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

Marissa Leon-John from Dollard-des-Ormeaux, Que., is the seventh home cook eliminated from the competition.

The pressure was on as esteemed MASTERCHEF CANADA judges Michael Bonacini, Claudio Aprile, and Alvin Leung revealed that Marissa Leon-John, Tech Support Manager from Dollard-des-Ormeaux, Que., would be the seventh home cook to relinquish her white apron and depart the MASTERCHEF CANADA Kitchen. With six home cooks remaining in the competition, MASTERCHEF CANADA returns next week on Tuesday, May 29 at 9 p.m. ET / 8 MT on CTV and CTV GO. Faced with a massive Mystery Box as the Top 7 home cooks entered the MASTERCHEF CANADA Kitchen, the home cooks receive an unexpected surprise when the judges opened the box to reveal the stars of the hit comedy series CORNER GAS ANIMATED, including Brent Butt, Tara Spencer-Nairn, Lorne Cardinal, and Nancy Robertson. The home cooks were tasked with elevating a classic “diner food” dish with expert inspiration from the CORNER GAS ANIMATED cast, who spent years eating at The Ruby Café, in the fictional town of Dog River, Sask. With access to a diner-inspired specialty pantry, the home cooks were given one-hour to prepare their take on classic diner dishes. Andy emerged as the winner of the challenge, blowing the esteemed MASTERCHEF CANADA judges away with his eye-catching Thai burger with root vegetable tempura. The remaining home cooks were faced with a replication challenge that tested their skills in five ways – an Asian street market sampler consisting of five components: Chinese pork belly bao; Vietnamese jellyfish salad and chili chicken bánh mì; Japanese takoyaki filled with octopus; and a sweet Thai banana fritter for dessert. The judges decided to mix things up and announced that this would be a MASTERCHEF CANADA Tag Team Challenge. During the challenge, Michael G’s speed and focus were astonishing; he expertly managed Kaegan, who followed every instruction he was given. A laser-focused and almost silent Marissa tuned out her partner Nadia, who was frustrated by the lack of communication. And in the third pairing, while Eugene cooked, Beccy roared uncharacteristically from the sidelines, pushing him to speed up. When the home cooks swap roles, Beccy carried on with determination and impressive swiftness. Marissa and Nadia present the judges their Asian street market sampler, but they ran out of time and missed one of the dishes. The elements that they did deliver were flavourful, but the takoyaki was raw in the middle, a critical error. Ultimately the MASTERCHEF CANADA judges send Marissa home. In the next all-new episode of MASTERCHEF CANADA, “On the Line of Fire” the on (Tuesday, May 29 at 9 p.m. ET / 8 MT on CTV and CTV GO), the Top 6 home cooks face a super-charged Restaurant Takeover Team Challenge at Judge Claudio Aprile’s Toronto restaurant, Copetin. The teams must make two technically demanding appetizers and two entrées for a restaurant filled with discerning dinner guests. After the Restaurant Takeover, the home cooks return to the MASTERCHEF CANADA Kitchen where the teams learn their fate; the losing team is left to compete in a sweet and precise Pressure Test that will see one of the home cooks sent home. The remaining Top 6 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.
• Kaegan Donnelly, Software Sales from Vancouver, B.C.
• Michael Griffiths, Mathematician from Richmond Hill, Ont.
• Andy Hay, Small Business Owner from Dartmouth, N.S.
• 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 also 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 Kaegan Donnelly – @kaegan Michael Griffiths – @michaelsfoodexperience Andy Hay – @andyseastcoastkitchen_ Nadia Rehman – @nadzland Beccy Stables – @beccystables