MasterChef SA favourite Jeshen eliminated after scone mistake

One missing scone brought Johannesburg tax consultant Jeshen Govender’s impressive MasterChef South Africa Season 6 journey to an end, with the frontrunner narrowly missing out on a place in the Top 4.

For much of the competition, Jeshen had established himself as one of the strongest home cooks, becoming the first contestant to win three challenges and leading the winning team in the challenge judged by South Africa’s leading radio personalities.

High tea challenge decides the Top 4

This week’s Top 5 challenge required contestants to prepare an elegant high tea featuring three different canapés:

• One savoury.
• One sweet.
• One inspired by a classic cocktail.

Each contestant had to prepare five beautifully plated portions of every canapé.

The cocktail choices included a Tequila Margarita, Piña Colada, Strawberry Daiquiri, Classic Aperol Spritz and Mojito.

After winning the previous challenge, Candice selected the Piña Colada, leaving Jeshen with the Aperol Spritz, a cocktail that reminded him of Trastevere in Rome, Italy.

Childhood favourite proves costly

Inspired by traditional English high tea, Jeshen decided to recreate miniature versions of the scones baked during his childhood by his avva (grandma) and his sister, Devanja.

Throughout most of the challenge, he remained calmer than usual, even after spilling compote on the stove.

Although he worried the judges might consider scones too simple at this stage of the competition, judge Justine Drake reassured him.

As the clock counted down, however, Jeshen ran out of time.

One of his scones was never plated.

Judges praise the flavour but not the execution

Jeshen presented:

• Trout tartlet with trout caviar and lemon-and-chive crème.
• “Avva’s Scones” with Chantilly cream and raspberry and strawberry jam.
• Aperol Spritz posset with orange and naartjie crush.

Chef Katlego Mlambo criticised the posset, saying it was too sweet and had not set properly.

Chef Zola Nene felt the trout tartlet lacked the presentation expected at this stage of the competition, although she praised the scones.

Despite their flavour, the missing third portion meant Jeshen failed to meet the challenge brief by serving only two scones instead of the required three.

The mistake ended his competition.

Candice claims another victory

While Jeshen’s omission sent him home, Candice secured her second consecutive challenge win.

Although she believed she would be eliminated, the judges’ feedback focused on fine details rather than major mistakes.

Her elegant high tea impressed enough to secure victory.

Four contestants remain

The remaining contestants competing for the MasterChef South Africa Season 6 title and the R1 million prize are:

• Candice
• Benjie
• Simele
• Nkululeko

MasterChef South Africa Season 6 airs on e.tv on Sundays at 18:00, with a rebroadcast on Saturdays at 17:00.

The series also airs on eExtra on Saturdays at 20:30 and on eReality on Sundays at 17:00.

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