MasterChef South Africa is a South African competitive cooking reality show based on a format created by Franc Roddam, in which amateur chefs who cook as a hobby and have no experience in the food industry attempt to turn into a MasterChef.
Contestants on MasterChef are put through their paces with various challenges as they compete head-to-head to create delicious dishes. The series serves as a unique platform for people from all walks of life who want to follow their dream of working as a professional chef.
These everyday at-home cooks have the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to show their passion and excitement for food as they are put to the test and judged by world-renowned chefs.
Contestants are asked to prepare a cold dish which were tasted by a member of the MasterChef SA professional preliminary judging panel. The requirements for the dish are as follows:
One must bring all products in an insulated cooler to maintain the cold chain
Products not suitably chilled will result in the judges not tasting your dish
One must transport all food products in plastic containers
Glass containers will not be allowed in the competition area
Present your dish on a plain white plate that you have brought with you
NO actual cooking is allowed; the dish must be a cold dish
Place the food on the dish and present to the judges within the time limit
Based on this dish contestants either progress further in the audition process or not. All preliminary judges are SACA-certified professionals.
From mozzarella to marzipan, tagines to terrines, soups to soufflés – thousands of South Africans present a colourful array of diverse dishes across the country in a bid to being one step closer to becoming the country's next MasterChef.
Winners
Season 1: Deena Naidoo
Season 2: Kamini Pather
Season 3: Roxi Wardman
Season 4: Shawn Godfrey