[Submitted via press release]
This week the Top 4 had to make a delectable dessert from a set of ingredients supplied to them in a mystery box. Added to the mystery was a panel of guest judges who did a blind tasting.
Within the Mystery Box, contestants found sweet potato, oranges, pear, risotto, coconut milk and cocoa powder. While Deena decided to go with a chocolate fondant, he realised he did not have chocolate itself. He rang the bell he won in the last challenge so that he could ask one of the Judges for advice.
Once their puddings were done, they watched the blind tasting from the lounge. The panel of guest Judges were none other than their loved ones: Manisha’s husband, Thoneshan; Deena’s wife, Kathy; Sarel’s wife, Lieze and Sue-Ann’s mother, Gail.
Seeing them, the contestants were overcome by emotion and teared up … in a good way. Sarel said: “It’s just amazing to see her. I’ve stopped counting how long it has been.”
There was also a brief family reunion when Contestants faced the judges. After much hugging, more tears and kissing the family members revealed their votes: Gail picked Deena’s chocolate fondant; Thoneshan picked Deena’s chocolate fondant; Kathy chose Manisha’s poached pear and Lieze also voted for Deena’s chocolate fondant.
As a reward, Deena and his wife had a special picnic at the Plaisir de Merle wine estate. Sarel and Sue-Ann go into the Pressure Test.
The Pressure Test was designed by the executive chef of South Africa’s top restaurant for 2011, Peter Tempelhoff from The Greenhouse at Cellars-Hohenort. His dish? Roasted duck breast with hazelnut milk gel, confit duck pastilla & honey roasted figs. Sarel and Sue-Ann had 2 hours 45 minutes to complete it.
In the dying minutes of the challenge, Sarel realizes his had forgotten to make his hazelnut milk gel. “When I realised that I’ve missed this important element, it was too late.” Unfortunately, that mistake cost Sarel the title had he had to leave the competition.
He said: “I did well. I did very, very well. I’m going away with a big smile and I’ve discovered something in me - I’m a soft guy, not a crying soft guy, but I care for people. That is amazing.”