executive from Markham, Ont.
  • Beccy Stables, Tile Setter Assistant from Sherwood Park, Alta.

Fans are invited to visit CTV.ca/MasterChefCanada throughout the season for exclusive content, including background on this season’s finalists and the MASTERCHEF CANADA judges, as well as interviews, recipes, and more. CTV.ca also offers viewers behind-the-scenes glimpses of this season’s challenges, culinary creations, triumphs, and upsets. Throughout Season 5, viewers across the country can satisfy their MASTERCHEF CANADA cravings by tuning to the series’ previous seasons, now streaming on CraveTV™. Following the finale of Season 5 on CTV, the current season of MASTERCHEF CANADA will be available in its entirety on CraveTV, and is also slated to air on Gusto this summer (check local listings). Season 5 of MASTERCHEF CANADA has partnered with Chefs Plate and SPLENDA^® Sweeteners. 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. Proper’s Co-President Cathie James is the Executive Producer and Showrunner and Co-President Lesia Capone is Executive Producer. For Bell Media, Tina Apostolopoulos is Production Executive; Robin Johnston is Director, Original Programming, Factual and Reality; Corrie Coe is Senior Vice-President, Original Programming; Pat DiVittorio is Vice-President, CTV and Specialty Programming. Mike Cosentino is President, Content and Programming, Bell Media. Randy Lennox is President, Bell Media. SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS: Twitter: #MasterChefCanada @CTV_PR @CTV_Television @MasterChefCDA Michael Bonachini – @Michael Bonacini Alvin Leung – @TheDemonChef Claudio Aprile – @ClaudioAprile Facebook: Facebook.com/CTV Facebook.com/MasterChefCDA Instagram: @ctv_pr @ctv_television @MasterChefCDA Eugene Cheng – @eugeneacheng Michael Griffiths – @michaelsfoodexperience Andy Hay – @andyseastcoastkitchen_ Jen Jenkins – @jenjenkins0517 Marissa Leon-John – @mdominique Jonathan Rahim – @jonnyrahim Nadia Rehman – @nadzland Beccy Stables – @beccystables