Masterchef NZ 2014 Top 15 Duos Revealed

MASTERCHEF NEW ZEALAND 2014 TOP 15 DUOS REVEALED

EMBARGOED UNTIL SUNDAY FEB 2, 2014 8.30 PM

A rural GP, a tae kwon do champion, an air traffic controller and a former Miss New Zealand were amongst the 15 duos awarded a coveted MasterChef apron in tonight’s episode of MasterChef New Zealand on TV ONE.

The episode was the launch of New Zealand’s – and the world’s – first-ever MasterChef duos competition.

From the hundreds of hopeful home chefs who auditioned, tonight selected pairs auditioned in Auckland for MasterChef judges Josh Emett, Simon Gault and Ray McVinnie.

From Dunedin in the south to Pautaua in the north, the duos had just one hour to prepare and present two signature dishes, a main course and a dessert in the hope of impressing the judges with their skill, knowledge and passion.

The judges weren’t disappointed, tasting a range of cuisines from around the world, from Europe to South-East Asia to South America, and from much closer to home, a classic pork and puha boil-up.

“This to me is what MasterChef is about,” said Simon Gault after tasting a Bay of Plenty duo’s paua ravioli and salted caramel fondant.

“Two people from a provincial town who cook like rock stars.”

With only 15 pairs of aprons up for grabs, the competition was fiercer than ever. Several duos went home disappointed. And the judges had a tricky taste up their sleeves to determine who won the 15th and final spot.

Now, it’s game on for the talented Top 15 duos, who are ready to embark on their first MasterChefchallenge and the toughest competition of their lives.

The MasterChef NZ 2014 Top 15 are:

Shelley Robinson and Trudie Robinson – sisters, Tauranga

Glynn Rudolph and James Culleton – flatmates, Wellington

Catherine Chen and Jack Tan – flatmates, Whakatane

Kasey Bird and Karena Bird – sisters, Maketu

Sam Dolbel and Collette Lochore – partners, Waimauku

Nicola Shearer and Jordan Shearer – mother and daughter, Lower Hutt

Melanie Sim and Cerry Sim – sisters, Auckland

Jaimie Stodler and Bec Stanley – friends, Queenstown

Matt Crammond and Courtney Crammond – brother and sister, Auckland and Christchurch

Verena Doolabh and Tanisha Kemp – sisters, Melbourne and Mt Maunganui

Elizabeth Marshall and Jennifer Clark – former partners, Wellington

Thiago de Almeida Schaich and Janaina Mendes – friends, Auckland

Donna-Marie Sullivan and Jonathan Odering - mother and son, Dunedin

Paul Harrison and Brigitte Kriehn – friends, Auckland

Fiona Marris and Bronwyn Bijl – sisters, Christchurch

MasterChef New Zealand continues Sunday and Monday at 7.30pm on TV ONE.

At stake is the MasterChef New Zealand title and over $100,000 worth of prizes, including two Skoda Rapid Spaceback cars, $15,000 worth of designer kitchen appliances from Fisher and Paykel, $5000 in kitchenware courtesy of Stevens, $15,000 worth of groceries from Countdown and an exclusive MasterChef cookbook deal.

ENDS

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