It’s episode 37 of MasterChef Australia 2023 and an elimination Pressure Test saw one fan-favourite leave the competition.

During the episode, international trailblazer, three-time Michelin star and three-hatted chef, Clare Smyth tasked Rue, Malissa and Cath to cook a dish straight from her menu at her Sydney restaurant, Oncore — the Beef and Oyster.

Inspired by a beef, oyster and Irish stout pie and given that there were a whopping 134 steps, it was extremely challenging to replicate and the contestant that plated up the dish least like Clare’s was sent home.

The Cook

While Rue and Malissa managed to stay on top of the finicky recipe from the start, Cath struggled, making the first error. Instead of melting the fat for the beef sauce over low heat, she burnt hers, which forced her to start again.

As the clock ticked down and the seared wagyu component waiting to be cooked, Cath faced a tough decision: risk it all and go for both the steak and oyster crisp, or just nail the steak and hope for the best and guided by her intuition, she gave it her all to complete that oyster emulsion.

Rue powered through her first Pressure Test of the season; however, during the two hours, she encountered hiccups, with her salty reduced ragu sauce being the biggest disappointment.

Thanks to her quick thinking, she used vinegar to balance it, but due to multitasking, continued to make small missteps along the way. With time running out, she knew her oyster sauce consistency wasn’t quite right before realising too late that she had forgotten her raw wagyu slices to wrap around the poached oyster.  

Malissa, who has been in her fair share of elimination cooks, found her groove during the cook and was determined not to use her Immunity Pin.

She did her best to trust herself throughout the cook; however, towards the end, her nerves got the better of her and with just seconds to spare she decided to play the pin, making her way to the safety of the gantry.

The Judging

Upon tasting, it looked like Rue had almost nailed it, but didn’t quite get there. The Judges and Clare commended her for delivering almost the whole dish.

While her pie mix was on point, the wagyu was slightly under-caramelised and undercooked and the beef and oyster sauce was a bit too runny.

Cath’s sauce was hailed for its consistency and glossiness, compared to Rue’s and her oyster emulsion was also top-tier in flavour and texture.

The Verdict

Although both dishes lacked an element, only the sauce set them apart, with Cath’s most resembling Clare’s original which meant Rue was eliminated from the competition.

MasterChef Australia airs Sunday – Thursday at 7.30pm on 10 and 10Play.

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