MASTERCHEF CANADA Season 2 Top 10 Revealed as an Overwhelming Challenge Sees Kristen Dwyer from Conception Bay South, N.L. Head Home

– The remaining Top 10 home cooks cater a French-inspired Harbour Cruise wedding in the next episode of MASTERCHEF CANADA on Sunday, April 5 at 7 p.m. (8 p.m. CT) –

TORONTO, March 29, 2015 /CNW/ - A gruelling Elimination Challenge featuring "odd couple" ingredients pushed MASTERCHEF CANADA Season 2 Top 11 home cook Kristen Dwyer (@kristenstar23) of Conception Bay South, N.L., to her limit, resulting in the decision by judges Michael Bonacini, Alvin Leung, and Claudio Aprile to send her home. The next episode of MASTERCHEF CANADA on Sunday, April 5 at 7 p.m. (8 p.m. CT) on CTV and CTV GO, finds the remaining Top 10 home cooks catering a French-inspired Harbour Cruise wedding, with the losing team facing a complicated pastry challenge that sends at least one person home.

In tonight's episode, the Top 11 home cooks participated in their third Mystery Box Challenge, where they were required to bake and decorate a four-layer birthday cake that expressed something about them. In a new twist, the judges announced that they would choose two Mystery Box winners, offering the home cooks more incentive to put their best dessert forward. The judges were so impressed with the colourful results they requested four cakes to taste, with Christopher Siu and David Jorge's delicious creations ultimately keeping them safe and out of the Elimination Challenge.   

In the MASTERCHEF CANADA pantry, the judges explained to winners David and Christopher that the theme for the night's Elimination Challenge was "odd couples" – ingredients that don't appear to complement each other, but actually work together nicely. The home cooks were assigned the following pairings: bacon and chocolate, salmon and licorice, and chorizo sausage and grape jelly. Together, Christopher and David had the extra advantage of strategically selecting which home cook would work with each pairing. After an hour of triumphs and setbacks, Andrew's grape jelly-glazed veal roulade stuffed with chorizo sausage, brie, and spinach with a cauliflower purée took second place, while Michael's expertly-plated pan-seared salmon with spicy licorice slaw and fried avocado was crowned the best dish of the Elimination Challenge. They will both be captains in next week's Team Challenge.

Due to the lack of grape jelly flavour in Kristen's shredded chicken and chorizo tacos, and Jon Hameister-Ries' failure to manage his time, the judges placed them both in the bottom two. After a suspenseful reveal, the judges announced that Kristen would be leaving the MASTERCHEF CANADA kitchen.

**Media Note** – Download photos for MASTERCHEF CANADA at BellMediaPR.ca

In the next new episode of MASTERCHEF CANADA (Sunday, April 5 at 7 p.m./8 p.m. CT), the home cooks face their biggest team challenge yet: catering a beautiful Harbour Cruise wedding. They are tasked with creating stunning French-inspired canapés, appetizers and main dishes for the bride, groom, and their wedding guests. Back in the MASTERCHEF CANADA kitchen, the losing team faces a Pressure Test that stars another French specialty – a technique-driven dessert that separates at least one home cook from their culinary dream.

The Top 10 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.
• Jennifer Innis, a Dental Hygienist from Vernon, B.C.
• Jon Hameister-Ries, a former Pro Football Player and Financial Advisor from Vancouver, B.C.
• 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 watch Kristen live on CANADA AM (Weekdays at 6 a.m. ET), CP24 BREAKFAST (Weekdays 5:30 a.m. ET), and CTV MORNING LIVE ATLANTIC (Weekdays at 7 a.m. AT on CTV Two Atlantic) on Monday, March 30 as she they discusses her time on MASTERCHEF CANADA.

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 and CraveTV. 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 
Jennifer Innis – @JenniferInnis 
Jon Hameister-Ries – @jonhr67 
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
Jennifer Innis – jensheninnis
Jon Hameister-Ries – jonhr67
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.

- CTV -

SOURCE CTV

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