MASTERCHEF CANADA Season 2 Top 5 Revealed as a Comfort Food Challenge sees Michael Motamedi of Toronto, Ont. Eliminated from the Competition

Following a comfort food-themed Pressure Test, entrepreneur Michael Motamedi (@MichaelBaffi) from Toronto, Ont. was eliminated from MASTERCHEF CANADA by judges Michael Bonacini, Alvin Leung, and Claudio Aprile after he served them a raw chicken leg. In the next episode of MASTERCHEF CANADA airing Sunday, May 10 at 7 p.m. (9 p.m. CT) on CTV and CTV GO, the Top 5 home cooks discover not one, but two Mystery Box surprises: one filled with ingredients, and the other containing inspiring and emotional messages from their families back home. In tonight’s episode, the Top 6 home cooks faced their most demanding team challenge, the Restaurant Takeover, as judge Michael Bonacini entrusted the home cooks to execute a successful dinner service for Toronto’s elite at his own restaurant – the nationally renowned fine dining establishment Canoe. The winners of last week’s Tag Team Elimination Challenge, Cody Karey and Line Pelletier, served as the captains of the Blue and Red Teams, respectively. Both teams were intimidated by the skill and precision demonstrated by judge Michael in Canoe’s kitchen as he explained key ingredients and plating methods for  four dishes on the restaurant’s menu. Once service began, a diner sent back the Blue Team’s onion soup for being too cold, while Red Team’s members Line and Sabrina Poirier butted heads on plating and performance, causing them to fall behind. This setback compelled judge Michael to jump in and help the team finish their remaining dishes. Back in the MASTERCHEF CANADA kitchen, the judges revealed the Blue Team to be the winners of the Team Challenge, automatically advancing Christopher Siu, Cody, and David Jorge into the Top 5. The losing Red Team faced a Pressure Test featuring familiar yet deceptively difficult comfort foods – fried chicken, mashed potatoes, and gravy. Sabrina was calm and steady throughout the challenge, and Line broke down her whole chicken with the ease of a pro. Michael Motamedi had the most difficulty with the challenge as his inexperience with fried chicken led him to serve the judges a raw chicken leg and flour-heavy gravy. Following his disappointing performance, Michael was eliminated by the judges from MASTERCHEF CANADA.

Michael Motamedi cooks in his last pressure test on MASTERCHEF CANADA

**Media Note** – Download photos for MASTERCHEF CANADA at BellMediaPR.ca

In the next new episode of MASTERCHEF CANADA (Sunday, May 10 at 7 p.m./9 p.m. CT), the Top 5 home cooks enter the MASTERCHEF CANADA kitchen and discover not one, but two Mystery Box surprises. One box is filled with ingredients, and the other huge box contains an inspiring, emotional message from their families back home. Emotions run even higher for the remaining home cooks when it’s revealed that their families are in the MASTERCHEF CANADA kitchen, ready to cheer them on. The winning home cook gets to assign a piece of culinary equipment to each of their competitors in a strategic, high-stakes Elimination Challenge. The home cooks vying for the title of MASTERCHEF CANADA and the $100,000 cash prize are:

1. Christopher Siu, a Pharmacy Student from Markham, Ont.
2. Cody Karey, a Recording Artist from Vancouver, B.C.
3. David Jorge, a Concrete Contractor from Surrey, B.C.
4. Line Pelletier, a Canadian Military Veteran and Computer Specialist from Moncton, N.B.
5. Sabrina Poirier, an Office Manager from Montréal, Que.

MASTERCHEF CANADA also streams on demand on CTV GO and CTV.ca, and episodes encore following their broadcast premieres Fridays at 9 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 Michael live on CANADA AM (Weekdays at 6 a.m. ET), CP24 BREAKFAST (Weekdays 5:30 a.m. ET), THE SOCIAL (Weekdays at 1 p.m. ET), and CTV MORNING LIVE ATLANTIC (Weekdays at 7 a.m. AT on CTV Two Atlantic) on Monday, May 4 as he discusses his time on MASTERCHEF CANADA. The MASTERCHEF format is represented internationally by Shine International, the sales and distribution arm of 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. Shine America’s Paula Warwick is Creative Consultant. 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. Phil King is President – CTV, Sports, and Entertainment Programming. SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS: Twitter: #MasterChefCanada @CTV_PR @CTV_Television @MasterChefCDA Michael Bonacini – @MichaelBonacini Alvin Leung – @TheDemonChef Claudio Aprile – @ClaudioAprile Christopher Siu – @Baker_Siu Cody Karey – @codykarey David Jorge – @concrete_cook Line Pelletier – @TheSaucyLine Sabrina Poirier – @Sabrinapmtl   Facebook: facebook.com/ctv facebook.com/MasterChefCDA   Instagram: MasterChefCDA BellMediaPR Claudio Aprile – claudioaprile1 Christopher Siu – baker_siu Cody Karey – codykarey David Jorge – concrete_cook Line Pelletier – TheSaucyLine Sabrina Poirier – Sabrinapmtl