MasterChef (UK) The Professionals S17E19-E20 (1080p, soft English subtitles)

[Final episode won’t be available until Thursday]

The hunt for the next superstar chef. Professional cooks are put through their paces. Who will cope and who will crack?

E19
It’s finals week on MasterChef: The Professionals, and just four outstanding chefs are in with a fighting chance at the title. They face the biggest moment of their careers, cooking for industry giants, before they square off for a place in the final three. The stakes don’t get much higher than this.

A luxury five-star hotel in London is the setting for the first challenge, which will be sure to set the contestants’ hearts racing. They are catering for the Chef's Table in the Michelin-starred Dining Room restaurant of The Goring Hotel, where 24 of the industry’s most revered chefs have been invited to taste their food. This is an opportunity like no other, and a unique chance for these brave chefs to get noticed by their food heroes. Guests include Lisa Goodwin-Allen (Northcote 1*), Daniel Clifford (Midsummer House 2*), Jun Tanaka (The Ninth 1*) and Alex Dilling (Hotel Café Royal 2*). The finalists have four hours to prepare one course each for this exclusive event. All the professionals will be hoping to deliver a dish to remember -one that hits the Michelin standard on every front. Exquisite presentation with flavours to match are the bare minimum this occasion demands. A plate that excels in terms of innovation and creativity is what’s required to create a buzz in the dining room. Next, the finalists return to the MasterChef kitchen to battle for a place in the final three in what is one of the most emotional stages of the competition. One plate of food is the ask, but it must be nothing short of perfection. All four have proven their capabilities so far, but will any of them break under this level of pressure? Finally, the judges reveal which unfortunate finalist is saying goodbye, while the other three chefs press on in the race to become this year’s champion.

E20
Finals week continues on MasterChef: The Professionals, with just three of the country’s most exciting chefs still in with a shot at the title. Their culinary minds will be blown as they cook for one of the world’s most exciting talents in a remote setting that will take their breath away. The contestants are whisked away to the town of Baltimore, in County Cork, Ireland, home to the two Michelin-starred Turkish restaurant, Dede. The restaurant is run by trailblazing chef Ahmet Dede, who delivers the finest Turkish and Irish seasonal produce on plates that celebrate both cultures. Many of the plates come from Ahmet’s cherished memories growing up and are very close to his heart. Cuisine this unique will be a first for the final three, who will start their journey by catering a lunch for some specially invited guests. Before they can do this, the finalists need to understand Ahmet’s ethos. Chef Ahmet himself will cook a few of his favourite dishes in an outdoor kitchen. These include an extraordinary kebab dish and a recipe that combines the finest Irish beef with flavours from the Ottoman Empire. The level of detail here is off the scale, and the plates require a delicate touch like no other. Armed with inspiration, the finalists will then travel to Inish Beg, a private island estate with over 97 acres of spectacular woodland and gardens. Outdoor kitchens have been set up in the stunning walled garden, from which the finalists will need to prepare lunch for Ahmet’s family and friends. Their own lunch menu will include plates of food inspired by the earlier masterclass that are based on their passions and memories. A selection of the finest local ingredients is available, along with a larder packed with some of Ahmet’s Turkish favourites. Cooking with live flames, at the mercy of the Irish weather, will no doubt add extra pressure to an already stressful situation. The finalists will need to find their feet quickly, as they will be thrown in at the deep end, joining Ahmet’s elite brigade of chefs for a lunchtime service. They will each be responsible for two dishes from Dede’s tasting menu, which can sometimes take the most experienced chef months to master. This includes a dessert inspired by his daughter - so nobody will want to let him down. Today's diners include Marcus, Monica and Gregg, who will expect their chosen finalists to deliver to the two Michelin standard. Every mouthful matters at this stage, as the hunt for this year’s champion is almost at an end.

First broadcast:  9 December 2024  
Duration: 1 hour per episode    
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