Tonight on “MasterChef,” the four generations go head-to-head as the top 20 enter the MasterChef kitchen. The contestants are faced with their first mystery box challenge where they are presented with a childhood photo of themselves and tasked with creating a restaurant-worthy dish that highlights their favorite nostalgic comfort foods from their youth. The most impressive dish grants an entire generation immunity from elimination while a chef from the remaining three teams risks going home in the all-new “Back to the Future – Mystery Box” episode of “MasterChef: Generations” airing Wednesday, June 26 (8:00-9:02 PM ET/PT) on FOX.
Season 14 of “MasterChef” brings together amateur cooks from four generations – Millennials, Baby Boomers, Gen Z and Gen X – to prove that age does not matter in the kitchen. Judges Gordon Ramsay, Aarón Sánchez, Joe Bastianich eliminated contestants each week until one winner is crowned with the title of MasterChef and the $250,000 grand prize.
8:00 p.m. — Previously on “MasterChef”! In the Episode 4, auditions concluded with Gen X. In the end, five chefs advanced to the Top 20: Arthur, Chris, Daniela, Kimberly and Sunshine. Now let’s watch as the generations finally face off in their first Mystery Box challenge!
8:05 p.m. — For the first time, the Top 20 contestants enter the MasterChef kitchen and quickly notice the Mystery Boxes sitting at their stations. Gordon explains that whoever cooks the best dish tonight will earn the immunity pin, keeping themself safe from elimination across the next challenge. More importantly, their entire generation will be safe from elimination tonight. After heading to their stations, the chef-testants open their Mystery Boxes and find childhood photos of themselves. Tonight’s challenge will require them to take a nostalgic comfort food from their childhood and transform it into a restaurant-quality dish. They have one hour and the clock starts now!
8:10 p.m. — After a mad dash to the pantry, the cooks pull together their ingredients and start cooking. Joe warns, “If you’re using pressure cookers, get them going!” It will be interesting to see how the generational factor comes into tonight’s dishes. Becca from Gen Z is one of the cooks utilizing a pressure cooker for her short ribs, stating the longer they have to cook the better. Murt is taking inspiration from his Brazilian heritage and climbing mango trees as a child. Joe looks skeptical about this curry Murt wants to make from mangos. Kimberly a Gen X-er making sloppy joes. Is that too simple? Sounds risky! Another risk-taker is Sunshine, who’s making braised lamb shank in a serious time crunch. She’s never done this in a pressure cooker before, but hopes to pull off a miracle tonight.
8:20 p.m. — The age ranges from Adam at 23 to Warren at 70. Talk about a difference in experience! That’s nearly five decades that have informed the way Warren cooks. But does it mean he has the superior skill and taste profile? Warren is cooking up an elevated mac and cheese with lobster. Another Boomer, Rebecka, is doing an elevated meatloaf. You can really see the difference in generations just by what’s on the menu. Adam is doing a dessert, baking a peach pie with a savory twist of goat cheese. Daniela is tapping into her Serbian roots with a smokey stuffed cabbage roll. So many delicious meals coming together! With less than 20 minutes left to cook, the judges discuss a few contestants they’re intrigued by. They say Murt’s dish sounds “like a social media post” and they’re not sure it will taste good. Aarón sounds excited by Adam’s dessert. Gordon thinks Daniela and Sunshine are up against time for their dishes. With minutes to go, Fatima burns her plantains and doesn’t have much time to cook some new ones.
8:30 p.m. — Joe looks intrigued by Kamay‘s Haitian dish before warning her, “Someone is going home tonight, make sure it’s not you!” Geags may be taking a risk with shepherd’s pie, a dish Gordon is quite familiar with. Si is highlighted for his Vietnamese soup with lobster. In the final two minutes chefs start plating with immunity on the line. Time’s up!
8:35 p.m. — The judges take a walk around the room to find tonight’s best and worst dishes. They’ll taste the top contender from each generation first. Representing Millennials is Kamay with her Crispy Chicken Thigh with Haitian Red Bean Sauce, White Rice and Pickled Fresno Chilis & Red Onions. Gordon says it looks delicious and the crispiness of the chicken is “second to none.” Aarón loves how bold she was with the Haitian seasoning. Joe thinks it’s “amazing.”
8:37 p.m. — Representing Gen Z is Adam with his Fried Peach Pie with Spiced Vanilla Goat Cheese Whipped Cream, Lemon Basil Curd, Candied Basil and Basil Oil. Gordon says the colors are “popping” and Adam is the only one with the “gumption” to make a dessert. The flavors are delicious and Aarón thinks it’s an interesting choice to use basil for flavor. Joe can’t believe this was made by a dude rancher.
8:39 p.m. — Representing Gen X is Sunshine with her Braised Lamb Shank with Creamy Mashed Potato, Roasted Carrots and Trumpet Mushrooms. Gordon compliments the “rustic” and “charming’ look of the dish. Joe says the flavor of the lamb is “amazing” and it’s an “excellent dish.” Aarón says the magic is in the sauce.
8:41 p.m. — Representing the Baby Boomers is Rebecka with her Blackberry Hoisin Meatloaf with Bok Choy in Sesame Oil and Gochugaru Potato Spear. Gordon says he never thought he’d say he loves the plating of a meatloaf, but this looks delicious. Joe admits he hates meatloaf and hasn’t eaten it since he watched “The Brady Bunch.” Gordon calls it spicy, rich and well-done. Aarón says the Bok Choy is the best he’s had in a long time. Joe calls it “retro and modern at the same time.”
8:45 p.m. — The judges take a moment to deliberate tonight’s top dish. The winner of this week’s challenge and immunity pin is Rebecka! That means she will have immunity in the next challenge and all the Baby Boomers are safe this week.
8:50 p.m. — Now for the tough part. The judges will call forward the three worst dishes of the night. With the Baby Boomers safe, they all head up to the balcony. First in danger of elimination is Murt from Gen Z. He made Chicken Mango Curry with Green Tea Cilantro Rice, Jalapeno Salsa & Crispy Chicken Skin. Gordon says a curry should be coated in the gravy, not swimming it. Joe says it looks like something from an early 80s cooking channel. Gordon actually likes the taste, he just can’t distinguish what some of the ingredients are. Joe is less impressed, calling it “spicy baby food” and “exactly what we’re not looking for.”
8:52 p.m. — Representing the Millennials is Si with his Vietnamese Sweet & Sour Soup with Lobster, Scallion Puree, Yuzu & Coconut Milk Broth and Rice. Gordon says, “It looks strange. Weird.” Aarón says Si failed to harness the concept of the dish and it’s not delicious. Gordon doesn’t like the dish, but says the broth is “exceptional.” Joe says he had good ideas, but ruined it.
8:57 p.m. — Representing Gen X in the bottom is Daniela with her Stuffed Cabbage Roll with Lamb & Pancetta, Braised Sauerkraut and Tomato Sauce. Joe says the cabbage is raw and she didn’t give it the cooking time it needed. Aarón loves the seasoning in the filling, but he can’t get over the cabbage. Gordon calls it a “shame” and says it’s “failing on multiple levels.”
9:02 p.m. — The judges deliberate over which contestant will go home first this season. Leaving in 20th place is Si, the 30-year-old Millennial from San Jose, California.
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