MasterChef South Africa shocker: Ali goes up in flames!

In MasterChef South Africa, momentum can vanish in a single cook.

Just one week after winning the opening episode and a state-of-the-art fridge from Beko, Ali Sonday, a 30-year-old senior attorney from the Western Cape, was eliminated in a dramatic second episode.

Kitchen flames and high pressure

The episode delivered tension from the start. Mid-cook, Ali’s frying pan caught fire when clarified butter hit an overheated surface. Although the flames flared before the lamb was added, the incident cost him precious time.

Instead of the usual three, the judges called forward six contestants whose dishes failed to meet expectations: Ali, Calvin, Josh, Shoki, Mahlatse and Phil. All faced possible elimination.

A “last supper” challenge with a twist

This week’s challenge centred on the judges themselves. Each revealed the meal they would choose as their “last supper”, which contestants had to reinterpret within 75 minutes.

The twist: dishes were randomly allocated.

• Katlego Mlambo presented pap, lamb chops and chakalaka, served with beer.
• Zola Nene selected lamb curry with steamed bread, coleslaw and tomato relish, paired with ginger beer.
• Justine Drake chose roast chicken, artichokes, boiled potatoes, creamy mayonnaise and dark chocolate, served with Chenin Blanc.

Ali feared drawing Chef Katlego’s dish. Pap had never featured in his home, and he had never cooked it before.

When he did receive Katlego’s meal, he added Indian flair. He prepared tandoori-style lamb chops and infused the pap with curry flavours.

A bitter ending

At the tasting table, Ali presented “Tandoori lamb chop with tomato chutney and pap infused with curry leaves and coriander, served with pickled carrots”.

Chef Katlego criticised the tomato chutney as overworked and bitter. Judges Zola and Justine agreed. The yoghurt element was scorched, tipping the dish into what Judge Justine described as one of two unforgivable sins in the MasterChef kitchen: burnt food.

Ali’s journey ended just a week after his triumph.

Benjie rises

In contrast, Benjie impressed the judges with his interpretation of Zola’s dish. His “Lamb cutlet with apple coleslaw, mustard, and ginger beer flatbread” earned him the challenge win.

What’s next

Next week, the remaining 17 contestants face an onion-focused challenge that promises tears and pressure.

MasterChef South Africa airs on e.tv on Sundays at 18:00, with simultaneous streaming on eVOD Live TV.

Rebroadcasts air:

• Saturdays at 17:00 on e.tv
• Saturdays at 20:30 on eExtra
• Sundays at 17:00 on eReality

The series is produced by Homebrew Films for Primedia Studios.

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