An Unexpected Double Elimination Sends Debbie MacDonald and Kyle McKenna Home on CTV's MASTERCHEF CANADA

– The home cooks face their first Team Challenge, as they cook for the world-class acrobats, performers, and crew of Cirque du Soleil's show Kurios: A Cabinet of Curiosities, when MASTERCHEF CANADA continues in two weeks on Sunday, March 1 at 7 p.m. (8 p.m. CT) –

TORONTO, Feb. 15, 2015 /CNW/ - It was a night of surprises for the MASTERCHEF CANADA Season 2 Top 16, as judges Michael Bonacini, Alvin Leung, and Claudio Aprile revealed that two home cooks would be leaving the kitchen following the first Mystery Box and Elimination Challenge of the season. Debbie MacDonald, a Special Needs Teacher from Port Hood, N.S., and Kyle McKenna, a Bartender from Paradise, N.L., both relinquished their white aprons following the unexpected double elimination. With 14 home cooks remaining, MASTERCHEF CANADA returns in two weeks on Sunday, March 1 at 7 p.m. (8 p.m. CT) on CTV, with the first Team Challenge which will be no easy feat – cooking for the acrobats and crew of Cirque du Soleil's show Kurios: A Cabinet of Curiosities.

In tonight's episode, a Mystery Box Challenge had the home cooks using Philadelphia Cream Cheese, and Jon Hameister-Ries' cream cheese phyllo tarts gave him the win heading into the Elimination Challenge. Being safe from elimination wasn't the only advantage Jon received, as he also got to select which of the judges' favourite Asian food cravings the other home cooks would have to prepare – and chose judge Claudio's Chinese stir-fry with rice. In the first surprise of the episode, Jon earned the opportunity to save one of his fellow home cooks from elimination and selected David Jorge. Following the Elimination Challenge, the second surprise was revealed, and Jon received the opportunity to save another home cook, choosing Jennifer Innis. Andrew Al-Khouri was the winner of the Elimination Challenge and Line Pelletier took second place, making them both team captains in the next Team Challenge. In the end, the judges revealed Debbie, Kyle, and Kwasi Douglas were in the bottom three, before eliminating Debbie and Kyle.

**Media Note** – To download additional artwork for MASTERCHEF CANADA please visit BellMediaPR.ca

In the next new episode of MASTERCHEF CANADA (Sunday, March 1 at 7 p.m./8 p.m. CT), the home cooks face their first Team Challenge, and it requires them to cook a hearty but healthy performance-day lunch for the world-class acrobats, performers, and crew of Cirque du Soleil's show Kurios: A Cabinet of Curiosities. Once back in the MASTERCHEF CANADA kitchen, the losing team faces the dreaded Pressure Test, in which they are challenged to master a historic Québécois dish.

The remaining home cooks vying for the title of MASTERCHEF CANADA and the $100,000 cash prize are:

• Andrew Al-Khouri, a Tax Officer from Halifax, N.S.
• Christopher Siu, a Pharmacy Student from Markham, Ont.
• Cody Karey, a Recording Artist from Vancouver, B.C.
• David Jorge, a Concrete Contractor from Surrey, B.C.
• Debra Pangestu, a Public Relations Officer from Richmond, B.C.
• Jennifer Innis, a Dental Hygienist from Vernon, B.C.
• Jon Hameister-Ries, a former Pro Football Player and Financial Advisor from Vancouver, B.C.
• Kevin Gregory, an Applications Engineer from Fredericton, N.B.
• Kristen Dwyer, an Early Childhood Educator from Conception Bay South, N.L.
• Kwasi Douglas, a Community Facilitator from Ajax, Ont.
• Line Pelletier, a Canadian Military Veteran and Computer Specialist from Moncton, N.B.
• Michael Motamedi, an Entrepreneur from Toronto, Ont.
• Sabrina Poirier, an Office Manager from Montréal, Que.
• Tammy Wood, a Retail Clerk from Agassiz, B.C.

MASTERCHEF CANADA also streams on demand on CTV GO and CTV.ca, and episodes encore following their broadcast premieres Fridays at 9 p.m. ET on M3, Saturdays at 7 p.m. ET/PT on CTV Two, and Sundays at 5 p.m. ET/PT on CTV. Viewers can also enjoy the Season 1 cooking all over again, with the full season of MASTERCHEF CANADA available exclusively on CraveTV.

The MASTERCHEF format is represented internationally by Shine International, the sales and distribution arm of Shine Group, and is based on a format originally created by Franc Roddam.

MASTERCHEF CANADA is produced by Proper Television in association with CTV. President of Proper Television, Guy O'Sullivan is executive producer, along with Proper's Vice-President and Creative Director, Cathie James. Shine America's Paula Warwick is Creative Consultant. For Bell Media, Tina Apostolopoulos is Production Executive, Factual and Reality, Independent Production. Robin Johnston is Director, Factual and Reality, Independent Production. Corrie Coe is Senior Vice-President, Independent Production. Mike Cosentino is Senior Vice-President, Programming, CTV Networks. Phil King is President - CTV, Sports, and Entertainment Programming.

SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS:

Twitter:
#MasterChefCanada
@CTV_PR
@CTV_Television
@MasterChefCDA
Michael Bonacini – @MichaelBonacini
Alvin Leung – @TheDemonChef
Claudio Aprile – @ClaudioAprile
Andrew Al-Khouri – @Zataartheory
Christopher Siu – @Baker_Siu
Cody Karey – @codykarey
David Jorge – @concrete_cook
Debra Pangestu – @debrapangestu
Jennifer Innis – @JenniferInnis
Jon Hameister-Ries – @jonhr67
Kevin Gregory – @Bistro113
Kristen Dwyer – @kristenstar23
Kwasi Douglas – @splashdafoodgod
Line Pelletier – @TheSaucyLine
Michael Motamedi – @MichaelBaffi
Sabrina Poirier – @Sabrinapmtl
Tammy Wood – @saucysgotgame

Facebook:
facebook.com/ctv
facebook.com/MasterChefCDA

Instagram:
MasterChefCDA
BellMediaPR
Claudio Aprile – claudioaprile1
Andrew Al-Khouri – Zataartheory
Christopher Siu – baker_siu
Cody Karey – codykarey
David Jorge – concrete_cook
Debra Pangestu – debrapangestu
Jennifer Innis – jensheninnis
Jon Hameister-Ries – jonhr67
Kevin Gregory – Smokin_Foodie
Kristen Dwyer – kristendwyer23
Kwasi Douglas – da_Food_God
Line Pelletier – TheSaucyLine
Michael Motamedi – MichaelBaffi 
Sabrina Poirier – Sabrinapmtl
Tammy Wood – saucysgotgame

About CTV
CTV is Canada's #1 private broadcaster. Featuring a wide range of quality news, sports, information, and entertainment programming, CTV has been Canada's most-watched television network for the past 13 years in a row. CTV is a division of Bell Media, Canada's premier multimedia company with leading assets in television, radio, digital, and Out-of-Home. Bell Media is owned by BCE Inc. (TSX, NYSE: BCE), Canada's largest communications company. More information about CTV can be found on the network's website at CTV.ca.

SOURCE CTV

Tanya Koivusalo, CTV Networks, 416.384.2664 or [email protected]; Christy Sullivan, CTV Networks, 416.384.3624 or [email protected]