| "STOP!!!"
This article contains major spoilers. If you do not wish to know any vital information about the plot details, you may not want to read this page. |
| “ | They're hungry, these kids. Between 6 to 9 years old with big appetites. | ” |
The Kids are Alright is the eleventh episode in Season 9 of MasterChef. It aired on August 1, 2018 on FOX. On that episode, the Top 14 cooked for specials guests whom are revealed to be children in the team challenge, a know-it-all was put into their place after they single handily sunk their team, cupcakes were the main dish with Christina Tosi as the guest judge, and one cook's arrogance caused them to crash hard in the Pressure Test.
Team Challenge[]
The Top 14 reenter the MasterChef kitchen as they all notice that the layout is different along with the red and blue aprons in front of them, correctly deducing that it was time for a Team Challenge. Indeed, Joe revealed that the Top 14's next challenge was a Team Challenge, where they would serve dinner to guests inside the MasterChef restaurant behind them. For the team captains, Julia & SJ were assigned the roles as they were the winners of the previous tag team challenge. While Julia was excited given her last experience as team captain where she lead her team to victory, SJ on the other hand was more scared of them and decides to strategize by picking people who he perceives as mini-captains as a way of doing a checks and balances type of team. SJ picked Gerron, Caesar, Samantha, Bowen, Emily, and Mark, while Julia picked Ashley, Farhan, Taylor, Chelsea, and Ralph, being left with Shanika by default. Once the teams were set, Ramsay revealed that the winning dish would be featured at the front page of the October edition of family circle magazine. Ashley knew how important this challenge would be as it would mark something significant if any of them were to appear on family circle. For this Team Challenge, both teams must cook a dish using the ingredients inside their boxes.
Both teams had 90 minutes to cook their dishes for their guests, and once time began, both teams opened their boxes to see the ingredients they had to work with. The blue team decided to use the NY Strip Steak for their dish and a roasted asparagus and boranes, while the red team went with the Filet mignon and broccolini. As both teams began prepping, Ramsay pinpointed Julia and SJ as the team captains. While Aaron believed the red team would win due to Julia's past experience with the previous team challenge where she won as team captain, Joe bet the blue team was the best due to having a more democratic approach under SJ's leadership. However, Ramsay questioned on whether or not SJ will be stable enough to lead having an extremely high quantity of opinionated people on his team. Afterwards, the guests begin to arrive; which are then revealed to be 6-9 year old children; much to everybody's shock and surprise. He then proceeds to ask 2 of the guests what they're hoping for; to which they both said Pizza, causing Ramsay to nervously laugh. Although Shanika immediately contemplates on changing the menu to be more kid friendly, Julia ultimately decides to keep going forward with their original plan.
When Ramsay came to the red station for an update, Julia revealed that they were cooking the Filet Mignon Steak to Medium Well as opposed to Medium Rare. For the sides, they were making the butternut squash puree a little sweeter for the kids to eat the broccolini. Concerned by the steak component, Ramsay asked Farhan to watch the temperatures for the Filet Mignon so that they could be consistent with one another. Taking the criticism to heart, Farhan told Ralph to cook the one's with the least amount of color a little longer.
Joe & Aaron go to the blue station for an update. SJ (with assistance from Samantha & Mark) revealed that they were making a pan-seared NY Strip Steak with Boranes sauce, leeks, wild mushrooms, potatoes, truffles and asparagus. When asked on whether or not they adapted for the young palates, SJ initially says that he is more or less going to follow through the same route as well. However, per Aaron's suggestion, SJ decides to 86 the truffles. Afterwards, Aaron questions Mark on his decision to make a boranes sauce in an aggressive fashion without using a boiler, Mark refuses to switch gears; claiming that the boiler will take longer for the Boranes to make, Despite Aaron stating that they have plenty of time. Joe then reiterates by stating how there was a right and wrong way to do things, and to cook boranes aggressively is the wrong way; However Mark refuses to listen, claiming that it was the way he was taught and will be the way that he'll forever do it. As SJ contemplates on 86ing the boranes sauce in it's entirety, Emily suggests that Mark should make the sauce more creamier, as the blue team does not have time to make another sauce.
Both teams were beginning to plate their dishes, but Ramsay was fearful that the Blue Team would accidentally serve raw egg whites to the kids thanks to Mark's cooking method of the boranes. Only the red team were plating Ashley & Shanika both question Julia's decision to put a smiley face, on the plate; leading to some brief tensions between Julia & Shanika, resulting in Ramsay stepping in and siding with Shanika on the matter. After wards, Julia decides to go with a circle instead. Meanwhile, Ramsay heads to the Blue Team only to find that the Boranes sauce has now gone completely runny and instantly calls out both SJ & Mark over the ordeal. As such, Samantha suggests to scrap the Boranes in it's entirety; to which SJ reluctantly agrees. As for the red team, Ramsay comes back and finds that some of the Filet Mignon Steaks cooked by Farhan are still coming out rare; which causes Julia to pressure Farhan in getting those steaks cooked as quickly as possible.
Eventually, both teams had their dishes cooked and plated on time. As the servers took the dishes to the restaurant, Julia hopes that she made her mentor , while SJ felt that he could have been more decisive over the boranes ordeal as a way to have some sauce on the plate; and hopes it doesn't ruin the overall quality of the dish. The judges greet the Kids and explain the dishes they would be tasting, the red team's Filet Mignon Steak with Butternut Squash Puree and broccolini, and the blue team's NY Strip Steak with crispy potatoes and asparagus. As the Kids tasted the dishes, the red team's NY Strip Steak received mixed to negative reviews as some found it to be undercooked, with no sauce accompanying it. For the red team's Filet Mignon, some of the portions came out dry or overcooked, with the butternut squash puree being a little too sweet for their liking. After tasting both dishes, the kids cast their votes as the servers took their cards.
Once the votes were tallied, the judges introduced both teams to the kids and had them await the results. With a score of 66% of the vote, the red team was crowned the winners of the team challenge, making Gerron disappointed as he noted how Mark's arrogance and lack of taking criticism was what got them in the pressure test.
Pressure Test[]
As the red team made their way to the balcony, the blue team lined up in front of the judges in their black aprons, with Ramsay asking what happened that caused the blue team to lose. Bowen instantly blamed Mark for the Blue Teams loss, but when the latter tried to claim that his arrogance wasn't as bad as everyone says it was, a pissed Joe reminded him of the deal they had made at the start of the competition to which he is now seriously reconsidering. Before the start of the Pressure Test, the decided to invite a guest judge to join them; that being none other than Christina Tosi, exciting Samantha as she grew up idolizing her. For this Pressure Test, the seven home cooks were tasked with making a box of 12 cupcakes
The seven had 75 minutes to bake their cupcakes and immediately began the third baking challenge of that season. Bowen decided to make Green Tea flavored cupcakes as his first set, while his second would be vanilla flavored, and his third would be tiramisu flavored; despite never having cupcakes in China. SJ also decided on a Vanilla cupcake for his first flavor. He then comments on how cooking for Christina was a bit daunting but also at the same time an honor. Caesar decides to do ginger and spiced cupcakes as an homage to his childhood; despite also not being a baker himself. Ramsay went to Samantha for an update, and the latter stated that she was making lemon cupcakes for her first batch as an homage to her sorority sister expressing how they once used it in a cupcake contest and won. With only 45 minutes left, Christina & Gordon suggested that they start placing their cupcakes in the oven immediately, while Joe checks on Emily, who was making a chocolate Caramel cream cupcake for her 1st batch and a lemon merengue cupcake for her 2nd batch. In addition, Emily was also star struck to Christina alongside Joe, even going as far as to explain her baking background to Christina in the process. Meanwhile Gordon & Aaron both visit Gerron, who has decided to a bourbon butter cream cupcake for his 1st batch and a banana walnut cupcake for his 2nd batch; as an homage to his mother and to his southern roots. 20 minutes left, Joe & Christina visit Mark, who has decided to make a Strawberry, Lemon Grass, & mint Cupcake for his 1st batch as on homage to a very popular cocktail served at his mother's restaurant back in Maine. At the same time, Joe, Christina & Aaron express concern about Mark as he was starting to fill the cupcakes with the strawberries themselves; which may cause some of the water oozing out from the cupcakes to leak out in the process. Eventually, time was up, and everybody had their cupcakes ready inside their boxes.
The seven home cooks bring up their cupcakes for judging. Emily was up first and presented her box that contained Chocolate cupcake and Lemon Merengue cupcake. Not only did the presentation spot on, but Christina found the lemon merengue perfectly balanced. For Bowen, his box contained Tiramisu Cupcakes, Green Tea Cupcakes, and Vanilla Cupcakes. Christina praised the 2nd filling for the Green Tea perfuming the richness of the filling. Also, Joe liked the bridge between the butter and Tiramisu filling for the 1st filling, telling Bowen that he did a great job. When it came to Samantha, Aaron was immediately impressed by her Strawberry cupcakes. Aaron deemed the filling delicious, and even comments on how she's doing her sorority sisters proud with this dish. When Christina cut through one of the Strawberry Cupcakes, she found the lemon curd filling to be spot on; and comments how it has been a while since she tasted a cupcake that was as good as Samantha's. For Gerron, Gordon notes how his Bourbon Cupcakes haven't risen completely. To make things worse, it was revealed that Gerron didn't waver his mixture properly, which was proven when Christina cut into the Banana Walnut Cupcakes to still see some raw walnut in the center. Ramsay tasted Caesar's dish, in which he had made Ginger Cupcakes for his 1st batch, Cinnamon Cupcakes for his 2nd batch & a spicy pistachio Cupcake for his 3rd batch in homage to his Houston roots. Ramsay praised the spice despite being a little too much. SJ's Vanilla Cupcake was deemed by Joe & Christina was deemed decent enough, despite the latter wanting a bit more frosting. Finally, Mark presented his Strawberry & Lemon Grass Cupcake, only for Gordon to find that his box was incomplete. Furthermore, Mark then begins to laugh the ordeal off; much to Gordon's disappointment, as it continues to give off the impression of Mark not wanting to take any criticism.
Elimination[]
After all the cupcakes were tasted, the judges went to the back to deliberate as the seven home cooks lined up. Gerron said he messed up badly whilst also acknowledging how Mark messed up badly with the difference being that Gerron was willing to learn from his Mistakes with the hopes that the Judges; including Christina, can see that. After deliberation, the judges came back with their decision; which will be made by Christina herself. Samantha, Bowen, & Emily were the first 3 to go up to safety, With Caesar & SJ soon joined them as the 4th & 5th respectively. As all 5 walked up to the balcony, Samantha commented on how happy she was that Christina liked her dish in front of Gordon. That left Gerron and Mark as the bottom 2 home cooks. Ultimately, Christina announced that Mark was eliminated for making too many technical errors on his cupcakes; as well as his lack of taking criticism. During his exit interview, Mark admitted that he was disappointed but realizes that he can't always go for the "Mr. Know it All" approach to everything and that he still has a lot to learn in order to prove that Joe's investment in him wasn't in vain. Additionally, he hopes for the day that The judges would dine at his family's restaurant when he turns 25.
Trivia[]
- Title Reference: The title refers to the children team challenge. It is also a reference to the 2010 movie The Kids Are Alright.
- Family Circle Sponsor: At the time of Filming, the specific issue for which the Red Team's Filet Mignon Dish would be featured was that of October 2018
- In addition, this would be the 3rd instance in MasterChef History where Family Circle magazine would serve as a sponsor for the show with the 1st being in Season 6 During the Rice-Themed Mystery Box Challenge & the 2nd being in Season 8 during the Chicken & Potatoes Themed Tag Team Challenge.
- Christina Tosi's Final Appearance: This would mark as the Final Appearance where Christina Tosi would come as a judge for the Show until Season 12