Playing along with MasterChef Goes Large

MasterChef Goes Large is a revamped version of a long running food competition show on the BBC. The old MasterChef used to be a straightforward, one hour long, in-studio cookoff where the contestants cooked their best menu, which was tasted by the judges. (The host was the guy with the oddest English-American accent ever, Lloyd Grossman.) The new MasterChef which was inaugurated last year, is much snappier and faster-paced. The 2006 edition just started on Monday.

In the first part of the preliminary rounds which are aired Monday to Thursday, the contestants much make a dish from a set list of ingredients within 40 minutes. This is called the Invention Test. The contestants can use all or just some of the items, and can add other ingredients of their choosing. I've decided to follow along with the show and try to create my own dish from the same ingredients, just to challenge myself a bit. For people who missed the show on TV (it's on BBC2 at 18:30 GMT / 19:30 CET) or who can't get the show where they live, I will be listing the ingredients in this post and updating the list daily.

Here is the list so far:

Week 1

  • Day 1, Monday: Chicken (a chicken leg was used on the show, although the narrator didn't specify it had to be just the leg), potatoes, radishes, tarragon, onions, blue cheese, black pudding. What I made...
  • Day 2, Tuesday: Monkfish, pea aubergines or regular aubergines (eggplant), bok choy, parma ham (proscuitto), jasmine rice, coconut milk. What I made...
  • Day 3, Wednesday: Red chili powder, ketchup, Manchego cheese (a hard cheese from Spain), prawns (largish shrimp), avocado, couscous. What I made...
  • Day 4, Thursday: Kumquats, ground lamb, coriander, beets, long grain rice, red chili peppers, red onions. What I made...

Week 2

  • Day 5, Monday: Lamb chops, dried apricots, potatoes, tomatoes, basil, mozzarella cheese. What I made...
  • Day 6, Tuesday: Sea bream, smoked fish (haddock?) potatoes, Tallegio cheese, purple sprouting broccoli. What I made...
  • Day 7, Wednesday: Portobello mushrooms, potato (again!), savoy cabbage, blue cheese, frozen peas, minced (ground) beef, bacon.What I made...
  • Day 8, Thursday: Tuna steak, basil, linguine, potato (again??), olives, Parmesan cheese.What I made...

Week 3

  • Day 9, Monday: Blackberries, pears, potatoes, sage, cider, green beans, gammon, pork. What I made...
  • Day 10, Tuesday: Arborio rice, fennel, large potatoes, saffron, mussels, haddock.What I made...
  • Day 11, Wednesday: Chicken breast, squid, bok choy, leeks, peppers, pancetta, noodles. What I made...
  • Day 12, Thursday: Guinea fowl, sweet potatoes, parsnips, Gorgonzola cheese, bacon, penne pasta. What I made...

Week 4

  • Day 13, Monday: Mango, endive, avocado, bread, tomato, goats cheese, short crust pastry, chorizo, sardines. What I made...
  • Day 14, Tuesday: Feta cheese, tomato, thyme, broad beans, red wine, caballo nero (a sort of cabbage?), lamb chops. What I made...
  • Day 15, Wednesday: Onion, fennel, basil, horseradish, tomato, Mozzarella, celeriac, mackerel. What I made...
  • Day 16, Thursday: Calf's liver, pheasant, cooked chestnuts, cabbage, leeks, red currant jelly, cauliflower. What I made...

Week 5

  • Day 17, Monday: Mature Cheddar cheese, spinach, chili peppers, sweet corn, potatoes, smoked haddock. What I made...
  • Day 18, Tuesday: Wild mushrooms, lemons, ciabatta, anchovies, Tallegio cheese, turnips, vin santo, steak. What I made...
  • Day 19, Wednesday: Aubergines (eggplant), zucchini (courgettes), kale, vine leaves, tomatoes, brown rice, goats cheese. What I made...
  • Day 20, Thursday: Chicken, chicken livers, bread, walnuts, raisins, brandy, bacon, pears. What I made...

Week 6

  • Day 21, Monday: Anchovies, savoy cabbage, rainbow chard (Swiss chard with colorful stems), honey, bananas, chocolate, brioche bread, lamb filet. What I made...
  • Day 22, Tuesday: Banana leaves, pak choy, sticky rice, wonton skins, spring onions, plums, duck. This one stumped me so I skipped...
  • Day 23, Wednesday: Puff pastry, spinach, brie cheese, leeks, wild mushrooms, pear, chicken breast. What I made...
  • Day 24, Thursday: Red cabbage, apples, swede, cream cheese, cider, prunes, pork chop. What I made...
Submitted by maki on 2006-01-25 19:42.
Filed under:  masterchef

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Comments

katiba gull

19 March, 2006 - 23:46

I cannot believe who the winner was on the master chef goes large on friday, i think it is totally shocking that dean lost and pete who cannot stir up a decent sauce won, what a pathetic outcome.

Sue Curtis

20 March, 2006 - 13:59

Dean won that competition hands down.

At every stage he showed he had the best attitude as well as the culinary, technical and leadership skills. He worked well when he knew the other partner had more experience (Daksa in the field kitchen), rose the the occasion to lead (in the caravan for Silent Witness), cut short his own praise to get back to the kitchen for the Chefs dinner to support the next person (Peter stayed and let everyone else down).
If it all came down to that last meal, then Peter made mistakes too, and that should have counted against him.
If the judges really wanted to 'change a life', the title should have gone to Dean.

Please make sure that we are told where Peter goes to work, so we can desert in droves and avoid having his sweat dripped into the food!

maki

20 March, 2006 - 15:18

Peter wasn't my pick either, but I think all three of the final contestants deserved to be the winner. My choice would have been Daksha, simple because if she opened a restaurant, I'd run to make a reservation. Her food just looked delicious whenever she got it right. Dean doesn't have a distinctive 'style' yet, but in a few years he has all the potential to become a great chef. I do hope he gets a job offer out of this at least.

Tamara

26 September, 2006 - 16:19

The judges are pathetic to have chosen Peter. It means they don't know what being a judge is all about. Ive been folowing the program keenly, and Dean or Daksha(especially her) should have won. They were good, n displayed great cooking skills, potential, n character. To me Peter was a flop all the way. The prize would have have meant a lot more to Daksha or Dean.Peter won't know wat to do with it. I'm really dissapointed with the judges cause I respected their judgements truout the program, but this last crucial decision, I say their palletes are wack!

Lori Boyd

29 September, 2006 - 10:46

I think that people are being too harsh on Peter. I thought that all three were brilliant and I would have been happy with any one of them announced as the winner. I couldn't believe the awesome dishes those finalists produced. I wish Peter, Dean and Daksha all the luck and success in the world. They all deserve it.

maki2

29 September, 2006 - 23:55

Now the question is if that rugby player who won Celebrity MC is going to do anything with it... his food did look wonderful. Just my style too (Japanese-influence with a rich dessert :P)

anon.

3 June, 2008 - 21:54

I am so disappointed at the result. I think that all 3 finalists were good but Dean or Daksha should have won. I loved Daksha's passion, skill and confidence in the kitchen. Peter seemed alot more uncomfortable and can not handle stressful situations. I think Dean is a classic cook and with a little more confidence will be very competitive chef in the food industry.

Hopefully something good will come out of this for all 3 finalists.